Financial Controller Jobs Overview
Do you have the finance experience and skills to thrive in a fast-paced business environment? If so, you could be the perfect fit for financial controller jobs. In this position, you'll oversee your employer's financial reporting, budgeting, and accounting operations to ensure efficient and compliant financial practices.
As a financial controller, your responsibilities include supervising an accounting team while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and proper financial planning. This is typically a senior role in a financial team, meaning you may provide executive leadership with strategic advice and insights. In this position, you'll guide the company's financial health, achieve business objectives, and control costs.
Most financial controller jobs take place in traditional office environments, although some employers offer remote or hybrid work opportunities. While the workweek is typically 40 hours, you may need to put in extra evening or weekend time during critical periods such as quarterly or year-end reporting. You'll find financial controller jobs available in many industries, and they are especially prominent with government agencies, banks, tech corporations, and other financial groups.
Salary for Financial Controller Jobs
The annual salary for financial controller jobs ranges from $127,972 to $186,637. Your pay depends on the size of the company, your level of experience, and your location. For example, financial controllers with 10 years of management experience and additional certifications might earn more than those with just a few years of experience.
When considering your location, you might earn a higher salary if you apply for financial controller jobs in a high-demand city. The median annual salaries in high-demand locations are:
- New York, NY: $168,835
- Houston, TX: $147,046
- Los Angeles, CA: $169,494
- Dallas, TX: $148,742
- Chicago, IL: $154,564
Search for the salary range of a financial controller in your area with our salary calculator. After you input your location and the job title, you'll see the annual salary as well as a comparison to the national median.
How to Find Financial Controller Jobs That Suit You
Before searching for the perfect financial controller job, define your career goals and interests. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and consider what you want out of the job. For example, are you willing to move for work if that helps you reach your career goals?
Another consideration is the size of the company you want to work for. While financial controller jobs with large corporations might involve longer workweeks, joining a smaller company could provide more flexibility and a better work-life balance.
Review the Job Description and Assess Your Qualifications
Once you find a compelling financial controller job description, assess whether the responsibilities and requirements match your experience and skills. Are there any areas where you might need additional development or training? Perhaps you need to enhance your knowledge of GAAP accounting principles before applying.
Research the Company and Its Culture
You can gain more confidence about a specific job by researching the company and its culture before you apply. Try to find the organization's values and mission on its website to see if they align with your preferences.
It's also good to find out what you can about the company's management style, reputation, and work environment. Find websites that feature employee reviews of the companies they work for as a helpful resource.
Search for Potential Growth Opportunities
When considering any job listing, look for growth opportunities. Investigate your prospects for professional advancement and development in the company by researching the other positions they offer.
If the employer offers jobs like director of finance, CFO, or area controller, you'll likely have access to promotions and other growth opportunities. Before applying for a job, consider how it fits into your long-term goals. Does the job give you the skills and experience you need to eventually reach the next step in your career?
How to Apply to Financial Controller Jobs
After narrowing down the criteria for your ideal financial controller position, you can start applying for jobs. In your application, you’ll highlight the key qualifications and skills you possess that match the job description. You’ll also showcase your abilities in a resume and cover letter.
Write an Effective Resume
Writing an effective and persuasive resume requires using resume keywords that the company's applicant tracking system (ATS) scans for. Many companies use ATS systems to automatically sort through hundreds of applications. Some of the keywords that apply to financial controller jobs include the following:
- ad-hoc financial analysis
- compliance audits
- monitoring internal controls
- accounting or finance experience
- year-end closing activities
- delivering accurate data
Financial controller jobs often require five to 15 years of experience in accounting or finance. Since companies stress the importance of experience, consider writing your controller resume in the reverse chronological format. This format works by placing your most recent experience first.
Follow that up with the most relevant skills to the financial controller position. List them in bullet points. The skills and abilities that companies often look for are:
- highly organized and structured
- superior critical thinking and analytical skills
- proficiency in Excel and other data processing software
- ability to manage accountants in a fast-paced environment
- thorough knowledge of accounting procedures
- understanding of financial audits
- ability to promote a positive work environment
If you'd prefer someone else to write your resume, consider obtaining Monster's Professional Resume Writing Services. You can choose from dozens of templates with the world-class resume builder. We will write a resume to capture the employer's attention.
Create a Compelling Cover Letter
Every financial controller application you submit should include a cover letter. This one-page letter lets you promote yourself and your skills effectively. Address it to the hiring manager.
When writing the letter, maintain a conversational and professional tone, but you don't need to make it as formal as the resume. Provide some examples of your skills, education, and experience that are relevant to the financial controller position, such as having a CPA certification.
Any skills or experience you mention in this letter should meet the company's needs. For example, you can mention that your prior accounting experience provides you with the skills to manage the company's accounting operations and financial reporting.
