In a corporate environment, a controller supervises all other accounting staff and usually reports to a chief financial officer or director of finance.
In addition to their supervisory role, they will be responsible for monitoring and approving the financial processes and reporting of their department.
In addition to general accounting duties, they help company's management to analyze the economic health of the organization, usually through timely financial reports and counsel.
Typical duties of a staff accountant include preparing journal entries and reconciliations.
They may or may not have a bachelor's degree, and their main responsibilities will usually include reconciling accounts and preparing preliminary reports.