Financial controllers provide critical oversight of accounting operations, financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls for Australian businesses. As companies grow beyond basic bookkeeping and approach $5 million to $20 million in revenue, controller-level expertise becomes essential for maintaining accurate financial records, managing month-end close processes, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Financial controller services in Australia cost $3,000 to $8,000 per month for outsourced controller services, or $130,000 to $180,000 annually for in-house controllers including salary and oncosts. The choice between outsourced and in-house depends on business size, complexity, and whether full-time controller attention is required or part-time expertise is sufficient.
This guide breaks down financial controller service costs, deliverables at each price point, and when each model makes financial sense for Australian businesses.
Financial controllers bridge the gap between transactional bookkeeping and strategic CFO functions, focusing on accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency in financial reporting.
Core controller responsibilities include overseeing month-end and year-end close processes ensuring timely and accurate financial statements, managing bookkeeping teams and ensuring quality control of transaction processing, implementing and maintaining internal controls over financial reporting and cash handling, coordinating external audits and managing auditor relationships, ensuring compliance with Australian accounting standards and ATO requirements, managing fixed asset registers and depreciation schedules, overseeing accounts payable and receivable processes, reconciling complex balance sheet accounts including intercompany transactions, and preparing management reports and variance analysis.
Controllers typically report to the CFO in larger organizations or directly to the CEO or board in mid-sized businesses lacking dedicated CFOs.
Melbourne Manufacturing Company at $12 million revenue employs a controller overseeing 2 bookkeepers, managing monthly close within 7 business days, coordinating annual audit, maintaining inventory valuation processes, and producing monthly management reports with variance analysis. This operational excellence enables the CEO to focus on sales and operations without concerning themselves with financial reporting accuracy.
Outsourced controller services provide part-time or project-based controller expertise at lower cost than full-time hires, suitable for businesses requiring controller oversight without daily full-time attention.
Basic outsourced controller packages typically include monthly financial close oversight ensuring all transactions are recorded, reconciled, and reported within defined timeframes, management report preparation including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, variance analysis comparing actual results to budget or prior periods, compliance review ensuring GST, payroll tax, and accounting standard adherence, and bookkeeper oversight providing guidance and quality control to internal or outsourced bookkeeping teams.
Services at this level typically allocate 15 to 25 hours monthly, suitable for businesses $3 million to $10 million revenue with straightforward operations, single entity structures, and basic reporting requirements.
Brisbane Services Business at $6 million revenue engages an outsourced controller at $3,800 per month providing monthly close coordination, management reporting, BAS review, and oversight of their internal bookkeeper. The controller spends 18 hours monthly, delivering financial statement accuracy and timely reporting without the $148,000 annual cost of a full-time hire, saving $103,400 annually.
Comprehensive controller packages expand on basic services to include detailed variance analysis with operational insights and recommendations, multi-entity consolidation for businesses operating through multiple companies or trusts, complex reconciliations including intercompany transactions, foreign currency, and derivatives, audit coordination and preparation including managing auditor requests and financial statement finalization, system implementation and improvement projects for accounting software upgrades or process optimization, cash management and forecasting oversight ensuring adequate working capital, and ad hoc financial analysis supporting strategic decisions.
Services at this level allocate 30 to 50 hours monthly, suitable for businesses $10 million to $30 million revenue with multiple entities, complex transactions, audit requirements, or significant growth and change.
Sydney Property Developer at $18 million revenue uses comprehensive controller services at $7,200 per month managing consolidation across 4 entities, coordinating development project accounting, overseeing construction work-in-progress reporting, managing lender reporting requirements, and supporting annual audit. The controller allocates 42 hours monthly, delivering sophistication unavailable from their internal accountant while costing $86,400 annually compared to $195,000 for an in-house controller, saving $108,600.
Some businesses require controller expertise for specific projects rather than ongoing monthly services, with pricing based on project scope and duration.
