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Finance Careers in Los Angeles, United States

Controller in Los Angeles: Salary & Job Market Guide

Los Angeles is the global capital of entertainment and a sprawling, diverse economy spanning media, aerospace, trade, and a fast-growing tech scene in Silicon Beach.

Estimated mid-level salary: $92,000 - $124,000

Estimates shown in Canadian dollar equivalents for comparison across cities. Local offers in Los Angeles are typically made in USD.

The Los Angeles Job Market for Controllers

  • Entertainment and streaming giants: Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros
  • SpaceX and a resurgent aerospace and defence corridor
  • Largest port complex in the western hemisphere drives logistics jobs
  • Silicon Beach hosts Snap, Google, and hundreds of startups

Top hiring industries in Los Angeles: Entertainment, Aerospace, Tech, Trade & Logistics, Fashion. For a controller, that means tailoring your resume to the sectors doing the most local hiring, and using the exact skill keywords those employers screen for.

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About the Controller Role

Controllers own a company's accounting function: the close, financial statements, controls, and the team that produces them. It is the most common destination for CPAs in industry and the standard stepping stone to CFO.

Skills Los Angeles employers look for

  • Financial reporting leadership
  • Internal controls
  • Team management
  • ERP ownership
  • Audit management
  • Cash flow management
  • Process improvement

For the full career path, salary bands by seniority, and complete FAQs, see the main Controller career guide.

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Controller in Los Angeles: FAQs

How much does a Controller make in Los Angeles?
A mid-level Controller in Los Angeles typically earns between $92,000 and $124,000 per year (shown in Canadian dollar equivalents for comparison; local offers are usually made in USD). Senior professionals and leads earn meaningfully more, and pay varies with company size and specialization.
What is the job market like for a Controller in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is the global capital of entertainment and a sprawling, diverse economy spanning media, aerospace, trade, and a fast-growing tech scene in Silicon Beach. Key strengths of the local market include: entertainment and streaming giants: disney, netflix, warner bros; spacex and a resurgent aerospace and defence corridor. The strongest hiring sectors are Entertainment, Aerospace, Tech.
What is the difference between a controller and a CFO?
The controller runs accounting: accurate books, clean audits, strong controls. The CFO runs finance strategy: capital raising, investor relations, planning, and often IT and legal. Controllers who add FP&A exposure, treasury, and board-level communication skills position themselves for the CFO seat.
How many years of experience does it take to become a controller?
Typically eight to twelve years: several in public accounting or staff roles, then accounting manager and assistant controller stops. Smaller companies promote faster; a startup controller at year six is common, while large public-company controllerships usually require deeper SOX and reporting experience.

Controller Jobs in Other Cities

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