Assistant Controller duties and responsibilities

Assistant Controllers must be able to multi-task in order to complete the many administrative, organisational and analysis tasks required of the position. Their main duties and responsibilities generally include:

• Creating monthly, quarterly and annual budget reports
• Ensuring accounting practices are in compliance with legal guidelines
• Carrying out financial audits
• Creating financial statements for clients as well as upper management
• Collaborating with the IT department to create a system to maintain financial records
• Dealing with payroll, invoices, expenses and VAT
• Producing financial forecasts
• Presenting reports to upper management
• Reconciling accounts

Assistant Controller skills and qualifications

Assistant Controllers use their extensive industry knowledge, soft skills and technical abilities to help support management in assessing and improving the company’s finances. A successful Assistant Controller candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications that typically include:

• Extensive knowledge of economics, accounting, regulations and best practices
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with industry software
• Ability to collaborate and work well in a team
• Thorough attention to detail and highly organised
• Leadership and business management skills
• Ability to problem solve and analyse data

Assistant Controller experience requirements

An Assistant Controller advises high-level financial staff within a company. They must have at least three years of experience. They may have gained previous experience from a financial service company, such as a bank, as a trainee adviser or customer service adviser, where they could start in a lower-level position and work their way up the hierarchy.

Most companies require applicants to have a level 4 qualification in financial advice recognised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The level 4 qualification can be in one of the following: Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning, a Diploma for Financial Advisers or an Investment Advice Diploma.

Assistant Controller education and training requirements

Employers usually hire candidates that have obtained a bachelor’s degree in financial services, business management, accountancy or a similar field. Many applicants will have completed a higher level apprenticeship in financial services which requires four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 and A levels. In order to be considered for this position, applicants must be registered as an ‘approved person’ by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Assistant Controller salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an Assistant Controller in the UK is £21,743 per year. Salary is usually dependent on experience, location and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

Here are a few other job description samples that are similar to an Assistant Controller:

• Controller
• Financial Manager