Controller: education, further training, salary, job offers
What tasks does a controller have?
Controlling encompasses the entire process, from setting the target, to planning, to management in the area of finance and performance management.
This includes the responsibility for defining, deciding, managing. Therefore, controlling is assigned to a manager. They have to decide on goals and detailed planning. While the manager runs the business and is responsible for the result, the controller has the economic meaning and takes the responsibility for the results transparency. This interplay of the management and the controller accounts for the controlling in the intersection.
The management work is not tied to a specific company size, but must also be binding in small companies. Controlling does not have to be personal. However, the management must be oriented towards the goal and planning, be anticipatory as well as adaptive and decentralized. If a management that meets these requirements is not available, the controlling services make no sense.
Which requirements should a controller fulfill?
A controller not only has to have the ability to present and explain projects and results. They have to ask questions and be ready for discussions. They are also often required to deliver bad news or demand responsibility. In addition to good communication, rhetorical and also social skills, controllers need above all assertiveness and perseverance.
Basic mathematical as well as logical skills, but also entrepreneurial thinking (and acting) are basic prerequisites for successful controlling. For the latter, a business education is a good basis. In manufacturing companies, technical understanding is essential. The development of controlling knowledge is also necessary. Here, the controller learns to use instruments, to interpret results and to derive measures from them. The necessary data are usually determined by appropriate software. Intensive knowledge of the relevant programs and communication media are therefore also part of the requirements portfolio of a modern controller.
Source: ICV Controlling Wiki, „Controlling” [German]
What does a controller do? Tasks, perspectives, job chances
"A pea counter" - many thought and still think that this is a controller: Check business figures and make sure that they are correct or will be corrected. These times have been long gone. Today, the controller is a management partner, in a ideal case controller is involved in the planning and on this basis can make the figures behind the management objectives tangible, examine them, analyze, advise and, if necessary, take corrective actions. A controller recognizes also potential savings as well as development opportunities and synergies. Profitability has always top priority for a controller. In order to ensure this, controller uses their extensive tools to support them in planning, managing and reporting. The professional image of the controller is correspondingly challenging and complex.
Read about it [German]:
- FINANCE: Der Controller
- Karriere.de (das Portal von Handelsblatt und WirtschaftsWoche): Rechenkünstler/Wenn Controller Manager beraten
- Handelsblatt vom 28.06.2013: Berufsfelder unter der Lupe "Controller: Karriere als Erbsenzähler"
- Haufe Akademie vom 22.11.2012: Karriere im Rechnungswesen: Gute Berufsaussichten für Controller und Bilanzbuchhalter
- Vom Controller zum CFO: Siegfried Gänßlen im Portrait
Berufs- und Karriereaussichten für Controller
Hier zitieren wir aus nachfolgendem Beitrag auf Karriere.de: "Erbsen zählen war gestern. Heute sind Controller mit Organisationstalent und Sinn fürs große Ganze gefragt. Wer dann noch fit in Finanz- oder Risikomanagement ist, kann sich vor Jobangeboten kaum noch retten."
Lesen Sie dazu auch diesen Beitrag: Karriere.de (das Portal von Handelsblatt und WirtschaftsWoche): Rechenkünstler / Wenn Controller Manager beraten vom 11. September 2018
Fachkräfte wieder stärker gesucht
Nach dem Einbruch infolge der Corona-Restriktionen im 1. und 2. Quartal 2020 ist der Hays-Fachkräfte-Index Finance im 3. Quartal 2020 wieder gestiegen. Stärker gefragt als in den Vormonaten sind in diesem Zeitraum Wirtschaftsprüfer, Finanzanalysten und Finanzbuchhalter. Im Vergleich zum Vorjahr waren alle Positionen im Bereich Finance deutlich weniger gefragt. Neben Finanzbuchhaltern und Bilanzbuchhaltern sind die Controller laut Hays-Fachkräfteindex von der gesunkenen Nachfrage besonders stark betroffen.
Der Hays-Fachkräfteindex beschreibt für jedes Quartal die Nachfrage nach Spezialisten auf dem Arbeitsmarkt.
How to become a controller? Studies
There are several ways to become controllers. On the one hand, there is the possibility to acquire the necessary knowledge in a course of studies, for example by studying business administration with a focus on controlling. Within a dual studies deepening the theoretical knowledge from high schools or universities can be acquired parallel during practical training in a company.
