what is a controller?
A controller is a senior position in a company or organisation, responsible for overseeing, monitoring and leading the work of preparing financial reports, including profit and loss statements and balance sheets. They are also responsible for ensuring that the flow of income and expenses matches up and work to eliminate any mistakes in this area. Banks, government agencies and large companies often employ controllers to streamline and gain control over their operations.
controller jobswhat does a controller do?
Financial controllers work closely with the departments responsible for the budget, audit, accounting and other matters related to the financial side of a company. They are responsible for producing production reports, as well as calculating the company's financial outlook.
They are also responsible for ensuring that the financial statements, both monthly, quarterly and annually, are accurate and completed on time. As a financial controller, you are also responsible for making sure that all documentation and paperwork is completed on time and submitted to the relevant institutions. Accuracy, efficiency and honesty are required in a controller role. Many companies hire controllers to improve processes within different departments, with the requirement that, among other things, each team meets their deadlines for, for example, submitting reports.
As a controller, you may also be responsible for personnel administration and managing the staff. At the same time, a controller can be the only accountant handling the bookkeeping in a smaller company. They report directly to the chair of the board, the managing director, or another relevant person to provide insight into the business, as well as offer recommendations for the long-term management of the budget. An important part of the job is being able to communicate and express yourself in terms that everyone can understand, for example when giving recommendations regarding the budget based on your view of key figures and the future of the business.
Someone with an analytical mindset is well placed to become successful in a role as a controller. Skilled controllers are often motivated to learn more and have a flexible approach to learning. It is not uncommon for a controller to also have an IT-related part of the job, where business or operational development can be part of the work.
In order to be able to develop in a role as a controller, you need to be good at handling unexpected changes and expectations within the company.
If you have an interest in economic and financial details as well as business, perhaps the role of controller would suit you well. Read on to find out more about the skills and qualifications required to succeed in a controller role.
average salary as a controller.
The average salary for a controller varies greatly and is usually between 40,000 and 60,000 kr per month.
What affects the salary includes, among other things, what type of controller you work as, experience in the role or industry, educational background, whether you are junior or senior, whether you live in a larger or smaller city, and what type of business you work in.
different types of controllers.
There are many different types of controllers, with the most common being:
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financial controller
As a financial controller, you work closely with or are responsible for leading the accounting team and you also oversee the daily financial operations.
Your job is to be responsible for the company's accounting functions, and you are in charge of the company's bookkeeping. In addition to analysing the various parts of the accounts, you also need to have a good understanding of the entire business and how it is progressing, in order to provide an analysis of the state of the business and what can be improved to create greater efficiency.
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business controller
Business controller or operations controller is another type of controller. This means that you are not only responsible for the financial side, but you also look at things other than just the company's figures.
As an operations controller, you analyse the entire business and compare it to the market as a whole. Just like in other controller roles, it is important to have an analytical mindset to succeed as a business controller.
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credit controller
As a credit controller, you analyse the company's liquidity and available credit, as well as check and weigh this against the company's debts. You handle credit assessments, develop payment plans for both incoming and outgoing payments when needed, and keep records and book these items. You may also be responsible for ensuring the company receives its payments on time.
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production controller
Works closely with production. May be responsible for standard cost calculations.
working as a controller.
As a controller, you are responsible for seeing the whole picture of a company's financial status and its resources, as well as providing advice to company management. Below you can read about some of the specific areas of responsibility and tasks you have as a controller.
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tasks and areas of responsibility
As a controller, the main tasks are:
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Maintenance of accounting and cash flow: As a controller, you are an important part of the daily work of accounting, such as handling accounts payable, receivables, invoices, and managing the company’s payroll. In smaller companies, you are also responsible for the daily tasks related to cash flow and ensure that the bookkeeping matches reality.
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Implement policies for bookkeeping: In small businesses, you are responsible for developing bookkeeping policies and procedures for accounting. If such strategies and policies are already in place, your task is rather to adapt these to the strategy for further expansion and growth of the company. This may also involve adapting and updating, to ensure that the policy aligns with the other objectives within the business.
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Reporting and accounting related to financial management: By carrying out analyses and writing financial reports, which are an important part of the job as a controller, you help company management assess the state of the business. You are responsible for the financial statements, which form the basis for analysing the company's finances. As a controller, you also produce monthly reports on the financial situation and other matters concerning the business from a financial perspective. You then guide and assist company management and decision-makers in developing new strategies to improve cash flow, increase revenue or maximise results.
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Carrying out internal evaluations: An important task for the controller is to advise on when it is appropriate for the business to carry out internal evaluations, ranging from evaluations of individual departments to evaluations of the entire company and its operations. In some cases, you will need to carry out the evaluations yourself, or act as project manager for the team conducting the evaluation. You may also need to prepare financial information for external evaluations of the company.
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Budgeting and forecasting: Using historical data and market trends, as a controller you assist in the forecasting work that aims to steer the business in a certain direction for the future. This is also an important part of the budgeting process. When carrying out financial planning for the future, you need to have a good understanding of what the forecast looks like going forward. As a controller, you are involved throughout the entire process.
- Carrying out risk assessments and due diligence when investing: An important analytical part of the job as a controller is to identify potential dangers and risks for the business going forward. For example, you carefully evaluate and investigate investment opportunities before the investments are made.
