How to become a Treasurer or Controller
Official title: Treasurers and Controllers
Also called: Comptroller, Controller, Corporate Controller, Corporate Treasurer, Finance Treasurer, Global Treasurer, Regional Controller, School Treasurer, Treasurer, Treasurer Consultant
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.
- Coordinate and direct the financial planning, budgeting, procurement, or investment activities of all or part of an organization.
- Prepare or direct preparation of financial statements, business activity reports, financial position forecasts, annual budgets, or reports required by regulatory agencies.
How to become one
Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant , securities sales agent , or financial analyst .
Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- College: Business & Commerce degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $166,570 a year The middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980.
- About 879,700 people work in this job now, and about 964,600 are projected by 2035. (+9.7%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Related jobs
- Financial Managers
- Investment Fund Managers
- Administrative Services Managers
- Facilities Managers
- Security Managers
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Treasurer or Controller?
Financial managers typically need a bachelor's degree and 5 years or more of experience in another business or financial occupation, such as accountant , securities sales agent , or financial analyst .
How much does a Treasurer or Controller earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $166,570 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $125,490 to $219,980.
Is a Treasurer or Controller a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 879,700 to about 964,600 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Treasurer or Controller?
Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Will AI change the work of a Treasurer or Controller?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
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.