Are controllers still too busy reporting the past, instead of shaping the future?

This was one of the key questions I discussed with Rainer Veith at the Accounting Summit.

We touched on several key questions on the role of controllers in the years ahead:

➡️ From number cruncher to future shaper

 Many controllers still spend the majority of their time on reporting and compliance. Yet the real impact lies in becoming shapers of the future, moving away from past-oriented reporting towards strategic sparring with management.

➡️ Speed vs. accuracy

 Is “80% accurate today” more valuable than “100% accurate in a month”? Rainer emphasized that in fast-moving markets, better decisions often come from good-enough data delivered quickly, not perfect numbers that arrive too late.

➡️ Excel artistry vs. AI

 What happens when algorithms can generate forecasts in seconds that are more precise than anything we could ever build in Excel? We agreed: the true value of Controlling is no longer in calculating, but in interpreting and in asking the right questions.

➡️Data democratization

With dashboards and self-service BI, a manager can access KPIs directly. So do we still need controllers? Our discussion: yes, but in the role of translators, ensuring consistency in interpretation and turning data into decisions.

➡️ KPIs as religion

Too often we manage what’s easy to measure, not what really matters. KPIs are essential for orientation, but the strategic context must never be lost.

➡️ The “Bad Cop” image

 Controllers are often seen as the ones who cut budgets or block projects. Rainer challenged whether we’ve created that perception ourselves and how we can instead shift the focus toward value creation.

My takeaway: controlling is at a crossroads. According to EY survey from 2024, 86% of controllers know it too. 

Those who only deliver numbers will be replaced, those who shape the future will remain indispensable.