controller

A controller's main tasks include:

• accounting and cashflow maintenance: as controller, your job starts with daily accounting tasks, like managing accounts payables and receivables and processing payroll. You also oversee daily cash flow tasks for small businesses and minimize inefficiencies in cash flow maintenance.
• implementing bookkeeping policies: as a controller, you assist small businesses with developing bookkeeping policies and official accounting procedures. That means you update the guidelines, and the company evolves to ensure they are on top of the accounting procedures for the type of business. If the company has existing bookkeeping policies, you help them adapt the policies to their expansion and growth strategies.
• financial management reporting: as controller, you help the business owner assess the business's current health by generating vital financial reports. When you close the accounting period, you generate financial statements to assist with analyzing the company's financial position. You also provide monthly reports to help decision-makers strategize how to improve cash flow.
• completing internal audits: as a controller, you advise on the best time for a business to perform internal audits, from departmental audits to audits of the whole company. Sometimes, you are required to conduct audits or supervise the auditing team. You can even prepare the company's accounts for an external audit.
• business budgeting and forecasting: controllers assist financial managers with forecasts based on historical financial data and market trends. They also complete financial planning by creating budgets for the entire organization and allocating funds to each department.
• conducting risk evaluation and due diligence in mergers: as a controller, you identify and analyze potential events that will negatively impact the company's financial health. You also review and investigate investment opportunities or merger deals for the business.

A controller's typical work environment is primarily indoors in an office. They often work in government buildings or urban settings for private companies. Controllers attend meetings and discuss financial policies with other executives. Therefore, occasional travel for company conferences and training sessions may be necessary. A controller can also work remotely from home and perform all their duties, except for periodic mandatory office meetings.

Depending on your employer, your colleagues might include accountants, financial analysts, and auditors. You might also work in close proximity to sales directors and bookkeepers, as well as other specialists that could consist of, but not be limited to, credit managers, accounting technicians, and office managers.

Most controllers work more than 40 hours weekly without additional pay because they earn a salary. Their typical workweek has an average of 43 hours. However, some controllers work over 10 hours daily, six days a week. Sometimes, they must work on the weekends when an employer asks them to attend professional meetings and seminars. Fortunately, most organizations allow controllers to operate flexible schedules. Therefore, you can work full-time or part-time, depending on the demands of your role.

As a controller, you supervise all accounting staff, including accountants, payroll, financial, and tax managers. Due to the supervisory nature of your role, you can easily transition to senior-level management positions. For instance, some controllers become the chief finance officers, treasurers, or chief executive officers of the company. Some controllers choose to specialize in specific industries or business functions, like credit control or financial control.

Working through Randstad offers you a range of benefits:

• being paid weekly
• flexibility
• always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
• many training opportunities
• a range of jobs in your area

Want a permanent contract? But you wonder why it would be interesting for you to work with a staffing company? A temporary job as an controller is often a stepping stone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people earn a permanent contract with great employers thanks to a temporary job found through Randstad. What's more, many companies recruit their permanent employees through Randstad too!

Controllers primarily work for private or nonprofit organizations, whereas comptrollers serve in government organizations. Controllers focus on analyzing the facts and figures related to financial aspects of production or service provision, typically after the completion of a project. In contrast, comptrollers have responsibility for budgeting and ensuring adherence to budget limits throughout the project duration.

To qualify for a controller position, candidates typically need a finance or accounting degree, such as a bachelor's degree in business and finance or applied accounting. Additionally, depending on the educational institution, math courses may be a required part of the curriculum. While some individuals work their way up to the position of a controller from an accounting position, gaining the necessary skills and experience on the job, others may have the opportunity to work towards becoming a controller while enrolled in an accounting program. Certain employers even accept students who are currently studying accounting, providing them with opportunities to develop the skills needed to become a controller through on-the-job training and practical experience. Ultimately, the specific qualifications required for a controller position may vary depending on the employer and the scope of the role.

As a controller, there are various ways to advance your career and take on more responsibility. One possible path is to work towards becoming a finance director, which typically requires significant experience and demonstrated expertise in financial management. Another option is to aim for a controller position in a larger company or group of companies, which presents new challenges and opportunities for professional growth. Working for a multinational corporation, in particular, can provide significant opportunities for personal and career advancement.

A career as a controller can be a great choice if you enjoy working with financials and are motivated by the potential for a high salary. As a controller, you would have significant managerial responsibilities, including overseeing financial operations, creating budgets, and managing investments in addition to assessing risk factors and preparing financial reports. In addition to these core duties, controllers typically have responsibility for ensuring that all departments stay within their budgetary constraints and for providing guidance and support to other members of the management team. This can be a challenging and rewarding role for individuals who are passionate about finance and committed to delivering strong results for their organization.

As a controller, you will face various challenges while overseeing all financial activities within your organization. It can be daunting to keep track of multiple operations and accurately assess the risks associated with business activities. However, having a great team can make all the difference in ensuring seamless operations and achieving successful outcomes. Despite the difficulties, working as a controller can be a highly rewarding experience. By leveraging your expertise and leadership skills, you can guide your team to make informed financial decisions and achieve overall organizational goals. Ultimately, the ability to work collaboratively and strategically with your team will be critical to your success as a controller.

Applying for a controller job is easy: create a Randstad profile and search our controller jobs for vacancies in your area. Then simply send us your CV. If you do not have a resume, no worries. Just check out our resume builder. This state-of-the-art tool will help you to create your own resume. Need help with your application? Check out all our job-hunting tips!