Controller Resume Samples and Tips

A controller is effectively the chief accountant in any organization, maintaining oversight of those within the department. In short, they help to regulate the regulators, doing so with good judgment and decisiveness built on first-hand experience.

However, as a more managerial role, they have to integrate the adequate perspective in their resume to accompany the advanced accounting savvy. A quality controller resume may be as much about presentation as it is experience.

Tips for Controller Resumes

The Big Picture

While the traditional accountant may count grains of sand in an hourglass, a controller rarely works at such a scale. Instead, they provide larger context for executives, serving as a historian of the ledger. As such, the role bears different responsibilities. A controller needs to decide what is worth prioritizing, how to maintain records, and conduct variance reviews as needed. Thus, while operations may not be a priority, a controller needs to demonstrate that they have the whole view on everything the money is doing.

The Size of the Ledger

Many operations need a controller to help with finances, but not all of their needs will be identical. In a larger company, the controller will have a CFO to report to, staff to supervise, and SEC reports to file if the company is publically-held. Smaller businesses may have overlapping responsibilities with CFO and bookkeeper. Likewise, if you’re working in government, the responsibilities will be quite different operating at municipal, state, and federal levels. Adjust the resume accordingly.

What the Numbers Are Doing

As stated previously, a controller serves to translate the numbers for elite management. However, since they typically build on ten or more years of experience in accounting, they’ve had opportunities along the line to prepare high volumes of statements, manage risks within the company, and improve efficiencies in specific areas. If you’re able to bring numeric figures to a resume for how you’ve helped change a business, all the better.

Controller Resume Samples

In order to create a high quality controller resume, it is important to find a great template and have the ability to put your skills and experiences into words. The following is a resume example for reference:

Consider the placement of details, the type of information that is important to share, and how you can characterize your own experiences in order to make yourself stand out against other applicants.

Additional Controller Resume Tips

• Changing Regulations – Financial regulation shifts with some regularity in response to the statues handed down by courts and laws passed by legislature. A controller’s resume should thus be ready to deploy specific terms about rulings and vocabulary from the GAAP as needed to help demonstrate first-hand knowledge and how to adjust to change.
• Non-Numeric Proofs – Increasingly, more high-profile businesses are insisting that their controllers have higher level credentials like CPAs and CMAs. If you possess or are pursuing such certifications, be sure to mention it, but be aware that individual states have different qualifying laws and you may need to verify you’re good for your state of practice.
• Planning Software – Depending on the scale of operations, fluency in Excel, Oracle, ERP suites, and other software may be necessary. As more companies have begun to use applicant tracking databases, it is important to make sure you list relevant software – especially if it is mentioned in the job advertisement – so that they find you in these searches.

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