Controller
Definition
The finance leader responsible for accurate books, monthly closes, internal controls and financial reporting. The role sits between the bookkeeper and the CFO.
Want a deeper explanation?
Bookkeepers record, controllers review and own accuracy, and CFOs plan and advise. Many growing businesses have the first and need the third, but skip the controller in between.
Without that review layer, small errors build up. Watch for: financial statements that nobody but the person who prepared them has reviewed.
Example
A controller reviews the bookkeeper's work, owns the month-end close, reconciles inventory and delivers financial statements by the 15th each month.