Because you’re a manager of not just financial systems, but also people, you’ll provide direction to staff and set annual financial plans for your department to achieve. Your management skills will help you in creating a positive environment for your team to succeed. With your team, you will oversee vital functions such as risk management, payroll, and the delivery of cost-effective services to your organization, all while aiming for the highest possible financial performance.
Normally, you work daytime hours 9 to 5, in an office setting, although you may work overtime at year-end, during payroll runs, or tax season. In a large corporation, you may supervise a team and report to the Chief Financial Officer. At a small organization, you may have a staff of one or two clerks or a bookkeeper. In this case, you function as the company’s accountant and report directly to the president or business owner.
Controller salaries start between $80,000 and $90,000 per year, depending on your location in Canada. Controllers can earn between $100,000 and $150,000 annually after many years of experience, especially in large metropolitan areas.
As a controller, you’ll need to see the big picture while simultaneously covering a wide variety of specialized tasks. While staying focused on the top-level task of strategic planning, you’ll have a talent for connecting the dots to the details that fit into your organization’s overall finance management model. Your tasks could include:
Large corporations, small businesses, associations, and charitable organizations all employ controllers. Organizations across all sectors must oversee their financial health in order to grow and serve their customers or members. As a result, you’ll find the need for qualified controllers everywhere, especially in large metropolitan areas such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal.
If you’ve already gained successful experience in an accounting or finance position and demonstrated your understanding of financial operations, you may be ready to take the next step in your career as a controller. As a leader performing a vital role in your organization, you must have:
As a controller, you’ll need a higher education in finance. Your post-secondary education should be in Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field. You’ll then need to attain a CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) and have in-depth knowledge of financial reporting, internal audit, and payroll systems. Some controllers have taken their exams as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
A career in finance may be demanding and varied but if you excel at the details of financial leadership, you can make an essential contribution throughout your career. Learn as much as possible about competing product lines, working with sales and marketing teams or other operational departments that impact the bottom line. Improving your organization’s financial position may open up some incredible opportunities for you at the highest executive level, internally or with competitors.
Opportunities for controllers include higher level of roles in the finance department such as VP of finance, or even Chief Financial Officer.