How to become a management controller? Decoding numbers to drive performance
NB: For reasons of readability and fluidity of the text, we use the term “management controller” in this article. This term obviously includes the functions of management controller. At BSB, we believe in equal talent and opportunities, regardless of gender, background, or identity.
How to become a management controller and analyze complex data to manage performance? Follow-up of budget, definition of KPI, development of Reporting, forecast analysis... Passionate about numbers, this operational and strategic role makes each controller a real Business partner. It's up to you to transform the financial data companies making strategic decisions!
In 2024, 12% of executive job offers concerned the function finance, accounting and management (source: Apec). Data that illustrates the importance of management control in the performance of organizations.
What missions And what skills are necessary to access this profession? Should we aim for Bac+5 studies, in initial training or work-study? And above all, what wage And what career prospects waiting for you? This guide accompanies you step by step to shape your career and stand out in the management control market.
What does the job of management controller consist of?
Imagine a growing business. Sales are growing, but costs are also rising. Who alerts management? Who offers solutions to stay on track? It is the role of management controller. True Performance co-pilot, he or she transforms numbers into clear guidelines to anticipate, correct and guide decisions.
Its main missions
As management controller, you give meaning to numbers so that they become real levers of action. On a daily basis, this role involves several essential missions:
- Develop and monitor the budget : prepare a provisional budget with each department, then regularly check whether expenses and revenues respect the established trajectory.
- Produce monthly reporting : create clear dashboards that show management where the company is at and what performance indicators should be monitored.
- Analyzing variances : compare the planned budget with the actual results, identify the reasons for the differences (increased costs, lower sales, etc.) and propose adjustments.
- Building and monitoring KPIs : margin, turnover per product, cost trends, cash flow... so many essential indicators for measuring performance.
- Anticipate thanks to forecasting : develop forecasts and simulate several scenarios to help the company plan and make the right decisions.
- Participate in monthly and annual closings : consolidate financial results to make company data more reliable.
- Contribute to BI/ERP projects : use tools such as Power BI or SAP to automate, improve reliability and make analyses more visual.
- Play a business partner role : supporting operational departments (marketing, sales, supply chain, etc.) by translating financial data into concrete recommendations.
Essential skills
In management control, your technical skills are essential. Mastering the right tools, understanding financial mechanisms and knowing how to model scenarios are essential bases for building reliable and useful analyses for the company. You need to:
- Mastering Excel and BI/ERP tools : go beyond basic formulas, create clear tables, use solutions like Power BI or SAP to make data lively and understandable.
- Have a solid foundation in finance and accounting : understand an income statement, a budget or a cash flow to know where the company is going.
- Model and render data : transform complex information into readable indicators and relevant graphs (data storytelling).
- Build dashboards and track KPIs : margin, profitability, cash flow... so many essential indicators to manage performance.
- Manage financial or digital projects : participate in the implementation of a new tool, a shared budget or automated reporting.
- Speak English : essential in an international context (group reporting, subsidiaries, partners).
Expected personal qualities
Tools and technical knowledge are not enough to excel in management control. What will make the difference is also your human qualities developed over the course of experiences:
- Rigor and reliability : the company's strategic decisions are based on your analyses, so they must be flawless.
- Critical sense : know how to question the results, understand why a number deviates and look for real explanations.
- Pedagogy and communication : being able to explain complex data simply, both to a director and to an operational team.
- Ethics and integrity : ensure transparency and trust in the processing of financial information.
- Vision business : go beyond the role of technician to understand global challenges and support the company's strategy.
📌 At BSB, we believe that human skills make all the difference. The unique devices Pathfinder™ and Leaderskills Institute, support each student to reach their full potential by developing their leadership. Because strategic skills are not innate, we help you reveal yourself and prepare you for positions of responsibility.
What studies to become a controller?
Management control is a profession that requires demanding training. To access it, it is recommended to aim for a Bac+5 in finance or in Business school. As soon as you leave the bac, several courses are available to you: bachelors, licenses or short courses. A business school offers an ideal environment to acquire both technical bases, soft skills and practical experiences (internships, international, work-study programs).
Possible courses after the bac
Do you know that management control will be your future job? Several options are available to you after high school. Among them, the BSB Bachelor in Management is a preferred path. In three years, this program provides a solid foundation in management, finance, marketing, law and data. Each year, Compulsory internships allow theory to be compared with practice and to strengthen employability. In the third year, a specialization in finance offers ideal preparation for further studies in Master Finance or Management Control. The Bachelor is also distinguished by its openness tointl, with more than 200 partner universities, and through career support that helps each student build their professional project.
