13 Nov How to Hire a Full-Time Controller
How to Hire a Full-Time Controller
A step-by-step guide to hiring a full-time controller: when you need one, what to pay, what to look for and the red flags to avoid.
A strong controller keeps your books accurate, your close on time and your audit clean. Here’s how to hire the right one.
Quick Takes
Define what the role covers at your company size, set a competitive salary, then interview candidates who have closed the books at a company like yours. A recruiting firm can reach candidates who aren’t actively looking.
When the close is slow or unreliable, the accounting team needs a leader, or an audit is coming. If the work only fills a few days a month, a fractional controller may be enough.
Our 2026 Salary Guide puts controller base pay at $138,000 to $271,000 at government contractors and $108,000 to $264,000 at nonprofits, depending on company size.
Usually seven to ten years in accounting, including time as an assistant controller or accounting manager, and experience closing the books at a company of similar size.
It helps, but it’s usually not required. Hands-on experience with the close and the audit matters more.
Start from our controller job description template, then tailor it to your company’s size and needs.
What Are the Steps to Hire a Full-Time Controller?
- Confirm the level. Make sure you need a controller, not an accounting manager or a CFO. Here’s how the three roles compare.
- Size the role. A controller at $20 million does the work; at $200 million, they manage it.
- Set the salary. Benchmark against current DC-area data, and include the range in the posting.
- Post a clear job description. List six to eight core duties, the reporting line and the work arrangement.
- Interview for the close. Ask how long their last close took and what they changed to speed it up.
- Check references. Ask former managers how the candidate handled the audit.
What Does a Controller Make at Each Company Size?
| Company size | Government contractors | Nonprofits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $138,000–$205,000 | $108,000–$140,000 |
| Medium | $155,000–$222,000 | $119,000–$168,000 |
| Large | $216,000–$271,000 | $140,000–$264,000 |
Base salary, Greater Washington area. Government contractor sizes: under $100 million, $100–$300 million, over $300 million. Nonprofit sizes: under $50 million, $50–$150 million, over $150 million. Source: SpectrumCareers 2026 Salary Guides.
What Are the Red Flags in a Controller Candidate?
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can’t describe their close process | The close is the core of the job |
| No audit experience | Your controller will run the audit |
| Only worked with much larger teams | They may expect support you don’t have |
| No government contracting experience, if you need it | DCAA and indirect rates take time to learn. See how to hire a GovCon controller |
So, Where Should You Start?
By deciding what the controller needs to fix first, whether that’s a slow close, a messy audit or a team without a leader. That answer shapes everything else.
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Hiring a controller?
Tell us what your controller needs to fix first and we will help you scope the role. Need cover while you search? Ask about a fractional or interim controller.