Financial system implementations including Xero or MYOB migrations, chart of account restructuring, and automated reporting setup cost $8,000 to $25,000 depending on complexity. Process improvement projects including month-end close acceleration, accounts payable automation, or reconciliation streamlining cost $5,000 to $15,000. Historical cleanup projects including fixing prior period errors, clearing aged reconciliation items, or preparing catch-up financial statements cost $6,000 to $20,000. Audit preparation for first-time audits including establishing audit files, preparing schedules, and liaising with auditors cost $8,000 to $18,000.
Perth Manufacturing Business undertakes a Xero implementation project with their outsourced controller at $16,500 including system configuration, chart of account design, historical data migration, automated reporting setup, and team training over 8 weeks. This project cost is less than 3 months of a full-time controller salary while establishing systems supporting future efficiency.
Hiring an in-house financial controller makes sense for businesses requiring daily controller attention or when financial operations are sufficiently complex to justify full-time oversight.
Financial controller salaries in Australia vary by location, experience, and industry. Sydney and Melbourne controllers earn $130,000 to $160,000 annually for mid-level roles managing teams of 2 to 5 finance staff in businesses $10 million to $50 million revenue. Brisbane and Perth controllers earn $120,000 to $150,000 for equivalent positions. Regional controllers earn $110,000 to $140,000.
Senior controllers with 10 plus years experience managing complex consolidations, audit relationships, or IPO preparation earn $150,000 to $190,000 in metro markets.
Adelaide Services Company at $15 million revenue hires a controller at $142,000 annually to manage 3 bookkeepers, coordinate monthly and annual reporting, oversee multi-state payroll tax compliance, and support their fractional CFO with financial analysis.
In-house controller costs significantly exceed base salary when including statutory oncosts, leave entitlements, and overhead.
For a controller at $140,000 base salary, total costs include base salary at $140,000, superannuation at 11.5 percent worth $16,100, leave entitlements at 17.4 percent worth $24,360, workers compensation at 2 percent worth $2,800, payroll tax where applicable at 4.75 to 6.85 percent worth $6,650 to $9,590, recruitment amortized over 4 years worth $6,000 to $12,000, software and technology worth $12,000 to $20,000, office space worth $7,000 to $15,000, professional development worth $4,000 to $8,000, and management overhead worth $12,000 to $20,000, totalling $230,910 to $267,850 annually or $19,243 to $22,321 monthly.
This represents 65 to 91 percent above base salary, often surprising business owners expecting total costs near quoted salary figures.
Finding qualified financial controllers in Australia is competitive, with strong candidates receiving multiple offers. Recruitment timelines average 45 to 90 days from role posting to offer acceptance. External recruitment fees are 20 to 25 percent of first year salary or $28,000 to $40,000. Onboarding to full productivity requires 4 to 6 months as controllers learn business operations, establish relationships with teams, and implement their processes.
Canberra Technology Company spends $94,000 recruiting and onboarding their controller including $32,000 agency fee, $18,000 in reduced productivity during 4-month ramp-up, $6,000 in owner time training, and $38,000 in first-month overlap with departing controller ensuring knowledge transfer.
Several business characteristics influence whether basic or comprehensive controller services are required and at what price point.
Larger businesses with more transactions require more controller time for oversight, reconciliation, and reporting. Businesses $3 million to $8 million revenue typically need basic controller services at $3,000 to $4,500 monthly. Businesses $8 million to $20 million revenue typically need comprehensive services at $4,500 to $7,000 monthly. Businesses above $20 million revenue typically justify in-house controllers at $19,000 to $23,000 monthly all-inclusive.
Multiple entity structures significantly increase controller work. Single entity businesses require basic consolidation and reporting. Multi-entity structures with 2 to 5 related companies require complex consolidation, intercompany eliminations, and separate entity reporting, increasing outsourced controller costs by 30 to 50 percent or $1,200 to $3,000 monthly. Large group structures with 6 plus entities, international operations, or complex ownership chains usually justify full-time in-house controllers.
Sydney Holding Company manages 6 subsidiary companies across retail, property, and services sectors. Their outsourced controller charges $8,500 monthly for 52 hours including full consolidation, separate entity reporting, intercompany reconciliations, and group cash management oversight. A single entity business of equivalent revenue would pay $5,000 monthly, reflecting the $3,500 complexity premium.
