Controller Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

[Company] is searching for an Assistant Controller to join our thriving team. The Assistant Controller will be responsible for the company’s accounting operations, including producing financial reports, maintaining accounting records, managing a team of senior accounting professionals, and enhancing the accuracy of the company’s reported financial results.

 Responsibilities:

• Establish and execute internal controls over the company’s accounting and financial procedures.
• Review and approve all invoices to be paid and work closely with the purchasing department to ensure we get the best price.
• Coordinate with external tax accountants for income tax preparation and lead audits (bank and annual), and assist with the company’s month-end closings.
• Confirm that all accounting allocations are appropriately made and documented and in charge of all account reconciliations, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash disbursements, and bank reconciliation functions.
• Provide accurate and comprehensive financial information to executive management and crucial financial data and working with executive management to coordinate all financial planning functions with business operations.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent leadership skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP software.
• Understanding of and the ability to adhere to generally accepted accounting principles.
• Ability to manage and coordinate all internal and external audit procedures.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration is required.
• At least ten years of accounting experience, preferably previously leading a team of accounting professionals.
• Previous manufacturing experience is required.

Are you excellent with finances? Are you great at directing budgets that keep companies up and running? If so, we’re hiring a controller at [Your Company Name] and would love for you to apply. Controllers use all the financial data at their disposal to oversee and direct all aspects of a company’s accounting operations. They record and maintain all financial reports, and handle accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, compliance, inventory management, and more. Controllers use financial software and analytical skills to ensure continued operations. They control and monitor all things within the context of finances and are integral to the functionality of a business.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Manage all accounting operations including billing, A/R, A/P, GL and counsel, cost accounting, inventory accounting, and revenue recognition
• Monitor the financial performance of the company
• Supervise employees performing financial reporting, accounting, billing, collections, payroll, and budgeting duties
• Communicate financial metrics to senior management
• Maintain current knowledge of organizational policies and procedures, federal and state policies and directives, and current accounting standards
• Receive, record, and authorize requests for disbursements following company policies and procedures
• Handle all aspects of employee insurance, benefits, and casualty programs, including monitoring changes in health insurance regulations and creating budgets for benefits and workers’ compensation

Education and experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related discipline. Certified public accountant (CPA) or certified management accountant (CMA) designations are usually preferred.

Required skills and qualifications

• Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year-end close process
• Excellent accounting software user and administration skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Ability to work closely with the senior management team
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite software

Preferred qualifications

• 3+ years of managing budgets
• Familiarity with financial software
• Proficient in Google and Microsoft
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or related field

This person works directly with the CFO in supporting the business financial analysis, cost analysis, planning and reporting needs such as project controlling tasks. Position is a hands-on, working controller for a manufacturer of capital equipment.

Duties

• Steer internal KPI-tracking and reporting including follow-up of measures
• Perform internal audits on key processes and signature guidelines are followed (plausibility)
• Support supply chain steering, make-or-buy decisions, vendor selections and stock levels
• Steer internal reporting system in collaboration with department heads including automation of reporting out of ERP- system
• Project Controlling entailing project calculations with Applications Engineer and project cost tracking, invoicing, and change order management support
• Implement price list model and align with quality controlling guidelines.
• Budget controlling in collaboration with FIN and department managers
• Ensure master data is structured and accurate (pricing, costing, clustering, min/max, and preferred vendors)
• Support month end closing procedures and year-end-steering activities ( including reporting to Headquarters
• Monitor and update quality related cockpit chart and directives
• Develop and track additional cost savings opportunities and monitor progress of current initiatives
• Support CFO and GM with special projects

Basic requirements

• Must possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration
• Must have a minimum of 5+ years of financial controlling experience

Preferred qualifications

• Controlling experience in a manufacturing environment is preferred
• Capital equipment industry experience preferred
• Excellent MS Office skills, specifically Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience with Crystal Reports, SQL, Infor’s Visual Manufacturing ERP system, ADP, and other business software would also be preferred, but not required
• Experience in project controlling desired
• Lean/Six Sigma experience preferred
• High attention to detail and accuracy in composing communications, data entry of project information, proofing of data, establishing priorities, and meeting deadlines
• High level analytical, data manipulation, problem solving and organizational skills
• Strong competency in coaching, training, and facilitation skills
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, including ability to communicate effectively to the intended audience
• Team player mentality is highly desired
• High level of self-motivation, energy, and results orientation

Responsibilities

Serve as the outsourced Controller for multiple non-profit clients. Your responsibilities would include

• Month-end close
• Journal Entries
• Audit preparation and interact with auditors
• Bank and account reconciliations
• Spreadsheets and analytics
• Financial Reporting, Budgeting and Board/Management Reports
• Assist clients with 990 review and necessary support schedules
• Recommend/Implement/Improve standard accounting policies and procedures

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Accounting or Finance
• Minimum of 7 years accounting experience
• Ability to manage multiple clients
• Prior staff management experience
• Strong Excel Skills
• Experience with multiple GL packages, especially QuickBooks
• Non-profit accounting or public accounting experience is preferred but not required
• CPA certification is a plus
• Passion for working with and/or supporting non-profit organizations is a plus
• Submit customized cover letter expressing qualifications and interest for this role
• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination required as a condition of employment