5 Things Every Financial Controller Should Know in 2026
Finance
Financial Control has always centered on accuracy. But in 2026, accuracy alone won’t keep you at the table. Speed, adaptability, and credibility are now the real currency of trust. Controllers who only reconcile numbers risk being left behind.
The reality is stark: 69% of finance transformation projects run slower than expected. And finance teams spend up to 30% of their time on manual reconciliation and data prep instead of analysis.
As 2026 approaches, financial controllers face a hard truth: precision is assumed. The teams that stand out will be the ones that close faster, cut repetitive work, and deliver insights the business can act on in real time.
Here are the top 5 things every financial controller should know closing this year and in 2026.
1. Accuracy is assumed, speed is expected
Executives no longer celebrate reconciled books. They expect accuracy by default. What they want is speed. Many organizations’ month-end close takes 1 to 2 business weeks due to inefficient reconciliation. Leading controllers are moving to closes measured in days, not weeks.
2. Artificial intelligence for real-time decision making
By 2030, Gartner predicts that 70% of finance functions will use AI for real-time decision making. Financial Controllers aren’t just responsible for “closing the books” anymore. Controllers who have traditionally focused on month-end and quarterly closes will need to adapt to a world where insights are expected on demand.
3. Audit chaos can’t be an annual surprise
Scrambling to produce evidence weeks after year-end is no longer acceptable. Auditors want documentation trails that are ready on demand. Controllers that can show traceability for every number in real time build trust with external stakeholders - and spend less time defending their work.
4. Data transparency matters more than reports
Gartner notes that more than 75% of finance organizations are undergoing transformation projects, but only 30% succeed - largely because they fail to deliver true visibility into how numbers connect. For Financial Controllers, 2026 will mean ensuring every number in a report can be instantly tied back to its source.
5. Automation isn’t optional anymore
Manual reconciliations, copy-pasting between spreadsheets, and late nights chasing down errors are dead ends. The controllers who succeed in 2026 are the ones who embrace automation. From examples in manufacturing to AP automation, finance teams are already proving that automation in Excel can eliminate bottlenecks, speed up variance analysis, and keep documentation audit-ready.
Leverage technology the right way: DataSnipper for Financial Control
DataSnipper for Financial Control is designed to take the grind out of financial procedures. Instead of wasting cycles on manual reconciliations, invoice checks, or statement prep, controllers can automate these steps directly in Excel.
Here’s how DataSnipper helps FC teams:
- Automate invoice reconciliation: Match thousands of invoices against a report data in seconds. Save extraction templates for repeat use, boosting standardization across every close cycle.
- Easily scope and review contracts: Use OCR-powered search to pull key terms, obligations, and risks without manual typing, cutting down review time and errors.
- Reconcile financial documents faster: Cross-reference supporting evidence to verify entries instantly. Controllers spend less time checking and more time investigating discrepancies.
- Validate financial statements with confidence: Prepare reporting requirements efficiently, create easy-to-review documentation, and strengthen compliance through automated cross-referencing.
Beyond accuracy: stay ready in 2026
Financial Control in 2026 will reward controllers who are fast, transparent, and adaptable. Accuracy alone won’t get you there. If your month-end is still a grind, your audit prep a scramble, and your team burned out, it’s time to rethink your approach. Controllers who embrace automation today will own the conversation tomorrow.
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