Other courses exist, such as a BTS, a GOAL Or a Bachelor in economics and management. These courses provide a good foundation, but integrate a Business school as BSB offers differentiating advantages: the possibility of accessingalternation, a large network of partner companies, an experience atintl and individualized follow-up that accelerates professional integration.
📌 How to join the BSB Bachelor in Management?
- After high school, the entry into 1st year The Bachelor's degree takes place on Parcoursup.
- In 2nd or 3rd year After a BTS, GOAL or two years of licensing, applications are made via the parallel admissions.
Long studies: the Bac+5 course in business school
After a Bachelor or a Bachelor's degree, it is recommended to continue until Bac+5 to access management control positions. At BSB, the Master Grande École (MGE) is the preferred and recognized path in the world of finance.
In Master 2, several specializations are possible:
- Corporate Finance & Management Control : to acquire the fundamentals of the business (budget control, performance management, development of dashboards, control of BI/ERP solutions),
- Banking & Financial Engineering : a career path that leads to jobs close to management control, such as credit analyst, bank account manager or financial engineering specialist.
- Data Management & Business Analytics : to develop expertise on the exploitation of data applied to financial performance and strategic management.
These specializations can be followed in alternation (12 to 24 months in a company), a format that allows you to finance your studies and immediately put into practice what you have learned to access positions of responsibility more quickly.
📌 The BSB Master Grande École also offers broad opportunities atintl : possibility of following a 100% English track or of completing a semester abroad among more than 200 partner universities in Europe, America or Asia. A valuable intercultural experience that is a differentiating asset on the job market.
Develop advanced expertise with MSc
In addition to the MGE, BSB offers Masters of Science (MSc), intensive programs lasting 12 to 18 months, entirely taught in English. They allow students to develop a targeted expertise, in a resolutely international context.
Two options stand out in particular for those who focus on finance and performance management:
- The MSc Corporate Finance & Investment Banking, which prepares students for transaction finance jobs (investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, financial advice).
- The MSc Data Science & Organisational Behaviour, which trains people in data applied to organizational performance, strategic management and business transformation.
To join an MSc, you need to have a Master 1 French, of a International Bachelor, or be registered in Master 2 from the BSB Master Grande École program.
📌 Are you interested in these courses? Discover our Admission requirements to join one of our courses.
Salary and career development for a management controller
Choosing a profession also means looking reality in the face. The remuneration is already attractive for a first position, and the prospects for development are numerous.
Average earnings
At the beginning of their career, a management controller receives on average between €2,750 and €3,500 gross per month (source: Onisep). Remuneration increases rapidly with experience: a confirmed profile can reach between €42,000 and €75,000 gross per year, according to the size of the company, the sector of activity and the region. In some international groups or specialized sectors (industry, finance, consulting), salaries may even exceed these amounts, in particular thanks to performance variables and bonuses.
Opportunities for progression
Management control is a profession where you can quickly evolve if you continuously develop your skills and gain responsibility. The classic trajectory starts with a position of junior management controller, where we focus on budget monitoring and reporting. After a few years of experience, we become confirmed management controller, able to analyze discrepancies in depth and offer strategic recommendations.
You can then specialize in industrial management control (focused on production costs and margins), or to take charge of the management of a Business Unit. Some profiles evolve into functions of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Or of Business Controller, more oriented towards planning and strategy. Ultimately, these courses pave the way for positions of Director of Management Control, or even Deputy CFO, as close as possible to the general management.
Our Management Control Alumni
FAQ — How do I become a controller?
What diploma to become a management controller?
It is recommended to aim for a Bac+5 in finance or in business school. Some start with a Bac+3 (bachelor's degree, bachelor's degree), but to evolve quickly and access strategic positions, a master's level is strongly recommended.
What daily missions?
The management controller prepares the budget, follows the Reporting, make thegap analysis, defines KPI, prepare some forecast (forecasting) and supports management through a role of Business partner.
What is the salary for a junior management controller?
At the beginning of a career, the remuneration is between €2,750 and €3,500 gross per month (source: Onisep). With experience, a confirmed profile can reach between €42,000 and €75,000 gross per year, depending on the sector and region.
What is industrial management control?
It is a specialization that focuses on production costs, margins, inventory management and the optimization of industrial processes. The industrial management controller works as close as possible to the production teams.
What is the difference between management control and FP&A?
The management control focuses on operational monitoring and budget analysis, while the role of FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) focuses on the financial planning, the strategic scenarios and support from the general management.
To remember