If you are aiming to land a high-level executive position on the top rung of the corporate business world’s ladder, then you may want to become a comptroller. In fact, comptroller is often the top financial position in private corporations and the second in command in public companies just below the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Near the top of the financial hierarchy, comptrollers are managers who are given the responsibility of supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of their organization. In order to oversee the inner workings of financial departments, comptrollers must be very experienced in corporate finance to encourage strong fiscal growth. Read on to discover a step-by-step guide that you should follow to become a comptroller and reach your highest potential in executive leadership.
Build a Strong Academic Foundation at the Master’s Level
After completing an accredited bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, management, business administration, or a closely related field, you will need to further your education in graduate school. Many comptrollers decide to pursue a Master of Business Administration, which provides a broad-based overview of various business disciplines like finance, human resources, international business, business law, accounting, sustainability, management, and more. However, you may also want to consider pursuing a Master of Science in Finance or Master of Science in Accounting degree to further specialize your skills in ensuring organizations use proper accounting methods. In particular, taking coursework in auditing, financial reporting, budget analysis, corporate finance, forensic auditing, advanced accounting, forecasting, and financial management will be helpful.
Establish Your Professional Proficiency with Certification
Aspiring comptrollers who have completed a master’s degree are qualified to establish professional proficiency by completing accounting and finance certifications, according to The Constant Analyst. Since comptrollers maintain budgets and oversee accounting for their corporation, many decide to sit for the Certified Public Accountant exam. This is especially useful for graduates wishing to become comptrollers for state governments to demonstrate competence in governmental accounting practices. Aside from becoming a CPA, comptrollers may also be interested in bulking up the letters after their name by becoming Chartered Financial Analysts or Certified Management Accountants, depending on future career goals. All certifications will require you to complete continuing education courses, which will further enhance your expertise in working towards comptrollership.
Develop Essential Leadership Skills through Experience
Comptrollers occupy a senior position within an organization, so you should be prepared to put in several years of work experience in accounting and internal auditing to reach this executive-level title. It is recommended that you begin seeking positions of responsibility in your company’s accounting or auditing department to start developing the practical leadership skills that are needed to become a comptroller. In order to prepare for your future role in ensuring that financial reports maintain accuracy, you should strive to enter management level positions in accounting to get comfortable in reviewing the work of your colleagues. Not only will this build the soft skills to influence and report to company leaders, but it will also help you start building relationships with senior financial executives.
Related Resource: Internal Auditor
While there is a large amount of internal competition among corporations for finding financial experts, there is expected to be an increasing demand for comptrollers with experience in controls and compliance. When you follow these steps to become a comptroller, you will have the highest chance of advancing to this executive position and begin supervising several financial aspects of companies or government organizations.