HOCHSCHULEN IN DEUTSCHLAND MIT SCHWERPUNKT CONTROLLING
- Aachen
- Aalen
- Ansbach
- Aschaffenburg
- Augsburg
- Bad Honnef
- Bad Mergentheim
- Bad Reichenhall
- Bad Sooden-Allendorf
- Bamberg
- Bergisch-Gladbach
- Berlin
- Bernburg
- Bielefeld
- Bocholt
- Bochum
- Bonn
- Brandenburg
- Braunschweig
- Bremen
- Bremerhaven
- Brühl
- Chemnitz
- Coburg
- Cottbus
- Darmstadt
- Deggendorf
- Dieburg
- Dortmund
- Dresden
- Düsseldorf
- Eberswalde
- Emden
- Erfurt
- Essen
- Esslingen
- Flensburg
- Frankfurt am Main
- Frankfurt, Oder
- Freiberg
- Freiburg
- Friedberg
- Friedrichshafen
- Fulda
- Fürth
- Geisenheim
- Geislingen
- Gelsenkirchen
- Gengenbach
- Gießen
- Göttingen
- Greifswald
- Gütersloh
- Hagen
- Halle an der Saale
- Hamburg
- Hameln
- Hamm
- Hannover
- Heide
- Heilbronn
- Hof
- Idstein
- Ilmenau
- Ingolstadt
- Iserlohn
- Jena
- Kaiserslautern
- Kamp-Lintfort
- Karlsruhe
- Kempten
- Kiel
- Kleve
- Koblenz
- Köln
- Konstanz
- Köthen
- Künzelsau
- Leer
- Lingen/Ems
- Ludwigshafen
- Lüneburg
- Mainz
- Mannheim
- Merseburg
- Mittweida
- Mönchengladbach
- Mosbach
- Mülheim an der Ruhr
- München
- Münster
- Neubiberg
- Neubrandenburg
- Neuss
- Neu-Ulm
- Nordhausen
- Nürnberg
- Nürtingen
- Neuss
- Oldenburg
- Osnabrück
- Osterrönfeld
- Pforzheim
- Pfungstadt
- Potsdam
- Recklinghausen
- Regensburg
- Remagen
- Reutlingen
- Rheinbach
- Riedlingen
- Saarbrücken
- Salzgitter
- Sankt Augustin
- Schmalkalden
- Schwäbisch Gmünd
- Schwäbisch Hall
- Senftenberg
- Siegen
- Sigmaringen
- Speyer
- Stade
- Stendal
- Stralsund
- Stuttgart
- Suderburg
- Ulm
- Vechta
- Villingen-Schwenningen
- Weiden
- Weingarten
- Wermelskirchen
- Wernigerode
- Wiesbaden
- Wildau
- Wilhelmshaven
- Wismar
- Wolfenbüttel
- Wolfsburg
- Worms
- Wuppertal
- Zittau
- Zweibrücken
- Zwickau
How to become a controller? Studies and seminars
Anyone who wants to get to know controlling studies or courses and know more about them, has also numerous opportunities.
The CA controller academie has fully committed itself to the subject of controlling (offers in German and partly English). There are
- Systematic Training Programs (Controllers Five-Level Training Program, Bank Controllers Five-Level Training Program, Business Skills for Executives, Certified Accounting Specialists (CAS)
- Further training and specialization seminars (social competences, project controlling, information management and reporting, company management, financial management, accounting and company evaluation, controlling of functional areas, CMA Certification for Professionals
- Topic on Tour (controlling on the road)
- For beginners (controlling for non-controllers)
- Online Training (CAonAir Online Training)
- Inhouse (Inhouse Training & Coaching)
To the offers overview of the CA controller akademie
The Haufe Academie, for example, has various offers in the fields
- complete courses
- basic knowledge
- operative controlling
- strategic controlling
- specialized knowledge
- social competences
To the offer guide of the Haufe Akademie
Horváth & Partners Management Consultants offers, for example, a "Extra - occipational Certificate Program for Business Controllers (EBS)" within the Horváth Academy.
To the Certificate of the Horváth-Akademie
Besides there are many controlling seminars (to the overview)
At the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) in Germany, some further training courses are offered with the degree "certified controller (IHK)". We recommend you to contact your local IHK directly (to the IHK Finder by location or zip code).
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizincontrolling (DGfM) offers seminars in cooperation with the University of Heidelberg. You can find the current seminar program here. ICV members receive a discount of 35.00 EURO per seminar.
Correspondence studies or distance learning courses are also possible in the controlling area. Organizators are e.g.
Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg
Fernakademie für Wirtschaft und Management
Hamburger Akademie für Fernstudien
Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien
Wer sich gezielt über einzelne Lehrgänge ins Controlling einarbeiten oder vertiefen möchte, für den gibt es ebenfalls zahlreiche Möglichkeiten.
