What Is a Project Controller and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A project controller is a member of a project management team that focuses on the financial health of a project. As a project controller, you work for consulting firms that provide management services related to information technology or human resources projects. You often interact directly with the project manager to define goals, and with clients to review project pricing and financial budget reports. Your job duties also include analyzing progress reports and monitoring the schedule to help ensure the effort is finished on time and under budget. On top of communication skills, having the ability to analyze financial aspects such as cost, revenue, and risk is crucial to your job as a project controller. Although a wide range of qualifications is common for this career, most project controllers have a graduate degree in business, accounting, or finance. Experience as a consultant or accountant is also typical.

To pursue a career as a project controller, you need a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Some employers prefer candidates with a relevant master’s degree or several years of experience working in the finance industry, particularly in financial management roles. A project controller needs strong computer skills and the ability to ensure that their project teams get the best pricing from vendors on necessary materials or supplies. Their monitoring and guidance are responsible for keeping a team on budget during completion of a project.

Job Summary

Our construction company has an immediate opening for a Project Controller to oversee the financials of our large-scale projects. You will collaborate with the project manager to determine budget and deadlines, coordinate payment schedules for vendors and subcontractors, monitor each phase to ensure the project remains within financial guidelines, and process expense reimbursements. We also expect our Project Controller to generate detailed accounting reports and present auditing documentation when necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review project budget and deadlines with project manager
• Coordinate payments to vendors and subcontractors
• Process expense reimbursement
• Monitor project to ensure it meets budget guidelines
• Generate accounting reports at the end of the project
• Oversee auditing of project financials when necessary

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field
• 5+ years of relevant accounting or finance experience
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Flexible schedule