Since its release in 1927, the Strong Interest Inventory® has helped job seekers identify careers that will likely be an ideal fit for them. It does so in a two-step process. First, individuals complete an assessment where they answer a series of questions concerning their interests, affinities, and preferences. Based on their responses, they are recommended their top categories of careers, each of which tends to appeal to individuals with certain characteristics. This recommendation is gathered from the comparison of answer patterns to professionals who have longstanding, fulfilling careers classified into one of six categories. For example, Conventional careers, such as Treasurers and Controllers, typically attract people who value organization and a close attention to detail, as well as those who prefer to work in highly structured environments.

Treasurers and Controllers are responsible for directing financial activities, including planning, procurement, and investments, for all or part of their organization. They may supervise employees in performing financial, accounting, billing or other duties, or may complete these tasks themselves.

Along the way, they monitor cash flow and reserve levels to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met. To stay organized, Treasurers and Controllers must develop internal control policies, standards, guidelines, and procedures for financial tasks, as well as maintain current knowledge of said policies. These standards ensure that in case of an audit, all records are easily accessible and accurate.

Another important component of Treasurers’ job is advising. They may need to use their insights to advise management or other internal departments on how to achieve their short and long-term financial objectives, or to help them identify opportunities for development or improvement. This assessment may include preparing financial statements, business reports, financial forecasts, budgets, or other documents that can give leadership an accurate idea of what is happening within their organization. In some cases, Treasurers may also prepare reports as required by government regulatory agencies.

The third key strand of Treasurers’ responsibilities involves managing people. They must evaluate the performance of financial staff, including accountants, and make recommendations regarding promotions and dismissals. They also need to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders who may be able to facilitate financial activities, such as experts in banking, insurance, and accounting. Recruiting and training staff to ensure they are capable of complying with company, local, state, and federal law is also important, as is handling all aspects of employee insurance, benefits and casualty programs.

Treasurers’ primary tool is their computer, augmented by a broad range of software. These software have a number of different purposes, including accounting (e.g., Intuit QuickBooks), business intelligence (e.g., IBM Cognos), customer relationship management (e.g., Blackbaud The Raiser’s Edge), data entry software (e.g., FileMaker Pro), enterprise resource planning software (e.g., SAP), human resources software (e.g., ADP Workforce Now), and network conferencing software (e.g., Microsoft SharePoint Server), in addition to the standards (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, email, and web browser software).

Treasurers need to have a strong foundation in economics, accounting, administration, and mathematics, as well as exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They also need to be able to express themselves clearly in written and spoken English, be able to understand large amounts of information quickly, and use that information to guide strategic decision making. They typically develop these skills in higher education—over 40% hold master’s degrees, over 35% hold bachelor’s degrees, and 20% hold a post-baccalaureate certificate.

Treasurers earn more than twice the national average income in the United States. The national median Treasurer and Controller Salary is $127,990, though the median in New York state is just shy of $200,000. Other financial states like California, Colorado, Maryland, and Pennsylvania have medians between $130,000 and $150,000, while smaller rural states like Idaho can have medians as low as $80,000. Demand for Treasurers is rapidly rising, and nearly 65,000 jobs are projected to be added in the next decade. More than 15,000 jobs per year are expected be created in California, New York, Illinois, and Texas alone—a growth rate of over 20%.

Below are some employment trends for Treasurers and Controllers:

• Treasurer and Controller Salary: $61.53/hour; $127,990 annually
• Employment: 654,000 employees
• Projected growth (2018-2028): Much faster than average (11% or higher)
• Projected job openings (2018-2028): 64,900

[Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections] [Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2014-2022 employment projections]

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Gain access to your best-fit careers, occupational preferences and interests with these career based Strong Interest Inventory® and MBTI® Assessments:

 

Explore our Strong Interest Inventory® Blog Pages:

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• Strong Interest Inventory Investigative Theme Explained 
• Strong Interest Inventory Social Theme Explained 
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• Strong Interest Inventory Conventional Theme Explained 

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References

1. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2018-2028 employment projections Onetonline.org