Financial Controller

Financial Controller job description

A Financial Controller is a senior management role that overseas all functions of an organisation’s finance and accounting department. For smaller businesses, this may even be an executive position.

A Financial Controller job description should call for high-level analytic skills, brilliant management ability and at least five years’ experience.

Financial Controller duties and responsibilities of the job

As the role responsible for managing all finance and accounting operations, it’s critical that a Financial Controller job description captures the breadth, diversity and seniority of the role. A Financial Controller’s duties and responsibilities generally include:

Developing financial strategy, including risk minimisation plans and opportunity forecasting

High-level financial reporting and analysis

Regular budget consolidation

Cash flow management

Improving efficiencies and reducing costs across the business

Stakeholder management

Debt management and collection

Preparing company tax and BAS statements

Ensuring compliance with statutory law and financial regulations

Developing financial reviews and providing investment advice

Payroll processing

Working closely with management or executive teams to share reports and analysis findings

Well-developed leadership skills

Mentoring

Financial Controller job qualifications and requirements

A Financial Controller job description should ask for one or several degrees and extensive experience managing finance teams, preparing and analysing reports and making improvements to fiscal tools and systems. Relevant qualifications are in the fields of:

Finance or Economics

Accounting

Business Administration

Business Law

In addition to Bachelor or Masters level degrees, it would be beneficial for the job description to describe candidates who have participated in a CPA (Certified Practising Accountants) or CA (Chartered Accountants) program. This globally recognised program denotes high professional competency.

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Salary for Financial Controller

180000 - 250000

25th percentile

180000

The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is building necessary skills.

50th percentile

215000

The candidate has moderate experience in the role, meets most requirements or has equivalent transferable skills, and may also have relevant certifications.

75th percentile

250000

The candidate has extensive experience and advanced skills for the role, and may also have specialised certifications.

Salary range based on three percentiles The starting salaries represent gross yearly salaries. They do not include bonuses, benefits or KiwiSaver.

Projected salaries for related positions

Job title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

Finance Manager

145000

160000

180000

Head of Finance

200000

235000

270000

Chief Financial Officer (SME)

275000

300000

350000

Chief Financial Officer (Large / MN)

300000

400000

500000

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Our starting salary projections come from a detailed, multistep process that ensures our numbers accurately reflect the marketplace. They’re based on real compensation data for job candidates our recruiters have matched with companies across the country.

The Salary Guide from Robert Half is the original. We’ve been publishing salary forecasts since 1950, and our guide has served as a trusted source for employers, job seekers, industry associations, government and educational institutions, and national and local media.