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Financial Controller salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a financial controller is $151,000 per annum, before tax, up $31,400 since 2018.
Pay at this level depends heavily on the size and type of organisation, because a controller at a large listed group manages more complex reporting and a bigger team than one at a private company. Membership of CA ANZ or CPA Australia, and the sector you work in, move the figure as well, and senior controllers often receive a bonus tied to results. Financial services and mining tend to sit at the upper end of the range.
Roles that pay more than financial controller
The largest typical pay rise is $101,200 a year, moving into Chief Financial Officer.
- Chief Financial Officer+$101,200/yr
- Corporate Services Manager+$1,500/yr
How to negotiate a higher financial controller salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time financial controller salary is $151,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Financial reporting and Auditing and assurance tend to command a premium over general financial controller experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Chief Financial Officer pays a typical $101,200 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Financial Controller salary questions
How much do financial controllers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a financial controller is $151,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is financial controller pay rising or falling?
The median financial controller salary is up $31,400 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than financial controller?
Chief Financial Officer pays a typical $101,200 a year more and draws on similar skills to financial controller.