Actuary vs Financial Controller
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: mostly different jobs wearing similar names. Posted pay favors the actuary by about $23k at the midpoint.
108 open actuary jobs →291 open financial controller jobs →
The short answer
On pay, actuarys come out ahead by about $23k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $83k–$157k against $78k–$116k for financial controllers. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Actuary
actuary jobs · actuary salary · actuary career guide · careers for actuarys
Financial Controller
financial controller jobs · financial controller salary · financial controller career guide · careers for financial controllers
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
Actuary → Financial Controller
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What financial controller postings ask for that actuary profiles usually lack: SAP, Budgeting, Audit, Reconciliation.
Financial Controller → Actuary
What actuary postings ask for that financial controller profiles usually lack: Underwriting, Risk Management, SQL, Python.
Open actuary roles
Actuary II - ICS Reporting Lead - Remote at SymetraUnited States · Remote$129k–$215k2d agoApply- Actuary Associate II - Remote at SymetraUnited States · Remote$88k–$147k2d agoApply
- Actuarial Specialist at Direct employerIN Remote2d agoUnlock
Senior Healthcare Actuarial Consultant at Blake Willson GroupUnited States · Remote$130k–$180k3d agoApply
Open financial controller roles
(Senior) Finance Controller (all genders) at JustPlay GmbHBerlin (Hybrid)1d agoApply- Financial Controller at Direct employerMadrid1d agoUnlock
- Associate Finance Controller (JL3)-2 at Direct employerIndia, Chennai, 6001161d agoUnlock
- Area Finance Controller at Direct employerIndia, Pune, 4110141d agoUnlock
See the whole board for both
399 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Financial Controller vs Financial Analyst90% peak overlap
- Accountant vs Financial Controller88% peak overlap
- Financial Controller vs Payroll Specialist75% peak overlap
- Bookkeeper vs Financial Controller66% peak overlap
- Actuary vs Financial Analyst52% peak overlap
- Actuary vs Underwriter49% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, actuary or financial controller?
On pay, actuarys come out ahead by about $23k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $83k–$157k against $78k–$116k for financial controllers. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates. By seniority and country: actuary salary and financial controller salary.
Are actuary and financial controller the same job?
On skills, they are mostly different jobs that happen to share a name or a hallway. The overlap is thin, which is often exactly why people search this pair. The skills both sets of postings want most are Accounting, Forecasting, Excel, Lean / Six Sigma, Compliance.
Can an actuary become a financial controller?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical actuary profile covers 30% of what financial controller postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a financial controller become an actuary?
Going the other way, a typical financial controller profile covers 25% of what actuary postings ask for.
How many actuary and financial controller jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 108 actuary openings and 291 financial controller openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most actuarys at the moment: Direct employer (63), Humana (3), Symetra (2). For financial controllers: Direct employer (124), Jobup (8), Careerplus SA (8).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.