What Does it Take to Be a Treasurer or Controller?

Job Description & Duties Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

Treasurer or Controller Responsibilities

• Provide direction and assistance to other organizational units regarding accounting and budgeting policies and procedures and efficient control and utilization of financial resources.
• Prepare and file annual tax returns or prepare financial information so that outside accountants can complete tax returns.
• Develop internal control policies, guidelines, and procedures for activities such as budget administration, cash and credit management, and accounting.
• Compute, withhold, and account for all payroll deductions.
• Conduct or coordinate audits of company accounts and financial transactions to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements and statutes.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance of accounting and other financial staff, recommending and implementing personnel actions, such as promotions and dismissals.

Qualities of a Treasurer or Controller

These are the skills Treasurers and Controllers say are the most useful in their careers:

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Management of Financial Resources: Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

Types of Treasurer or Controller

• Finance Specialist
• Corporate Controller
• Financial Officer
• Controller, Operations, and HR Manager
• State Comptroller

Is There Job Demand for Treasurers and Controllers?

In the United States, there were 580,400 jobs for Treasurer or Controller in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 18.7% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 108,600 new jobs for Treasurer or Controller by 2026. The BLS estimates 56,900 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Treasurer or Controller are Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maryland, or District of Columbia. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Treasurers and Controllers Make A Lot Of Money?

The typical yearly salary for Treasurers and Controllers is somewhere between $67,620 and $208,000.

Treasurers and Controllers who work in New York, New Jersey, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.

How much do Treasurers and Controllers make in different U.S. states?

State	Annual Mean Salary
Alabama	$128,690
Alaska	$110,010
Arizona	$117,620
Arkansas	$106,530
California	$157,480
Colorado	$163,740
Connecticut	$167,160
Delaware	$167,110
District of Columbia	$166,710
Florida	$132,850
Georgia	$145,920
Hawaii	$118,740
Idaho	$95,690
Illinois	$144,680
Indiana	$119,820
Iowa	$114,620
Kansas	$129,660
Kentucky	$114,420
Louisiana	$106,950
Maine	$119,080
Maryland	$152,180
Massachusetts	$148,300
Michigan	$128,270
Minnesota	$133,970
Mississippi	$101,840
Missouri	$136,520
Montana	$109,940
Nebraska	$113,910
Nevada	$123,890
New Hampshire	$124,700
New Jersey	$175,880
New Mexico	$104,790
New York	$210,510
North Carolina	$149,710
North Dakota	$123,890
Ohio	$135,610
Oklahoma	$111,700
Oregon	$118,680
Pennsylvania	$156,730
Rhode Island	$145,120
South Carolina	$125,710
South Dakota	$132,030
Tennessee	$111,460
Texas	$149,990
Utah	$110,750
Vermont	$113,610
Virginia	$164,030
Washington	$136,480
West Virginia	$102,670
Wisconsin	$134,850
Wyoming	$116,920

What Tools & Technology do Treasurers and Controllers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Treasurers and Controllers may use on a daily basis:

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Hypertext markup language HTML
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Access
• Data entry software
• SAP
• Microsoft Project
• Structured query language SQL
• Microsoft Dynamics
• FileMaker Pro
• Intuit QuickBooks
• Oracle PeopleSoft
• Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
• IBM Cognos Impromptu
• Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
• SAP Business Objects
• Oracle E-Business Suite Financials

Becoming a Treasurer or Controller

What kind of Treasurer or Controller requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Treasurers and Controllers?

The table below shows the approximate number of Treasurers and Controllers employed by various industries.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Career changers with experience as a Treasurer or Controller sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Auditors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.