Description
As your company grows, the number and complexity of transactions may also increase. This is typically when most companies need a financial controller. While bookkeepers generally handle the day-to-day processing of transactions, financial controllers are usually brought into growing, more complex companies to oversee the bookkeepers and to provide financial reporting and other key performance indicators (KPIs) of how the business is performing.
Some of the vital information financial controllers will provide to business owners include:
The financial condition (health) of your business
Sources and uses of cash
Accounts Receivables
Accounts Payable
The profitability of the business
An analysis of other costs, including but not limited to direct costs and general and administrative expenses (G&A).
What is the Financial Controller?
In smaller and mid-sized companies, the financial controller is often the senior accountant and financial advisor. It is often prevalent in smaller companies for the controller to perform some of the functions usually performed by a chief financial officer (CFO) in larger companies. In addition to supervising the bookkeeper, one of the most essential functions of the financial controller is to prepare financial reports for management. Once these reports are prepared, a best practice is for the controller to have a meeting with management to provide an analysis of the reports and the implications for their business to help them make more informed decisions.
Responsibilities
Preparation of financial statements, including:
Balance sheets
Income statements (profit and loss statements)
Statements of cash flows
General and administrative expenses
Regulatory reports
Management reports
Cash collections
Vendor payments
Bank reconciliations
Maintain the fixed asset sub-ledger and record depreciation
Maintain the prepaid insurance schedule and document the related amortization
General ledger account analysis
Reconciliations of sub-ledgers to the general ledger
Preparation of specific tax returns (Payroll taxes, Sales taxes)
Coordinating and working with outside accountants
Developing and implementing internal controls and related procedures
Compliance with regulations
Benefits of Hiring a Financial Controller
In today’s workplace, most companies work in automated environments that facilitate or enable working remotely. As such, there is a greater demand for professionals that can work remotely or virtually.
A virtual financial controller provides the same services and benefits you would expect from a controller working on-site. The virtual controller would obtain access to the company’s systems, applications, and files remotely, perform the same tasks and deliver the same reports as when working on-site.
The key to success is maintaining regular communication with management, so expectations are understood and met. Ultimately, there is no difference in the benefits that a company will realize from the financial controller, whether the work is performed virtually (remotely) or on-site.