Working as a Business Controller means being accountable for the financial representation of a business’s activities from many different angles. It requires experience in a variety of domains and is made tremendously more efficient when closely tied to the implementation of related systems & processes in order to deliver predictable, reliable results. This means building yourself a rich toolbox, all the while relying on a deeply ingrained operating framework.
Obviously that kind of rich background isn’t built in a void. I owe my gratitude to the many colleagues with whom I interact on an ongoing basis. In no particular order, these include or have included: Accountants, Controllers, CEOs, CFOs, Human Resources Specialists, Project Managers, Purchasing Specialists, Developers, Technical Infrastructure Specialists, Legal Counselors, Shop Floor Operators, Tax Specialists, Auditors, Marketing Specialists, Salespeople, … They all help – or helped – make my work environment rich in challenges, learning opportunities and even good fun.
Below are pointers to subjects a business controller should be – or strive to become – proficient at. Most of them are rather universal in nature and have served me well so far in the following domains:
- IT Infrastructure Services
- Software Application Development
- Human Resources
- Financial Services
- Sales
- Manufacturing
For a more chronological work history you can also view my profile on LinkedIn.
Controller’s Toolbox
- Data Modeling
- Story Telling & Data Visualization
- Project Management
- Enterprise Resource Planning platforms
- Business Intelligence technology stacks
- Excel, Power Pivot / DAX, Power Query / M
- Relational Databases & Data Warehouses
- Multidimensional Databases
Operating Framework
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Data Management & Quality Control
- Change Management
- Re-usability
- Versioning
- Reliability
- Automation
- Continuous Learning
Business Processes Ownership
- Budgeting
- Forecasting
- Mid-Term Planning
- Consolidation
- Headcount / Resource Planning
- Analytical Accounting
- Cost Allocation
- Unit Cost Calculation
- Chargeback & Invoicing
- Expense Recognition
- Revenue Recognition
- Reporting & Variance Analysis
- Statistical Analysis
- Materials Planning