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The differences between unit controllers and finance controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a unit controller and a finance controller. Additionally, a finance controller has an average salary of $105,869, which is higher than the $104,008 average annual salary of a unit controller.
The top three skills for a unit controller include financial analysis, payroll and financial reports. The most important skills for a finance controller are CPA, payroll, and financial controller.
| Unit Controller | Finance Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $104,008 | $105,869 |
| Hourly rate | $50.00 | $50.90 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 55,537 | 97,342 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
The duties of a unit controller depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In a corporate setting, their responsibilities typically revolve around performing administrative tasks such as planning and producing business plans, coordinating with different departments or officials to gather data, overseeing sales and expenditures, preparing and processing documentation, managing the schedules and budgets, and devising strategies to identify new business opportunities. They may also present progress reports and sales forecasts to senior managers or executives. Furthermore, as a unit controller, it is essential to lead and encourage the workers to reach goals.
A financial controller is primarily in charge of the daily finance activities and accounting functions of a company. Their responsibilities typically revolve around preparing and organizing financial reports, analyzing data and looking out for any discrepancies or inconsistencies, and overseeing the company's overall revenues and expenditures. A financial controller must also maintain documentation, participate in risk assessment and budgeting activities, and develop strategies for profit growth. Furthermore, one must coordinate with other department staff to ensure accuracy, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Unit controllers and finance controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Unit Controller | Finance Controller | |
| Average salary | $104,008 | $105,869 |
| Salary range | Between $70,000 And $153,000 | Between $71,000 And $156,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Yonkers, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | Wacker Chemie | Sage Memorial Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a unit controller and a finance controller in terms of educational background:
| Unit Controller | Finance Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Accounting | Accounting |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between unit controllers' and finance controllers' demographics:
| Unit Controller | Finance Controller | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.3% Female, 30.7% | Male, 61.5% Female, 38.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 10.0% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.2% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |