Outsourced controller services: what a part-time controller does and when to hire one
Short answer: An outsourced controller is a senior accountant from an outside firm who owns your monthly close, reviews the bookkeeping, sets up internal controls, and delivers financial statements you can rely on, on a part-time schedule. A part-time controller is the same role. It fits companies whose books exist but are late, inconsistent, or not ready for a lender, investor, or audit.
If you are deciding between a part-time controller and a full-time hire, read fractional controller vs full-time.
What does an outsourced controller do?
- Owns the close: a checklist and calendar so the books are final by a set business day each month.
- Reviews the bookkeeping: catches miscategorized transactions, missing accruals, and reconciliation gaps.
- Produces financial statements: P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow with commentary on what changed.
- Sets internal controls: approval rules for payments, segregation of duties, and access to bank accounts.
- Handles accounting policy: accrual basis, revenue recognition, inventory, fixed assets, and prepaid expenses.
- Supports audits and lenders: schedules, documentation, and answers for auditors, banks, and investors.
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Roman Villard said Full Send clients get a dedicated account manager at a controller level.
Talk to Roman at Full SendWhat is the difference between a controller and a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records and reconciles transactions. A controller is responsible for whether the resulting financial statements are complete and correct: they review the bookkeeper’s work, decide accounting treatment, and run the close. Many companies use both, often from the same outsourced accounting firm.
Controller vs CFO: which do you need?
A controller looks backward and asks whether the numbers are right. A CFO looks forward and asks what to do with them. If you cannot trust last month’s results, start with a controller.
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When should you hire a controller?
- The monthly close takes more than a few weeks, or does not happen at all.
- A bank, investor, or buyer has asked for accrual-basis financial statements.
- You are preparing for a first audit or review.
- You have more than one entity, location, or revenue stream to report separately.
- One person can both approve and pay bills, and nobody reviews it.
- Your tax preparer makes large adjustments every year.
When is a part-time controller enough?
A part-time or outsourced controller usually fits when the close and review take days, not weeks, of senior time each month. Move to a full-time controller when transaction volume, entities, or audit requirements need someone on the job every day. The cost calculator compares the monthly fee with the full cost of an in-house hire.
What should you ask an outsourced controller firm?
- By which business day will statements be final each month?
- Who reviews the close, and are they a CPA?
- Do you provide the bookkeeping too, or review ours?
- Which controls will you put in place in the first 90 days?
- How do you communicate: email, a shared channel, or scheduled calls?
- Have you supported an audit or lender review for a company like ours?
Most firms hand you a report. We help you do something smart with it. Accounting, tax, and data services under one roof.
Roman Villard said Full Send clients get a dedicated account manager at a controller level.
Talk to Roman at Full SendBrowse fractional finance leaders and accounting firms on Sam’s List.
Frequently asked questions
What is an outsourced controller?
An outsourced controller is a senior accountant from an outside firm who runs your monthly close, reviews bookkeeping, sets internal controls, and delivers reliable financial statements on a part-time basis.
What does a part-time controller do?
The same work as a full-time controller, on a smaller schedule: owning the close, reviewing transactions, deciding accounting treatment, producing statements, and supporting audits and lenders.
When should a company hire a controller?
Common triggers are a slow or missing monthly close, requests for accrual-basis statements from a lender or investor, a first audit, multiple entities, or weak approval controls over payments.
Is an outsourced controller the same as a fractional controller?
Yes. Both describe a controller who works part time for your company, usually through an accounting firm.
What is the difference between a controller and a CFO?
A controller makes sure past results are accurate and on time. A CFO uses those results to plan cash, budgets, fundraising, and strategy.
What did Roman say about how Full Send works with clients?
Roman Villard said Full Send clients get a dedicated account manager at a controller level, usually working over email, with Slack channels depending on the scope of access.
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