What Does an Operations Controller Do?

An operations controller plays one of the most important roles in a business and is one of the highest paying positions. As one might imagine, this job comes with significant responsibility. In fact, a person's effectiveness in this position often determines the overall success of a company. While an operations controller can work in numerous industries, this position has five common job responsibilities. These include overseeing all company departments, managing personnel, optimizing goods or services, developing marketing strategies and analyzing finances.

Overseeing the various departments within a business is one of the key responsibilities of an operations controller. In order to create a thriving business, he must continually coordinate all departments and make sure that each one is performing up to par. For example, he may act as a liaison between the human resources department and sales staff when a change in company policy occurs. This practice helps a business run smoothly and minimizes mistakes. Consequently, he must have sound leadership skills and be able to establish rapport with others.

Efficiently managing personnel is another important aspect of this career. Since the performance of his staff is often a reflection of his performance, an operations controller must make sure that all departments meet company standards. Part of this duty involves hiring and training quality workers. Another part involves assisting different departments when necessary. To carry out these duties, a person in this position must be able to spot talent and provide staff with adequate training.

Optimizing a company's goods and services is also critical for thriving within an industry and staying competitive. As a result, being a successful operations controller usually requires an innovative and adaptable person. A large part of this duty revolves around listening to customer needs and making the proper adjustments to meet those needs. Consequently, he will constantly tweak his company's goods and services with the aim of being a market leader.

Another common responsibility is developing marketing and advertising strategies. In order to keep up with competition and maximize sales, an operations controller must strive to employ cost-effective marketing techniques. This means that he may perform research on new methods of advertisement and experiment with different possibilities. This practice helps to broaden a company's customer base and encourage company growth.

Additionally, it's necessary to continually analyze finances and stay on budget. Since fiscal responsibility often plays an important role in the success of a business, an operations controller must always know the financial predicament of his company. Consequently, he may spend time looking at sales reports, production costs and employee salaries.