financial controller.

A financial controller carries a broad responsibility for the organisation's financial management. This includes common tasks such as: 

• Revision: As financial controller, you prepare and coordinate documentation for internal and external audits. You follow up on any discrepancies and ensure that internal controls and procedures are functioning. The purpose is to prevent errors. You write final reports that are presented to the board and management.
• Financial reporting: In this role, you are responsible for ensuring that monthly and annual reports are produced accurately and on time. You may also be responsible for the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow analyses. You follow up on accounts payable and accounts receivable. Liquidity optimization and cash flow forecasts are also common tasks.
• Accounting: You ensure that the company's accounting complies with applicable laws and regulations. This means you are responsible for payment flows, payroll management, bank reconciliations, and ensuring the bookkeeping is accurate. Your area of responsibility may also include leading the accounting team or supporting other financial specialists.
• Budgeting: You participate in long-term financial planning such as forecasting and budgeting. In your role, you produce relevant key figures and analyze deviations. This provides the organization with a basis for decision-making that is used for resource allocation.
• Financial analysis: In addition to reporting, you conduct analyses of cost structures, investments, and business plans. You perform risk assessments, identify opportunities for savings, and propose various measures that strengthen the company's growth and profitability.
• Regulatory compliance: In some organisations, you may be responsible for compliance, which means ensuring that the company follows Swedish laws and regulations. This includes tax and VAT reporting as well as preventing fines and sanctions.

Your work environment varies depending on the industry and employer. Financial controllers usually work in office environments within organizations. This can mean you work at a smaller Swedish company or a large international group. The role is typically located in an office in an open-plan environment or a private workspace, depending on the company's structure and size. You work closely with chief financial officers, other controllers, and the accounting team. You spend a lot of time in meetings and coordination. This is more common than direct customer contact. In Sweden, many financial controllers now work remotely, combining office presence with working from home. This can vary depending on the needs of the business and the employer. Tech companies and industrial firms may have a more informal office culture, while the environment at insurance companies and banks is more formal.

As a financial controller, you have different colleagues depending on the industry you work in, but you almost always collaborate with colleagues in accounting and finance. You can work together with economist, accountants, managers, analyst controllers, business controllers and tax consultants.

As a financial controller, you work full-time during office hours with about 40 working hours per week. During periods of high workload, such as budget work or monthly and quarterly closings, there may be more overtime. Then you may need to work evenings to meet important deadlines. Most people in this profession have full-time employment. Part-time positions can occur in smaller organizations, but it is uncommon. Sometimes there is an opportunity for hybrid work where you combine working at the office with remote work from home. Travel may occur if you work in a large group with several offices. If you work in an international company, travel to subsidiaries abroad may be required.

You usually cannot start working as a financial controller directly after your university degree. In Sweden, several years of experience in finance and accounting are typically required to achieve that role. Common career paths are to first work as an audit assistant, accountant, or business controller. After that, there is an opportunity to advance to a more qualified role in controlling or accounting. With solid experience in financial management, accounting, and reporting, it usually becomes possible to work as a financial controller. You often have simultaneous responsibility for management-related tasks and greater personnel responsibility. 

The profession financial controller is usually a valuable and developing career path for those with a background in accounting and finance. Your role can also serve as a stepping stone to other management positions, such as chief financial officer in a group or a company.

Finding an available job as financial controller through Randstad can offer several important advantages such as: 

• a wide range of opportunities for skills development and learning
• an experienced contact person who provides you with support when needed
• access to a large selection of available jobs in your area
• possibility for full-time and part-time work depending on the assignment 

Do you want a full-time job? A temporary position as financial controller is often the first step towards an attractive permanent job. Every year, thousands of people get a permanent job thanks to a temporary position they found through Randstad. Many companies also recruit their permanent employees through us.

A financial controller analyzes and compiles financial information, monitors budgets, and creates forecasts and reports. The job role often includes ensuring regulatory compliance and internal control, as well as acting as an advisor to management.

Salaries vary depending on industry, level of responsibility, experience, and geographic location. The average salary for controllers in Sweden is about 56,600 kr per month according to Ratsit.

It's easy to apply for a job as financial controller at Randstad. Start by visiting our careers page and looking through our available positions. When you find a role that suits you, click apply and upload your cover letter along with your CV if you have one. The recruitment process may include a personal interview so we can get to know you better. If you need advice before your application, read our tips here.

Yes. The profession is considered stable and progressive within finance and economics. You have many opportunities to specialize, for example as a strategic controller or business controller. You can also advance in your career and become a chief financial officer or CFO. The demand for controllers is strong since companies need forecasts and decision-making data to create financial stability.