ACCOUNTING & BOOKKEEPING
Fractional Financial Controller Services
Implement the right guardrails to increase efficiency and elevate your financial reporting and operations.
Get More From Your Financial Reporting & Analysis with an Outsourced Accounting Controller
A financial controller is the leader for your accounting function. They’re responsible for maintaining compliance, accurate and timely books, financial reporting and analysis and the underlying processes that support it all.
Paro controllers can take on a variety of high-level duties, including:
-
Managing your accounting team and liaising across departments, vendors and leadership.
-
Optimizing inventory accounting, revenue recognition and monthly reporting.
-
Improving financial reporting quality with data management and budgeting controls.
-
Bringing automation and midcycle optimizations to streamline month-end close.
-
Implementing ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems for cross-functional agility.
-
Turning complex financial data into strategic insights to boost resilience.
Recruit less. Plan more.
Hit the ground running with on-demand accounting
expertise.
Controller vs. CFO: Different Roles, Unique Value
A Paro fractional controller can often provide ample financial leadership for small businesses, effectively bridging the gap between a controller and CFO until it’s time to hire C-suite expertise. But each professional offers specialized skills suited for specific business goals as you scale. Use the chart below to find the right leader or leadership combination to match your needs.
| Capabilities | Controller | CFO |
|---|---|---|
Accounting function oversight |
|
|
Regulatory compliance (GAAP, etc.) |
|
|
ERP Implementation |
|
|
Management accounting |
|
|
Accounting internal controls |
|
|
Closing entries (financial close) |
|
|
Budgeting & forecasting support |
|
|
Cash flow management |
|
|
Financial reporting & analysis |
|
|
Financial statement preparation/review |
|
|
Team management, hiring & training |
|
|
Long-term business & financial strategy |
|
|
Fundraising & investor relations |
|
|
Investment advisory |
|
| Controller | CFO |
|---|---|
Accounting function oversight |
|
|
|
|
Regulatory compliance (GAAP, etc.) |
|
|
|
|
ERP Implementation |
|
|
|
|
Management accounting |
|
|
|
|
Accounting internal controls |
|
|
|
|
Closing entries (financial close) |
|
|
|
|
Budgeting & forecasting support |
|
|
|
|
Cash flow management |
|
|
|
|
Financial reporting & analysis |
|
|
|
|
Financial statement preparation/review |
|
|
|
|
Team management, hiring & training |
|
|
|
|
Long-term business & financial strategy |
|
|
|
|
Fundraising & investor relations |
|
|
|
|
Investment advisory |
|
|
|
|
“Working with Paro has been a very rewarding experience. The team was able to quickly identify a truly
remarkable candidate for a CFO/Comptroller role, onboard her to our team and deliver on mission-critical
budgeting and financial operations.”
– Shanon Marks, CEO
When to Hire Accounting Controller Services
At Paro, we’ve perfected our pool of experts so you can spend more time looking ahead and less time on recruiting.
You’re managing financial complexity after a downturn
A part-time financial controller can jump in to immediately address complex financial issues like managing cash flow and optimizing manual processes without overspending on capacity or expertise you don’t need.
You’re preparing to build an in-house team.
You’re growing but not ready to hire full-time. Paro’s fractional controllers can ensure your financial systems are set up accurately so your future hire can hit the ground running. They can even help you hire the right talent.
You need more disciplined finances after growth.
As your revenue grows, so do your compliance concerns and need for robust financial reports. Around the $10M mark is the time to hire a part-time financial controller to align with GAAP and other accounting standards. A controller can also help your growing team streamline manual processes.
You want to free people up and gain efficiency.
Financial controller services go beyond the capabilities of your bookkeeper, accountant or , accountant by helping manage financial complexity, mitigate fraud risk and provide the financial reports you need to support decision-making. A controller can also relieve an overtaxed CFO so they can focus on the big picture.
Your controller has given notice.
Paro’s controllers can step in immediately to mitigate disruption caused by turnover. Whether you need interim or long-term support, our experts bring value by reducing risk, ensuring compliance and providing strategic financial guidance.
In-Demand Skills, On Demand: Hiring a Controller With Paro
At Paro, we’ve perfected the way we recruit so you don’t have to.
-
Knowledge & Experience:
With extensive knowledge in accounting principles and practices, Paro experts average 10+ years’ experience at major firms and possess an MBA or master’s degree in accounting or CPA/CMA title. -
Diverse Skills:
Every expert completes a robust vetting process and skills assessment spanning technical, leadership and communication expertise, ensuring experts walk the walk across over 55 industries. -
Adaptability:
Procedures from just 5 years ago can become outdated fast. Paro experts regularly update their experience, skills and background info to provide up-to-date value.
Recommended Reading
CASE STUDY
CASE STUDYController Steers ERP & Expands Team for Short- and Long-term Growth
How a growing CPG subsidiary in need of an interim controller gained long-term accounting solutions, ERP implementation and doubled the team.
Read more › SUCCESS STORY
SUCCESS STORYStartup Improves Margins 15% With Financial Reporting Suite
How Agency 39A right-sized costs and investments with greater financial visibility.
Read more › CASE STUDY
Same-Day Service: How a Controller Reduced Cash Burn by 36%
How swift support stabilized operations and led to sustained efficiency gains, prompting a continued partnership.
Read more ›
Real-Time Business Solutions,
Seamless Collaboration
Paro’s AI-powered platform optimizes talent matching, speeds up processes and unlocks data-driven insights to solve immediate and long-term business challenges like never before.
-
Ready-to-start
expertise -
Streamlined
onboarding -
Full project management
support
Ready-to-start FAQ
A financial controller is a senior-level role responsible for overseeing a company’s accounting operations. This includes managing the accounting team and ensuring accurate financial reporting and regulatory compliance.
In addition to accounting tasks, controllers provide strategic insights to company executives. They may also oversee financial planning, risk management and accounting software optimizations, especially in growing businesses. In smaller businesses and startups, a controller may be the most senior finance executive, while at larger companies, the role may overlap with that of the CFO. A unique combination of accounting expertise and strategic capability makes a controller useful for driving both operational efficiency and financial decision-making.
No, it’s not. While an accountant can manage your books and provide some level of advisory, a controller takes it a step further by reporting more complex financial insights from those books. A controller also puts internal controls in place to ensure accuracy, efficiency and discipline throughout the accounting cycle.
Generally, yes, a controller should either have a master’s of business administration (MBA) or be a certified public accountant (CPA), if not both. At Paro, we make sure your expert has the qualifications and experience your business needs.
Outsourced controllers are hired on a freelance or fractional basis to fulfill a specific need, whether it’s to improve reporting, meet compliance obligations or backfill an employee. An interim controller can hold down the fort until you find a full-time fit. Outsourced controllers yield significant cost savings, as there’s no need to pay benefits, provide workspace or spend resources on recruiting.
Costs vary based on the scope, complexity and specific requirements. Paro offers tailored solutions to ensure cost-effective results.