Finance & Accounting
A controller owns accounting operations, the monthly close and financial reporting. The role makes sure books are accurate, controls are sound and leadership gets reliable numbers for decisions, lenders and auditors.
Median pay
$166,570a year
Financial managers, U.S. BLS, May 2025
The role
Companies hire one when an outside bookkeeper or owner can no longer manage reporting, or when lenders, investors or auditors expect formal controls.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Typically eight or more years in accounting with supervisory experience; a bachelor's degree is required and a CPA is common.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
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FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
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A controller owns accounting operations, the monthly close and financial reporting. The role makes sure books are accurate, controls are sound and leadership gets reliable numbers for decisions, lenders and auditors. Typical responsibilities include: lead the monthly close and review financial statements; manage accounting staff, AP, AR and payroll processes; maintain internal controls and accounting policies.
Look for GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, month-end close, audit coordination and team management. Experience with NetSuite, QuickBooks Enterprise, Sage Intacct, SAP and Excel is common in this role.
Yes. Employers hire a controller on contract for projects, peak periods and cover, and contract-to-hire is a good way to confirm fit before a permanent offer. For long-term needs, most choose full-time placement.
A controller focuses on accounting, close, controls and reporting. A finance manager often mixes accounting with planning and analysis. If your priority is accurate books and audit readiness, hire a controller; if it is forecasting and decision support, consider a finance manager.
Yes. Interim and part-time controllers are common during a system migration, an acquisition, an audit cleanup or a leadership gap. Define the deliverables, such as close timelines and reconciliations, so the engagement ends with clear handoff documentation.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