Businesses undergoing external audits require additional controller support for audit preparation, responding to auditor queries, and financial statement finalization. Audit year controller costs increase by $8,000 to $15,000 annually for outsourced services or require 60 to 100 additional hours from in-house controllers worth $5,000 to $9,000 at opportunity cost.
Certain industries demand specialized controller expertise. Construction and property development with retention accounting, progress billing, and work-in-progress tracking require 20 to 30 percent higher controller fees. Manufacturing with inventory valuation, job costing, and standard costing systems require 15 to 25 percent premium. Import and export businesses with foreign currency, customs, and transfer pricing require 20 to 30 percent premium. Financial services with regulatory reporting and complex revenue recognition require 25 to 40 percent premium.
Melbourne Construction Company pays $6,800 monthly for outsourced controller services specializing in construction accounting, including progress claim management, retention tracking, subcontractor liability reconciliation, and WIP valuation. Equivalent general controller services would cost $5,200 monthly, reflecting the $1,600 or 31 percent construction expertise premium.
Monthly management reporting is standard, but some businesses require weekly flash reports, daily cash position updates, or detailed operational KPIs increasing controller workload. Weekly reporting adds 25 to 40 percent to controller costs or $750 to $2,400 monthly for outsourced services. Daily reporting or real-time dashboards add 40 to 60 percent or $1,200 to $3,600 monthly.
Understanding what is included versus excluded in controller service packages prevents surprise charges and misaligned expectations.
Typical controller service packages include monthly financial close coordination ensuring all transactions processed and accounts reconciled, preparation of profit and loss, balance sheet, and cash flow statements, variance analysis comparing actual to budget with written commentary, compliance monitoring for GST, payroll tax, and accounting standards, bookkeeper oversight and quality control, balance sheet account reconciliation review, and unlimited email and scheduled meeting support.
Services typically excluded from standard controller packages and charged additionally include tax return preparation handled by tax accountants at $2,000 to $8,000 annually, BAS preparation and lodgement handled by BAS agents at $200 to $600 quarterly, payroll processing handled by bookkeepers or payroll services at $200 to $1,000 monthly, system implementations requiring extensive project work, one-off special projects like historical cleanups or restructuring, and unlimited ad hoc requests beyond normal scope.
Perth Services Business discovers their $4,200 monthly controller package excludes quarterly BAS preparation, costing an additional $350 per quarter or $1,400 annually. They clarify scope upfront to avoid surprise charges, bundling BAS into the controller package at $4,550 monthly for comprehensive service.
Direct cost comparison helps businesses choose the right controller model.
For a business requiring 30 hours monthly controller attention, outsourced services cost $5,000 to $6,500 monthly or $60,000 to $78,000 annually at $160 to $220 hourly effective rates. In-house controller costs $19,000 to $22,000 monthly or $228,000 to $264,000 annually for 160 hours monthly availability, resulting in $95 to $110 hourly effective rates.
Outsourced services cost 26 to 34 percent of in-house employment for equivalent part-time hours, but in-house controllers provide full-time availability, deeper business integration, and team management capacity unavailable from part-time outsourced arrangements.
Brisbane Manufacturing Company at $14 million revenue evaluates options. Outsourced controller at $6,200 monthly provides 38 hours covering monthly close, reporting, audit coordination, and bookkeeper oversight, costing $74,400 annually. In-house controller at $138,000 salary costs $241,000 annually all-inclusive but provides 160 hours monthly including daily team oversight, real-time issue resolution, and strategic project capacity.
They choose outsourced services, determining 38 hours monthly is sufficient for their current needs. The $166,600 annual saving funds other strategic initiatives while maintaining financial reporting quality.
Outsourced controller services optimize costs in specific circumstances.
Choose outsourced controllers when revenue is between $3 million and $20 million without full-time controller requirement, monthly close and reporting processes are well-established requiring oversight but not daily intervention, bookkeeping teams are competent requiring guidance but not constant supervision, business lacks complex daily controller needs like real-time treasury management, flexibility is valuable to scale hours up or down with business cycles, or when access to specialized expertise in complex areas like consolidation or industry-specific accounting is needed temporarily.