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working environment
As a controller, you usually work in a standard office environment, in the finance department. As a controller, you are expected to attend meetings with other colleagues at the company and with company management. Both digital and in-person meetings. Therefore, it can sometimes involve some travel to various conferences, workshops and the like. A controller may also have the opportunity to work remotely; this is discussed with the relevant manager and is up to each employer to decide.
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your colleagues
Your colleagues depend on your workplace and employer, but it’s not unusual for you as a controller to work closely with those responsible for accounting and accounts assistants. There is also a possibility that you work closely with different managers in the business, as well as salespeople payroll administrator, project manager, recruiter and other important positions at the company.
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work schedule
Basically, the job as a controller is a full-time position, with regular office hours and a working week of up to 40 hours.
But being a controller can also be a demanding job that sometimes requires availability in the evenings, at weekends, and during other unsociable hours in busy financial reporting periods, for example. It might involve meetings outside regular working hours, conferences taking place at weekends, or various seminars in the evenings. As a controller, you often have a flexible work schedule, provided you manage your tasks and time-sensitive commitments. This also means there are controllers who work part-time.
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future prospects
As a controller, you often have some form of supervisory role in the finance department and over everyone working with accounting, from payroll administrators and analysts to accounting managers and finance assistants.
As the controller is a role with more responsibility, it is also a suitable first step towards more senior positions within the company. It is not uncommon for controllers to progress to become finance managers or even CEOs in the future. There are also controllers who specialise in specific areas of the business, such as financial control, to strengthen their chances of obtaining more senior positions in the future.
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benefits of finding a job as a controller through randstad
There are many advantages to finding a job as a controller through Randstad:
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different developments- and career opportunities
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an experienced contact person who can help you if needed
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many job vacancies within your area
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full-time or part-time work depending on the job/assignment
Do you want a permanent position as a controller? A temporary contract or assignment as a controller is often a steppingstone to an attractive permanent job. Every year, several people secure permanent employment with employers thanks to a temporary job arranged through us at Randstad. In addition, many companies recruit their permanent staff directly through Randstad.
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education and qualifications as a controller.
The most important steps to become a controller are:
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Relevant exam: To become a controller, you need to have a degree in economics, business administration or accounting. An academic education provides you with the necessary knowledge to be able to carry out your work as a controller successfully. Some employers also require a master's degree in order to later work at a senior level in the company.
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Work experience: In order to work as a controller, you often need many years of practical experience in accounting, within the company or in the financial field. To become a financial controller, you need to have worked with bookkeeping, accounting and financial planning for several years. Taking an entry-level job as a controller, for example as an assistant, can be a good step towards gaining the necessary experience.
knowledge and skills.
Some of the skills required to become a controller are:
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financial sense and ability
To become a skilled controller, you need to have a head for finance, numbers and business, which makes it possible to interpret and analyse financial data in a company. An understanding of this helps when you are evaluating the financial status of a company, as well as making assessments of potential investments and their possible risks.
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problem-solving skills
As a controller, it's important to be able to handle different types of problems that may arise during the process. This means it's essential to have problem-solving skills, which also help to anticipate potential risks and find ways to address possible issues before they occur. An important part of the work as a controller is to streamline operations and cut costs.
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leadership
As a controller, you are often responsible for an entire department or a larger team of employees, for example the accounting team and financial experts within the company. Having clear and respectful leadership is important to get your team to perform and work efficiently, while at the same time giving individuals the opportunity to develop in their own roles. Here, communication skills are of great importance, as you often have many channels of contact within the company and interact with many different types of people who depend on your expertise.
frequently asked questions about the role of controller.
Here are the most frequently asked questions about working as a controller.
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what is the purpose of a controller?
A controller manages financial control in a company or organisation. The job includes preparing budgets, overseeing financial reports and evaluating financial operations. It is an important position for both controlling and monitoring the overall activities carried out, but also finding ways to develop and improve them over time.
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is controller a difficult job?
Controller is a challenging job, as you are tasked with overseeing the entire financial operations of a company or organisation. It can be demanding to both map out the whole business, all its parts, while also keeping an eye on potential risks. An important part of working as a controller is to be part of or put together a strong team of colleagues, which makes the work easier.
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what does a typical working day look like as a controller?
A working day as a controller can vary a great deal and this depends not least on the size of the company. If you work for a small company, you will be involved in more parts of the business, such as the day-to-day bookkeeping and having insight into the cash flow on a daily or weekly basis. If you work at a larger company or organisation, you will instead be leading entire departments, or working in teams with other colleagues who help with the financial analysis.
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what skills should a controller have?
Good knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping is an important basic skill for anyone who wants to work as a financial controller. You also need to have a head for finance and financial analysis. Someone who is a strong leader will be more successful as a controller, as it often involves leading others. High-level problem-solving and communication skills will also help in the job as a controller.
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is it possible to train to become a controller?
Controller is a job that requires work experience, educational qualifications and personal qualities at the right level. There are no specific courses for becoming a controller, but an academic education at university or higher education level in economics or business administration will be advantageous. To obtain a more senior role, a master's degree is often required.
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how do i apply for a job as a controller?
It's easy to apply for a job as a controller. Search among our job vacancies in your area. Then send in your CV and your personal letter or apply via LinkedIn
If you need help with your job application, you can read all our job tips here!
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further reading about the role of controller
Here you can find more information about the role controller.
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