The controller owns the books for every entity the family owns: operating companies, partnerships, trusts, foundations and personal accounts. In a small office the controller is often the most senior finance person and reports directly to the principal.
Family Office Controller salary
We estimate $175K–$240K base salary for a controller at a US single family office managing $250M–$1B, with a typical bonus of 15–25%. Smaller offices pay about 15% less and $1B+ offices about 20% more. The controller median base salary was $180,000 (middle half $150,000–$210,750) in Morgan Stanley and Botoff Consulting's survey of 406 single family offices.
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Estimated base salary at US single family offices. A starting point, not an offer. How we estimate.
Controller salary by city
| City | Base salary (estimate) |
|---|---|
| New York City | $200K–$275K |
| Chicago | $180K–$245K |
| Dallas | $175K–$240K |
| Houston | $170K–$235K |
| Los Angeles | $195K–$265K |
| Miami | $180K–$245K |
| Palm Beach | $180K–$245K |
| Boston | $185K–$255K |
| San Francisco Bay Area | $200K–$275K |
| Seattle | $190K–$260K |
| Atlanta | $170K–$235K |
| Austin | $175K–$240K |
Family Office Controller job description
- Consolidate accounting across dozens of entities, trusts and partnerships
- Track capital calls, distributions and K-1s from private funds
- Produce monthly and quarterly reporting for the family and trustees
- Coordinate the outside CPA, tax and audit firms
- Manage bill pay, cash and treasury across bank accounts
Skills and background
- Multi-entity and partnership accounting
- Private fund and alternative investment reporting
- Family office reporting and accounting software
- Discretion and judgment with family members
- Supervising one to three staff
Typical background: 10+ years, usually starting in public accounting (Big 4 or a regional firm's private client group), then fund accounting or a prior family office.
Controller interview questions
- Walk me through consolidating 20 entities with different year-ends.
- A K-1 arrives three weeks late. What do you do?
- How have you handled a request from one family member that conflicts with another's?
- What would you change in the first 90 days of a new office?
More in our guide to family office interview questions.
How we recruit a controller
We run retained searches for this role: a brief with you (and the principal where it matters), a shortlist of three to five vetted candidates, confidential interviews, and support through the offer and the first 90 days. Start a search.
Questions
What does a family office controller earn?
We estimate $175K–$240K base salary at a US single family office managing $250M–$1B, plus a typical bonus of 15–25% of base. Pay varies by city and office size.
What does a family office controller do?
The controller owns the books for every entity the family owns: operating companies, partnerships, trusts, foundations and personal accounts. In a small office the controller is often the most senior finance person and reports directly to the principal.
What background does a controller need?
10+ years, usually starting in public accounting (Big 4 or a regional firm's private client group), then fund accounting or a prior family office.
How do you recruit a controller?
We usually run a retained search: a brief with the family, a vetted shortlist, confidential interviews and help closing the offer.