Sydney Technology Startup at $9 million revenue uses outsourced controller at $4,800 monthly during growth phase. As they approach $25 million revenue with 4 entities and 40 employees, they transition to in-house controller, leveraging outsourced services during the period when part-time expertise was sufficient.
In-house controllers justify their higher cost in other circumstances.
Choose in-house controllers when revenue consistently exceeds $20 million requiring daily financial oversight, finance teams of 3 plus people need daily management and development, real-time financial information and issue resolution is critical to operations, complex operations demand full-time attention including multi-entity consolidation, treasury management, or sophisticated controls, audit and compliance obligations are significant requiring dedicated coordination, or when controller role expands beyond financial reporting into operational improvement and systems leadership.
Perth Mining Services at $45 million revenue employs an in-house controller at $247,000 annually all-inclusive managing 5 finance staff, coordinating monthly close within 5 days, overseeing complex equipment leasing accounting, managing lender covenant reporting, and supporting acquisition due diligence. The full-time requirement and team management responsibility justify costs unavailable through part-time outsourced arrangements.
Both outsourced and in-house controller models involve costs beyond headline figures.
Transition time when engaging new outsourced controllers requires 1 to 2 months knowledge transfer worth $3,000 to $8,000 in business time. Communication overhead for remote or part-time controllers requires more structured documentation and meeting discipline. Scope creep risk when requests exceed agreed hours leading to additional charges at $180 to $280 per hour for overages. Provider changes if dissatisfied require re-onboarding new controllers every 2 to 4 years.
Turnover risk with average tenure of 3 to 5 years incurring $50,000 to $120,000 in recruitment and onboarding costs per replacement. Knowledge concentration risk where single controller holds all critical knowledge creating business continuity vulnerability. Leave coverage requiring temporary backfill, work redistribution, or delayed reporting during 4-week annual leave. Performance management requiring owner time addressing underperformance or capability gaps. Technology dependency where controller advocates for expensive systems serving their preferences rather than business needs.
Adelaide Retail Chain's controller advocates for $180,000 consolidation software purchase providing marginal value over enhanced Xero reporting costing $12,000 annually. The owner recognizes bias toward complex tools and approves the cost-effective solution, avoiding $168,000 unnecessary spend.
Choosing the right controller provider or candidate requires evaluating multiple dimensions beyond cost.
Assess industry experience and whether the provider understands your sector's specific accounting requirements. Verify team depth including whether multiple controllers can provide backup coverage. Review reporting samples from similar clients ensuring quality and presentation standards. Confirm communication protocols including response times and meeting frequency. Clarify scope boundaries and what triggers additional charges. Check references from businesses of similar size and complexity. Evaluate cultural fit and whether working style aligns with your business approach.
Evaluate technical skills through case studies or problem-solving exercises testing accounting knowledge, system proficiency, and analytical thinking. Assess team management experience and capability to develop bookkeeping staff. Review communication skills and ability to explain financial information to non-financial stakeholders. Verify system knowledge in Xero, MYOB, or relevant accounting platforms. Check cultural fit and whether they will thrive in your business environment. Validate references focusing on reliability, accuracy, and initiative.
Outsourced financial controller services cost $3,000 to $8,000 per month or $36,000 to $96,000 annually depending on business size and complexity. Basic services at $3,000 to $5,000 monthly suit businesses $3 million to $10 million revenue. Comprehensive services at $5,000 to $8,000 monthly suit businesses $10 million to $30 million revenue. In-house controllers cost $130,000 to $180,000 salary plus oncosts totalling $228,000 to $295,000 annually.
Financial controllers oversee month-end close processes, manage bookkeeping teams, implement internal controls, coordinate audits, ensure accounting standard compliance, reconcile complex accounts, prepare management reports, and provide operational financial leadership. They bridge transactional bookkeeping and strategic CFO functions, focusing on accuracy and compliance.
Outsource controllers when revenue is $3 million to $20 million and part-time expertise is sufficient, saving $130,000 to $200,000 annually compared to in-house hires. Hire in-house when revenue exceeds $20 million requiring daily oversight, managing 3 plus finance staff, or when complex operations demand full-time attention. Outsourced services cost 26 to 34 percent of in-house employment for equivalent hours.
