SmartSuite for the Controller
The Controller runs accounting operations: the close, reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, treasury operations and the controls over them. They align SOX controls with close timelines, provide financial evidence and coordinate remediation within finance.
What you own
- Run the monthly, quarterly and annual close
- Own reconciliations, journal approvals and accounting policies
- Oversee accounts payable, receivable, payroll accounting and treasury operations
- Operate financial controls and provide SOX evidence
- Coordinate deficiency remediation within finance
- Prepare financial statements and audit support
Where the role sits
Each name opens that role's page.
Reports to
Direct reports
Works closely with
GRC processes
The shared GRC process map, highlighted for this role.
Owns
accountable for the process
Touches
contributes or approves
Depends on
consumes its output
How SmartSuite helps, suite by suite
Each card is the persona record from that suite's Users tab.
How they use SmartSuite
How they use the Finance Operations suite
Invoice processing
Routes invoices for review, coding, and approval with clear ownership and deadlines.
Payment coordination
Tracks payment status, exceptions, and timing to ensure on-time vendor payments.
Audit readiness
Maintains complete histories of invoices, approvals, and supporting documentation.
How they use SmartSuite
Financial Oversight
Reviews contract values, obligations, and spend alignment.
Risk Monitoring
Identifies financial exposure from renewals and commitments.
Audit Support
Ensures contract and vendor data supports financial controls.
How they use the People Operations suite
Payroll coordination
Tracks payroll inputs, approvals, exceptions, and deadlines.
Process visibility
Monitors payroll status across pay cycles and employee groups.
Audit support
Maintains complete records for payroll audits and internal controls.
How they use the Finance Operations suite
Cash flow monitoring
Tracks inflows, outflows, and upcoming obligations tied to operational and financial activity.
Liquidity planning
Supports short- and long-term cash forecasting with connected financial data.
Risk & exposure oversight
Monitors financial commitments, timing risks, and approval dependencies that impact liquidity.
How they use the Finance Operations suite
Close management
Coordinates month-end and quarter-end close tasks with clear ownership and status tracking.
Internal controls oversight
Ensures approvals, reconciliations, and documentation meet control requirements.
Audit coordination
Provides auditors with complete, organized financial records and activity history.
How they use the Finance Operations suite
Billing oversight
Tracks invoice issuance, delivery, and payment status across customers.
Collections management
Monitors aging, flags overdue accounts, and triggers follow-up workflows.
Revenue visibility
Provides up-to-date AR metrics and trends for Finance leadership.
How they use the Finance Operations suite
Reconciliations
Tracks and completes reconciliations with supporting documentation and approvals.
Documentation
Stores invoices, receipts, journals, and supporting records in one secure system.
Compliance
Maintains audit-ready records for internal controls, reviews, and reporting requirements.
How they use the SOX Management suite
Close process alignment
Ensures SOX controls align with close timelines.
Documentation support
Provides reconciliations and financial evidence.
Deficiency follow-up
Coordinates remediation actions within finance teams.
How they use SmartSuite
Reconciliations
Tracks and completes reconciliations with supporting documentation and approvals.
Documentation
Stores invoices, receipts, journals, and supporting records in one secure system.
Compliance
Maintains audit-ready records for internal controls, reviews, and reporting requirements.
How they use SmartSuite
Approval governance
manages routing and thresholds.
Audit readiness
tracks decision history and supporting documents.
Compliance reporting
maintains consistent financial controls.
How they use the Enterprise Service Desk suite
Approval routing
Manages spend approvals and finance-related workflows.
Documentation control
Ensures invoices and supporting artifacts are tracked.
SLA management
Monitors turnaround times and escalations.
How they use the Business Operations suite
Budget management
Tracks department budgets, approvals, and spending trends.
Operational cost reporting
Links financial data to operational KPIs and initiatives.
Workflow integration
Syncs purchase requests, invoices, and payments with operations workflows.
How they use SmartSuite
How they use SmartSuite
PO reviews
Invoice questions
Payment approvals
How they use the Third Party Risk Management suite
Spend analysis
Reviews financial performance and compares vendor costs to budget.
Payment oversight
Approves purchase requests and invoices tied to vendor contracts.
Vendor risk correlation
Connects risk scores with spend to prioritize monitoring and renegotiation.
How they use SmartSuite
Suites that serve this role
Products this role uses most
How SmartSuite supports this role
Close. Runs close checklists, reconciliations and approvals with status visible to the whole finance team.
Controls. Aligns SOX controls with close timelines and links reconciliations and evidence to the controls they support.
Ap ar. Manages AP and AR workflows, approvals and exceptions in one place.
Reporting. Reports close status, aging and control deficiencies to the CFO.
Industry reference
US GAAP or IFRS, SOX 404 internal control over financial reporting and COSO 2013 define the Controller's control environment, with PCAOB AS 2201 setting what the external auditor tests and sector rules such as FDICIA, CMS cost reporting and the Uniform Guidance adding reporting duties.
In their words
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