Comptroller (Financial) Salary

A comptroller holds a high-level management position overseeing a company's accounting policies and procedures. He or she ensures proper financial reporting in accordance with accounting policies, and this individual often analyzes various budgets and forecasts for accuracy as well. Additionally, the comptroller works with accounting managers to help ensure that all of a company’s procedures adhere to standard accounting practices. He or she may coordinate and perform regular audits for departments within their company to help maintain financial integrity and best practices.

For financial reporting, the comptroller must work hand in hand with all accounting managers and personnel to ensure that proper procedures have been followed. The reports issued by the comptroller are frequently used as part of a company’s official financial statement, and, as such, this reporting may be scrutinized by external auditors and regulators.

The comptroller works with the financial officers of the company on budgetary and forecasting issues as well. The person in this position must ensure that forecasts are reasonable and attainable. They also must help determine whether submitted budgets match available organizational financial resources.

To work as a comptroller, an individual must have a strong educational background in accounting or actuarial science. Many companies only consider persons for this position who also possess postbaccalaureate education in finance or business management. Additionally, extensive accounting and accounting management experience is required for this job. A comptroller works in an office environment, typically 40 to 50 hours per week during regular business hours. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Comptroller (Financial) Tasks

• Complete account invoices, process incoming and outgoing payments, and review payroll and benefits.
• Handle an office's finances, prepare budgets, oversee accounts and statements, generate cost analysis reports, and perform analysis.
• Create and maintain a government agency or office's financial policies, procedures, and reporting systems.
• Ensure that financial records are kept accurately and according to both internal and government regulations.

For Comptrollers, Washington provides a pay rate that is 72 percent greater than the national average. Comptrollers can also look forward to large paychecks in cities like New York (+50 percent), Dallas (+28 percent), Houston (+18 percent), and Miami (+9 percent). Place of residence plays a huge part in a Comptroller's salary, with Orlando Comptrollers earning salaries that are 26 percent less than the national average. Employers pay around 26 percent less in Tallahassee and 19 percent less in Birmingham, below-median salaries for those in this field.