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Finance Careers in Vancouver, Canada

Controller in Vancouver: Salary & Job Market Guide

Vancouver blends a thriving tech and film industry with strong trade and natural resource sectors, and serves as Canada's gateway to Pacific markets.

Estimated mid-level salary: $67,000 - $90,000

Estimates shown in Canadian dollar equivalents for comparison across cities. Local offers in Vancouver are typically made in CAD.

The Vancouver Job Market for Controllers

  • Major satellite offices for Amazon, Microsoft, and other global tech firms
  • North America's third-largest film and visual effects production hub
  • Strong gaming industry with studios like EA and Blackbird Interactive
  • Growing cleantech and ocean-tech sectors

Top hiring industries in Vancouver: Tech, Film & VFX, Gaming, Trade & Logistics, Tourism. 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver: FAQs

How much does a Controller make in Vancouver?
A mid-level Controller in Vancouver typically earns between $67,000 and $90,000 per year (shown in Canadian dollar equivalents for comparison; local offers are usually made in CAD). 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 Vancouver?
Vancouver blends a thriving tech and film industry with strong trade and natural resource sectors, and serves as Canada's gateway to Pacific markets. Key strengths of the local market include: major satellite offices for amazon, microsoft, and other global tech firms; north america's third-largest film and visual effects production hub. The strongest hiring sectors are Tech, Film & VFX, Gaming.
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

TorontoCalgaryMontrealOttawaEdmontonWinnipegHalifaxVictoriaWaterlooNew YorkSan FranciscoSeattle

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