Die CA controller akademie hat sich diesem Fachgebiet voll und ganz verschrieben (Angebote in Deutsch und teilweise Englisch). Es gibt
- Systematische Ausbildungsprogramme (Controllers Trainingsprogramm in fünf Stufen, Bank-Controllers Trainingsprogramm in fünf Stufen, Wirtschaftskompetenz für Führungskräfte, Lehrgang Certified Accounting Specialists (CAS)
- Vertiefungsseminare und Spezialisierungen (Soziale Kompetenzen, Projekt-Controlling, Informationsmanagement und Reporting, Unternehmenssteuerung, Finanzmanagement, Rechnungslegung und Unternehmensbewertung, Controlling von Funktionsbereichen, CMA Certification for Professionals
- Thema on Tour (Controlling unterwegs)
- Für Einsteiger (Controlling für Nicht-Controller)
- Online-Training (CAonAir Online Training)
- Inhouse (Inhouse Training & Coaching)
Vom Controller zum Konzernchef
Gelungene Beispiele für grandiose Karrieren, die ihren Start im Controlling hatten, sind neben dem ICV-Vorstandsvorsitzenden Siegfried Gänßlen auch Dr. Richard Lutz, Kuratoriumsmitglied des ICV und seit März 2017 Konzernchef der Deutschen Bahn.
How much does actually a controller earn? Salary and income
EXTRACT from KARRIERESPIEGEL from 16.07.2015:
Factors influencing the salary
The salaries for controllers are actually at a high level. According to an analysis of the compensation portal salary.com, the telecommunication industry pays with an average of 71.300 EURO the highest salaries for controllers. This is followed by the aeronautics sector with 71.250 EURO, the pharmaceutical industry with 66.600 EURO and the chemical sector with 66.270 EURO. The average salary for all industries is around 59.500 EURO.
As a rule, controllers have graduated a degree in business administration. They must be able to think analytically and be familiar with bilance, accounting, business planning and budgeting; It is also helpful to know about reporting and information management. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Germany offers further training courses.
Already directly after graduation, graduates expect attractive wages. Beginners with one to three years of experience are happy to receive an average salary of 43.900 EURO. After three to six years as a controller, the salary increases to an average of 53.700 EURO and after six to nine years to 61.300 EURO. After nine years in the job the salary is 71.150 EURO - in the upper remuneration area even over 80.000 EURO.
Controller salaries - regionally comparisons
Large differences in salary are also evident when the company size is considered. According to this, controllers receive an average of 43.900 EURO in smaller companies (under 101 employees), 54.900 EURO in medium-sized companies (101 to 1000 employees) and 64.600 EURO in large companies or groups with more than 1001 employees.
Even bigger is the gap between controllers with personnel responsibility and those without. A head of department, which can manage up to 15 people, can earn around 140.000 EURO, one with responsibility for up to three employees comes to over 86.000 EURO. Employees without personnel responsibilities and thus without a managerial position receive on average 56.600 EURO.
In the comparison of regions in Germany, Hessen is the best with an average salary of 74.500 EURO. Baden-Württemberg is second with 72.250 EURO, followed by Bavaria (70.500 EURO), Hamburg (69.100 EURO) and North Rhine-Westphalia (67.750 EURO). The three closing places include Saxony (50.300 EURO), Saxony-Anhalt (49.100 EURO) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (47.800 EURO).
Das Karriereportal Stepstone veröffentlicht regelmäßig Studien mit unterschiedlichen Schwerpunkten. Hier können Sie den jeweils aktuellen Report nach kurzer Registrierung als Whitepaper herunterladen (auf den Text klicken).
Übrigens: Buchen Sie bei Stepstone eine Stellenanzeige für Controller/CFOs, wird diese automatisch auf unserer News-Seite im Bereich "Stellenangebote" eingeblendet. Hier zeigen wir Ihnen in Zusammenarbeit mit Stepstone ausschließlich Jobs aus dem Controlling-Bereich.
Welche Soft Skills braucht ein Controller?
Ein Controller sollte sein:
- kommunikativ
- exakt
- geduldig
- durchsetzungsstark
- einfühlend
Ein Controller sollte kennen:
- den Markt seines Unternehmens
- wirtschaftliche Entwickungen
- Branchentrends
Ein Controller sollte können:
- Präsentieren
- Kostenrechnung
- Leistungsrechnung
- Investitionsrechnung
- Betriebswirtschaftliche Kalkulationstechniken
- IT-Systeme bedienen
Laut Robert Half, Personaldienstleister für Fach- und Führungskräfte u.a. im Finanz- und Rechnungswesen, werden für die Besetzung von Positionen im Controlling in der Regel Mitarbeiter mit abgeschlossenem wirtschaftswissenschaftlichem Studium gesucht. Aber auch Quereinsteiger, die sich über Weiterbildungen qualifizieren, haben zunehmend Chancen.