Submit Your Application
Once you're ready to apply, create an account on Monster. This free account gives you access to a professional resume review and the ability to turn on notifications for new jobs. Upload your resume and recruiters might even reach out to you!
Don't forget to double-check your resume and cover letter for errors. Read the entire application aloud to identify missing information or spelling mistakes that you need to fix.
How to Follow Up With a Financial Controller Application
After applying, it's typically best to wait around seven to 10 days before you follow up with the employer. They need to review the applications they receive, which takes time.
How to Follow Up
When you follow up on your application, contact the employer via email. If you intend to call them directly, practice what you'll say beforehand.
If you write an email, only include a few short paragraphs. Focus on expressing your interest in the job and why the company appeals to you. Mention some of your most relevant qualifications before stating that you look forward to discussing the job further.
Who to Follow Up With
It's best to follow up with the hiring manager in charge of the application process. You may find their contact info on the company's website or in the job listing. Call the HR department directly if you can't find the hiring manager's email address or phone number.
Interview Tips
You never know the specific questions you'll receive when interviewing for financial controller jobs, so it's a good idea to research the company and the position. Read the company's website to better understand its values and culture. If the hiring manager asks you a question about the employer, they'll expect you to know the answer.
Before you attend an interview, practice answering the questions you might receive. Ask a family member or friend to serve as the interviewer while you practice. The kinds of questions you can expect when interviewing for a financial controller position may include:
- Can you describe your experience overseeing a company's financial operations?
- What steps do you take to ensure the accuracy of financial data?
- Do you understand how to perform financial forecasting and budgeting?
- How do you stay current with the latest finance regulations and accounting standards?
- What method would you use to manage a team of accountants?
- What types of accounting software are you proficient in?
Use our guide to common interview questions and answers to supplement your own list. This guide includes a series of behavioral, situational, culture fit, leadership, and problem-solving questions.
Interview Process
When you're interviewing for the position of financial controller, expect to go through multiple rounds of interviews. If you're applying at a Fortune 500 company, you may attend as many as eight rounds of interviews. While you might do your first interview by video or over the phone, future rounds will likely take place in person with the hiring manager and others you’ll be working closely with.
Interview questions will cover various topics to assess your qualifications and fit for the role. While the most common interview format involves behavioral questions, you may also answer company-related, situational, and leadership questions.
Interview Tips
To ace your interview, use certain techniques and strategies to answer the questions you receive. For example, you can effectively answer behavioral questions with the STAR method.
A hiring manager might ask, "Tell me about a time when you had to resolve an internal control problem. How did you handle this?" You can answer by describing the unique situation before detailing the challenges that arose. Go into detail about your actions and the results.
Answer every question with confidence and authenticity. Demonstrate your experience and skills with examples relevant to the financial controller position you're applying for.
Follow Up After Your Financial Controller Interview
After you finish the interview, follow up with a short thank-you email within 24 hours. Reiterate how enthusiastic you are for the opportunity before mentioning a discussion or question from the interview.
If you don't promptly hear back from the employer, you might need to call them directly. Wait five to seven business days before you call the hiring manager.
Once you reach them, thank them for their time. Restate your interest in the position before listing some of the skills you believe can help you succeed. Ask the hiring manager if they have an update on the position.
Responding to a Job Offer
Before you say yes to a job offer, ask your hiring manager if you can take a couple of days to review it. Thank them for the offer.
As you review the offer, go over your job responsibilities, salary, and benefits. If you're unsure about some of the details, seek clarification from the hiring manager. Evaluate your needs and priorities to make an informed decision on whether this financial controller job is the right fit.
If you wish to negotiate your salary or benefits, research the compensation packages and salary ranges for the industry and position. This knowledge can help you make a compelling argument during negotiations. Make sure you maintain a professional tone when negotiating with the hiring manager.
Career Paths
The financial controller position is an advanced job title in most companies. The most immediate promotion might involve a regional controller position. In this role, you'll oversee a company's financial activities for a specific area of a state or a region of the country.
With enough experience and training, you might qualify for a job as the financial director at your company, which is one level below the CFO. Consider chief financial officer or chief executive officer positions if you meet the requirements.
To qualify for a promotion to CFO, you may need a master's degree in accounting, business, finance, or economics. You should also have strong skills in auditing, compliance, and budgeting.
During your career, take advantage of the networking and professional development opportunities that come your way. A few of the certifications that can help you expand your career include Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, and Financial Risk Manager.
You can also join associations that help connect you to other professionals in your field. To build a robust network of like-minded controllers or accounting professionals, consider associations like the Controllers Council and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Similar Occupations
Would you like to use your financial skills to excel in a similar career? Consider the following positions: