Finance Controller Demographics and Statistics [2024]: Number Of Finance Controllers In The US (2024)

FAQs

What are the demographics of controllers? ›

The most common ethnicity of controllers is White (63.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), Asian (9.4%) and Black or African American (7.7%).

Our finance controller estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about finance controllers after extensive research and analysis: There are over 211,329 finance controllers currently employed in the United States.

Since CFOs are responsible for more decision-making and oversee more facets of a company, they usually earn more. The average base salary for a controller is $93,961 per year , while the average base salary for a CFO is $123,912 per year .

A financial controller is a professional responsible for reporting and managing financial information. A business controller is a professional responsible for reporting on and managing key business indicators.

The main demographic variables that should be considered when segmenting an audience are age, gender, income, education/occupation, and family structure.

Demography is the science of populations. Demographers seek to understand population dynamics by investigating three main demographic processes: birth, migration, and aging (including death).

A Financial Controller is a high-level executive that performs most of the responsibilities as the Comptroller but in the private sector. According to Zippia, the “career expert,” over 203,174 Finance Controllers are in the United States.

The controller reports to the CFO, sometimes alongside the treasurer and tax manager. Below the controller can be roles such as the accounting manager, financial planning manager, accounts receivable manager, and accounts payable manager.

A financial controller essentially is a company's lead accountant. They oversee accounting activities and ensure that ledgers accurately reflect money coming in and out of the company. Strategic controllers also impact decision making, forecasting, and budgeting at the company level, based on accounting data.

CEO in salaries. In most companies, the CEO earns much more than the CFO. According to Salary.com, the average annual salary of a CFO in the US is $420,000, usually ranging from $319,000 to $537,000, while the average salary of a CEO is $800,000 ranging from $420,000 to $1,200,000.

Is financial controller a stressful job? ›

A high volume of work, tight deadlines, compliance demands, team oversight and impeccable accuracy can make a financial controller's job stressful.

A controller is not the same as a CFO or VP of Finance. A CFO or VP of Finance are often higher-level positions that are on the executive team. Meanwhile, a controller is usually a lower-level position that is less involved in strategic planning or external affairs and mostly involved in internal reporting.

The truth about being a Financial Controller

However, it can also be challenging and interesting. Reporting is just a small part of the role, and a financial controller can be responsible for treasury, tax, financial planning and growing of commercial business partnerships, just to name a few.

Typically, Controllers are responsible for managing lower-level staff members while working closely with senior leadership teams. On the other hand, Finance Managers often have more autonomy when it comes to making strategic decisions related to budgeting or investing.

Controllers, though, are more generalized in their roles, where they oversee entire accounting practices, especially in larger companies. Additionally, it's unnecessary for financial controllers to specialize in a financial field, since their jobs focus on broader processes within a company's finance department.

Controllers are self-disciplined and fast-paced—always driving themselves to get things right. Controllers are typically straightforward, responsible, and factual.

The most common controller type is a PID controller. A PID controller has three functions: Proportional Action: Takes action proportional to the error; small error yields minor valve movement, large error yields large valve movement. Integral Action: Takes action proportional to the integral of the error.

The average corporate controller age is 45 years old. The most common ethnicity of corporate controllers is White (63.7%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (14.8%), Asian (9.4%) and Black or African American (7.7%).

There are three basic types of controllers: on-off, proportional and PID. Depending upon the system to be controlled, the operator will be able to use one type or another to control the process.