What does a unit controller do?
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.
Unit controller responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real unit controller resumes:
- Manage global consolidation of month end closing including review/analysis of financial statements ensuring adherence of GAAP guidelines.
- Maintain and update the ERP system and average actual batch costing.
- Provide training to finance and operation staff for the new ERP system.
- Implement online expense report system and online account reconciliations along with lead the accounts payable outsourcing project.
- Assess and close A/P & A/R ledger on a monthly basis, validate content and resolve various issues.
- Prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
- Prepare annual advertising fund external audit reconciliations and financial statements.
- Process all associate information, administer all associate payroll and attendance while maintaining associate records.
- Monitor business unit compliance with corporate policies and maintain SOX documentation with associate process reviews.
- Administer payroll and monthly commission calculation and disbursement processes, as well as monthly benefits distributions.
- Improve governance/control and plant level coordination ensuring adherence to SOX compliance, internal and external audits.
- Manage global consolidation of month end closing including review/analysis of financial statements ensuring adherence of GAAP guidelines.
- Participate in assessment of equities in anticipation of upcoming Volker rule requirements.
Unit controller skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Unit Controllers are proficient in Financial Analysis, Payroll, and Financial Reports. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Unit Controllers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Financial Analysis, 9%
Managed the division's monthly close process, financial analysis and reported financial results to executive management.
- Payroll, 8%
Administered payroll and monthly commission calculation and disbursement processes, as well as monthly benefits distributions.
- Financial Reports, 6%
Designed and analyzed internal financial reports to identify revenue trends and cost saving opportunities.
- Internal Controls, 5%
Developed process improvements to ensure placement of effective internal controls in sales department, marketing group, and manufacturing facilities.
- Close Process, 5%
Implemented two day close process to supplement the corporate accounting policy, improving operational efficiency.
- Financial Data, 5%
Support preparation of tax returns by providing financial data and analysis as required.
Common skills that a unit controller uses to do their job include "financial analysis," "payroll," and "financial reports." You can find details on the most important unit controller responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a unit controller to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what unit controllers do because "to assist executives in making decisions, financial managers need to evaluate data and information that affects their organization." Additionally, a unit controller resume shows how unit controllers use analytical skills: "sap fixed asset module) cost update in the local erp system by gathering data on labor, machines and materials. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform unit controller duties is communication skills. Unit controllers responsibilities require that "financial managers must be able to explain and justify complex financial transactions." Unit controllers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "facilitated communication with external auditors. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for unit controllers to perform their duties. For an example of how unit controller responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "in preparing and analyzing reports, such as balance sheets and income statements, financial managers must be precise and attentive to their work in order to avoid errors." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a unit controller: "create detailed valuation & accretion/dilution models and conduct financial due diligence of target companies and technologies. ".
Math skills. A big part of what unit controllers do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to unit controller responsibilities because "financial managers need strong skills in certain branches of mathematics, including algebra." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical unit controller tasks: "produce monthly decks, quarterly business reviews, trending, quantitative and qualitative variance analysis. "
Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in unit controller job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what unit controllers do. Unit controller responsibilities rely on this skill because "because financial managers deal with a range of information and documents, they must have structures in place to be effective in their work." You can also see how unit controller duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "served as organizational lead for esna arkansas's erp implementation of general ledger to infor visual. "
The three companies that hire the most unit controllers are:
- Aramark24 unit controllers jobs
- Sodexo Management, Inc.22 unit controllers jobs
- rEvolution4 unit controllers jobs
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Compare different unit controllers
Unit controller vs. Manager finance planning and analysis
A manager finance planning and analysis oversees the daily operations of a company's financial planning department. They typically have administrative duties such as setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, delegating tasks among teams and staff, and reviewing financial reports regularly. They also perform research and assessments, gather and analyze financial data from different departments, coordinate staff, and solve issues and concerns when any arise. Additionally, as a manager, they must lead and empower staff to reach goals while implementing company policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, unit controller responsibilities require skills like "fine dining," "financial controls," "pos," and "cost control." Meanwhile a typical manager finance planning and analysis has skills in areas such as "customer service," "visualization," "business development," and "human resources." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Managers finance planning and analysis tend to make the most money working in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $109,735. In contrast, unit controllers make the biggest average salary, $113,309, in the technology industry.On average, managers finance planning and analysis reach similar levels of education than unit controllers. Managers finance planning and analysis are 3.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Unit controller vs. Business manager-finance manager
A business manager/finance manager is responsible for handling the financial transactions of an organization, analyzing financial reports, and monitor investment activities. Business managers/finance managers strategize effective techniques to boost the organization's financial performance and identify business opportunities to increase revenues. They also prepare financial statements and assist senior management in making corporate decisions by conducting data and statistical analysis by studying market trends. A business manager/finance manager must have excellent critical thinking and analytical skills, especially in calculating costs and expenses to minimize the company's loss and stabilize profits.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, unit controller responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "close process," "fine dining," "financial controls," and "accruals." Meanwhile, a business manager-finance manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "project management," "financial management," "oversight," and "strong analytical." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, business manager-finance managers earn a higher salary than unit controllers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, business manager-finance managers earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $115,910. Whereas unit controllers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $113,309.business manager-finance managers earn similar levels of education than unit controllers in general. They're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit controller vs. Finance vice president
The vice president of finance is one of the highest-ranking executives in a company. He/She or she works under the chief financial officer, and both have similar duties that are often interchangeable. This executive's primary function is to oversee the company's financial records and project future financial plans and investments. The finance vice president ensures that the company's finances are managed suitably and effectively. This role's responsibilities include leading the team towards achieving the company's financial mission, monitoring the financial performance, preparing and presenting financial reports, and conducting audits on financial expenditures, assets, and liabilities.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a unit controller is likely to be skilled in "close process," "fine dining," "financial controls," and "accruals," while a typical finance vice president is skilled in "cpa," "oversight," "risk management," and "business development."
Finance vice presidents earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $149,254. Comparatively, unit controllers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $113,309.finance vice presidents typically earn similar educational levels compared to unit controllers. Specifically, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.8% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Unit controller vs. Finance leader
The duties of a finance leader depend on one's place or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around monitoring the sales and financial operations in a company, preparing financial reports and statements, finding new sales opportunities, identifying the market and client needs, and maintaining records of all financial transactions. There are also instances where a finance leader may set and allocate budgets, perform audits in costs and expenditures, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Types of unit controller
Updated January 8, 2025
