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Treasurers and Controllers

In the Treasurers and Controllers occupation, workers direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization. O*NET rates it as considerable preparation, which usually means a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience. It leans on complex problem solving, management of financial resources, and judgment and decision making. The job can ask you to monitor financial activities and details, such as cash flow and reserve levels, to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. The strongest interest signal is Conventional (6.4 of 7), then Enterprising (6.2) and Social, which gives it the code CES. It tends to suit people who want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, and it offers little for anyone seeking hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world.

What they do

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

Main tasks

  • Monitor financial activities and details, such as cash flow and reserve levels, to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
  • Evaluate needs for procurement of funds and investment of surpluses and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with banking, insurance, and external accounting personnel to facilitate financial activities.
  • Delegate authority for the receipt, disbursement, banking, protection, and custody of funds, securities, and financial instruments.
  • Receive, record, and authorize requests for disbursements in accordance with company policies and procedures.
  • Advise management on short-term and long-term financial objectives, policies, and actions.

Skills

  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Speaking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Mathematics

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
  • You are comfortable relying on complex problem solving and management of financial resources.

May not suit you if

  • You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
  • You want to work with your hands for most of the day. Realistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CES takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.

Preparation

Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.

Also called

  • Comptroller
  • Controller
  • Corporate Controller
  • Corporate Treasurer
  • Finance Treasurer

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.