A cost accountant or a controller?
Who knows the business better - cost accountant or controller? Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Weber, Chairman of the ICV Board of Trustees and Director of WHU Institute for Management and Controlling - Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar - has written an article for the Controller Magazin, issue 6/2018.
He takes a look back at the development of business administration, which has developed around the core topic of accounting. The merchants working there - including the cost accountants - enjoyed a good reputation. The decision-oriented cost accounting of the 1970s was an important factor in the development of business administration, away from the production-economic, but to the decision-oriented point of view.
Here are, says Weber, the beginnings of controlling. From investment controlling it extended to the corporate planning and thus to the operative rule management. The information base was always cost accounting. The result: Cost accountants became instrument specialists, whereas controllers, as the interface to management, became the contact persons of managers.
Professor Weber also explains in the article how controllers achieve the required "eye level" with the management. He also refers to his own studies. In it he stresses e.g. a cost accountant: "All my cost accountants know the business very well, we know the entire business processes better than the controllers...". In this context, Weber points out the warning that in the course of digitization transactional processes and thus an important field of learning are taken out of controlling. His conclusion: "So it could make sense for a controller to be more concerned with cost accounting again and to think of business partner not only in managers, but also in cost accountants!".
Why further education?
Board member Siegfried Gänßlen in the ICV podcast on the need for lifelong learning.
The controlling mission statement by the ICV and the IGC
Controllers
- design and accompany the management process of goal setting, planning and governance, so that each decision maker acts goal-oriented.
- ensure a conscious engagement with the future, thereby enabling to seize opportunities and deal with risks.
- integrate the goals and plans of all stakeholders into a coordinated whole.
- develop and maintain the controlling systems. They ensure data quality and provide decision-relevant information.
- as a business conscience are committed to the good of the organization as a whole.
The 10 core elements of controlling
Overview:
- Sustainable value creation
- Beyond the costs
- Dealing with symptoms is not enough
- Innovation and competitive advantages
- Taking actions above all
- Taking responsibility
- Business partner instead of a number cruncher
- Seeing the people behind the numbers
- Representing the company's value
- Being a person of integrity
Exchange and networking: the ICV is an expert
With around 6,000 members and more than 60 expert work groups, sector work groups and regional work groups led by regional delegates, the ICV offers an unrivaled offer to get information and advice directly from like-minded people and colleagues, and to benefit from experience, best practice and sound theory. In addition to individual members, the ICV has well over 100 corporate members. Controllers, CFOs, consultants and professors work together on tasks, strategies and visions in the work groups as well as in the Board and the Board of Trustees.
Events for controllers
... every year the ICV offers something new - nationwide, international, with current topics and long-term incendiaries in controlling. The Controller Congress, which is held every spring in Munich with more than 600 participants, has been the central, praised and well established event for more than 40 years. The ICV Controlling Barcamp in Berlin is an entirely new event for, above all, the next generation in controlling!
Controller Congress, Munich
Controlling Barcamp, Berlin
Awards for controllers
Once a year, the ICV awards excellent controlling solutions. Both the offspring (ICV Newcomer Award, application deadline April 30 of each year) and controllers already established in professional life (ICV Controlling Excellence Award, application deadline always end of January of a year). In addition, the ICV cooperates with the Péter Horváth Foundation at the presentation of the Green Controlling Award.
ICV Controlling Newcomer Award
ICV Controlling Excellence Award
Job offers for controllers
The International Association of Controllers offers a dedicated job offers search via the large German Stepstone portal portal. You will only receive job offers in controlling. You can filter the complete offer according to your needs by job title, company or a desired location.
We wish you a lot of success with the search for a new post!
For job vacancies in controlling, please enter your offer directly in Stepstone. It is then automatically displayed on our page.
To the controlling offers of Stepstone, dedicated for the ICV.
Questions? Wishes? Hints? Advice? Bring it on!
The ICV Team PR / New Media is looking forward to feedback and up-to-date information on the wide field of the controller job outline. Please contact Hans-Peter Sander (Head of the Team) or Brigitte Dienstl-Arnegger (Eeb Editor).
Hans-Peter Sander
ICV in the Controller Magazin (Association's pages)
E-Mail: presse{bei}icv-controlling.com
