Controller job description

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Overview of the Controller Position

The controller position is accountable for an organization’s accounting operations. This includes the production of periodic financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk. The controller is also responsible for enhancing the accuracy of the company's reported financial results, and ensuring that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles or international financial reporting standards.

A variation on the controller title is the comptroller, which generally implies a more senior position, and which is more commonly found in government and nonprofit entities.

Scope of the Controller Position

The scope of the controller position is much larger in a small business, where the position is also responsible for cash management and risk management. In a larger company, these added responsibilities are shifted to the treasurer and chief financial officer, respectively.

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Principal Controller Accountabilities

Management

  1. Maintains and enforces a documented system of accounting policies and procedures

  2. Manage outsourced functions

  3. Oversee the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department's goals and objectives

  4. Oversee the accounting operations of subsidiary corporations, especially their control systems, transaction-processing operations, and policies and procedures

Transactions

  1. Ensure that accounts payable are paid in a timely manner

  2. Ensure that all reasonable discounts are taken on accounts payable

  3. Ensure that accounts receivable are collected promptly

  4. Process payroll in a timely manner

  5. Ensure that periodic bank reconciliations are completed

  6. Ensure that required debt payments are made on a timely basis

  7. Maintain the chart of accounts

  8. Maintain an orderly accounting filing system

  9. Maintain a system of controls over accounting transactions

Reporting

  1. Issue timely and complete financial statements

  2. Coordinate the preparation of the corporate annual report

  3. Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of company operations

  4. Calculate and issue financial and operating metrics

  5. Manage the production of the annual budget and forecasts

  6. Calculate variances from the budget and report significant issues to management

  7. Provide for a system of management cost reports

  8. Provide financial analyses as needed, in particular for capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations

Compliance

  1. Coordinate the provision of information to external auditors for the annual audit

  2. Monitor debt levels and compliance with debt covenants

  3. Comply with local, state, and federal government reporting requirements and tax filings

Additional Controller Accountabilities

  1. If the company is publicly held, then add a requirement to be responsible for the filing of quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission

  2. If the company is a small one, then the controller likely assumes the responsibilities of the chief financial officer

Desired Controller Qualifications

The controller candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration, or equivalent business experience and 10+ years of progressively responsible experience for a major company or division of a large corporation.  Preference will be given to candidates with the Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant designations.

Controller Working Conditions

Primarily in an office environment. Will be expected to travel as needed to company subsidiaries, as well as to potential acquirees to conduct due diligence. Periodic weekend or evening work is expected; this is especially likely if the controller is working for a pubic company, which entails additional work to prepare public company filings.

Controller Supervision

The controller supervises all accounting staff. In a larger organization, this means that the controller needs very strong management skills. As a manager, the controller will rarely be directly engaged in any accounting activities; instead he or she will oversee and review the work of others.

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