Financial Controller Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
A financial controller runs the accounting function: the monthly close, financial statements, internal controls and compliance with tax and audit requirements. They turn the raw ledger into numbers leadership and investors can trust, and they're the person who explains why a number moved.
Controllers sit between the accounting team and the CFO, so the job mixes hands-on review of journal entries with policy decisions about how the company recognizes revenue or handles leases. Strong technical accounting, a skeptical eye for errors, and the patience to document controls are the core of the role.
Financial Controller job description template
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Financial Controller
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring a financial controller to run month-end close and strengthen the controls behind our financial statements. You'll manage the accounting team, own [GAAP / IFRS] compliance, and give [CFO / leadership] numbers they can rely on.
What you'll do
- Own the monthly and annual close, including journal entries, accruals and reconciliations.
- Prepare and review financial statements under [GAAP / IFRS].
- Design and maintain internal controls, and manage the annual audit with [external auditors].
- Manage and develop the accounting team, reviewing their work before it's finalized.
- Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll accounting.
- Ensure compliance with tax filings and work with [tax advisors] on complex issues.
- Improve close speed and accuracy by automating manual accounting processes.
- Brief [CFO / leadership] on financial results and flag risks early.
What you'll bring
- [X]+ years in accounting, with [Y]+ in a controller or senior accounting role.
- CPA or equivalent qualification.
- Deep knowledge of [GAAP / IFRS] and hands-on close experience.
- Experience managing an audit and designing internal controls.
- Proficiency with an ERP such as [NetSuite / SAP / Oracle].
- Clear writing for policies and clear explanations for non-accountants.
- Comfort managing and reviewing the work of a small team.
Nice to have
- Experience in [industry, e.g. SaaS, manufacturing or healthcare] accounting.
- Revenue recognition experience under ASC 606.
- Experience with a close-automation or reconciliation tool.
- Exposure to multi-entity or multi-currency consolidation.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Bonus tied to close timeliness, CPE allowance, hybrid schedule]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter call, a technical accounting interview, a case on a close or control problem, and a final conversation with the CFO.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Financial Controller duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Prepares reconciliations and journal entries under review.
- Learns the close calendar and the company's chart of accounts.
- Documents existing controls and processes.
Mid-level
- Owns parts of the close independently, such as revenue or fixed assets.
- Reviews junior accountants' work and resolves open items.
- Coordinates directly with auditors on assigned areas.
Senior
- Owns the full close and financial statements, and signs off on results.
- Sets accounting policy and designs controls across the function.
- Manages the accounting team and the relationship with external auditors.
Financial Controller career path
- Staff Accountant
- Senior Accountant
- Accounting Manager
- Financial Controller
- VP of Finance or CFO
Financial controller is usually reached after several years in accounting or audit, often via public accounting and a CPA. From controller, the common next step is VP of Finance or CFO, though some controllers move into audit leadership or specialize in technical accounting.
Similar roles
- Accountant job description
Handles day-to-day accounting without owning the close or controls.
- Financial Analyst job description
Focuses on forecasting and performance analysis rather than close and compliance.
- Auditor job description
Reviews financial statements from outside the company rather than preparing them.
- Tax Accountant job description
Specializes in tax compliance rather than the full close process.
Financial Controller job description FAQ
What does a financial controller do?
Runs the monthly close, prepares financial statements, manages internal controls and the audit, and leads the accounting team. They're the person accountable for the accuracy of a company's books.
What skills should a financial controller job description require?
A CPA or equivalent, strong GAAP or IFRS knowledge, hands-on close experience, audit and controls experience, and ERP proficiency. Management experience matters once the role oversees a team.
What's the difference between a controller and a CFO?
A controller owns accounting accuracy: the close, statements and controls. A CFO owns strategy: financial planning, fundraising and business decisions. Many controllers report to the CFO and some grow into that role.