Standard controller packages include monthly financial close coordination, preparation of financial statements, variance analysis, compliance monitoring, bookkeeper oversight, reconciliation review, and scheduled meeting support. Excludes tax return preparation, BAS lodgement, payroll processing, system implementations, and special projects unless specifically included in scope.
Businesses $3 million to $8 million revenue typically need 15 to 25 hours monthly for basic close, reporting, and oversight. Businesses $8 million to $20 million revenue need 30 to 50 hours monthly for comprehensive services including complex reconciliations and consolidation. Businesses above $20 million usually justify full-time in-house controllers at 160 hours monthly.
Controllers should hold CPA or CA qualifications demonstrating technical accounting competence, have 7 plus years experience in financial reporting and team oversight, possess strong system skills in Xero or MYOB, and demonstrate management capabilities. Industry-specific experience is valuable for complex sectors like construction, manufacturing, or financial services.
Businesses $3 million to $8 million revenue pay $3,000 to $5,000 monthly for outsourced services. Businesses $8 million to $20 million revenue pay $5,000 to $7,500 monthly. Businesses $20 million to $50 million revenue typically hire in-house at $19,000 to $23,000 monthly all-inclusive. Businesses above $50 million revenue often employ senior controllers at $24,000 to $28,000 monthly.
Controllers focus on operational financial excellence including reporting accuracy, compliance, and process efficiency. CFOs provide strategic leadership including capital raising, board engagement, and business planning. Many businesses $10 million to $30 million revenue use controllers for operations with fractional CFOs for strategy, combining controller at $5,000 to $7,000 monthly and fractional CFO at $4,000 to $8,000 monthly totalling $9,000 to $15,000 monthly for comprehensive coverage.
Controllers coordinate month-end close ensuring all transactions are recorded and categorized, all bank and balance sheet accounts are reconciled, accruals and prepayments are processed, inventory is valued if applicable, intercompany transactions are eliminated for consolidated reporting, financial statements are prepared, variance analysis is completed, and management reports are distributed. Close duration ranges from 5 to 15 business days depending on complexity and process maturity.
Transitioning to outsourced controller services requires documenting current processes and reconciliations, providing historical financial statements and prior month close work papers, granting system access to Xero or MYOB, introducing the controller to bookkeeping team and key stakeholders, and allowing 1 to 2 months for the controller to learn business operations and establish their processes. Initial transition costs $3,000 to $8,000 in business time but enables long-term cost savings.
Scale Suite provides financial controller services as part of our embedded finance packages for Australian businesses. Our controller-level oversight is included in monthly engagements starting at $2,500, integrating with bookkeeping, compliance, and CFO advisory services.
Our controller services include monthly close coordination ensuring accurate and timely financial statements, management reporting with variance analysis and commentary, compliance monitoring for Australian accounting standards and ATO requirements, bookkeeper oversight and quality control, complex reconciliation support including multi-entity consolidation, audit coordination and preparation, system implementation guidance, and unlimited email and Slack support for daily queries.
We deliver controller services integrated with bookkeeping and CFO functions, providing comprehensive financial management through a single team rather than coordinating separate bookkeepers, controllers, and advisors. This integrated approach typically costs $3,000 to $6,000 monthly for businesses $5 million to $30 million revenue, delivering equivalent outcomes to in-house controllers at $19,000 to $23,000 monthly while providing broader expertise.
Businesses choose Scale Suite controller services when requiring professional financial oversight without full-time employment costs, seeking integrated teams rather than fragmented service providers, valuing daily Slack communication and rapid response times, or needing flexibility to scale services with business growth.
For businesses comparing financial controller service costs, Scale Suite typically delivers superior outcomes at 20 to 35 percent of in-house controller employment costs through our integrated finance team model.
Visit www.scalesuite.com.au/services/finance to explore whether integrated controller services suit your requirements.
Scale Suite delivers embedded finance and human resource services for ambitious Australian businesses.Our Sydney-based team integrates with your daily operations through a shared platform, working like part of your internal staff but with senior-level expertise. From complete bookkeeping to strategic CFO insights, we deliver better outcomes than a single hire - without the recruitment risk, training time, or full-time salary commitment.
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