What Controllers Council does

Controllers Council is a national professional membership association serving Financial Controllers, CFOs, and corporate accounting and finance professionals in North America. The organization operates as a doing-business-as name of Modern Associations, Inc., a US entity whose parent is Modern Marketing Partners, and was launched in mid-2020 under the leadership of Executive Director Neil Brown, who also serves as CMO of the parent. The platform is a web-based community and learning site at controllerscouncil.org featuring a private Member Directory, peer Forum, on-demand and live webcasts (many offering NASBA-approved CPE credit), a national Career Center, an annual Controller of the Year Awards program, annual benchmark research studies, whitepapers, and a scholarship program (Controllers for a Cause) operated in partnership with the AICPA Foundation.

The organization's core products are organized around four value pillars: professional education (CPE-accredited webinars, AI Certifications, whitepapers, research studies), peer community (Member Directory, Forum, roundtables, Controller/CFO Interview Series), career services (national Career Center with employer job postings and professional job-seeking tools), and recognition (annual Controller of the Year Awards across multiple business-size categories). The technology stack is conventional web-platform infrastructure with no disclosed proprietary models or AI-native components.

Controllers Council generates revenue through two primary streams: annual individual and corporate membership dues (pricing not publicly disclosed), and a tiered sponsorship program (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum plus A la Carte options) sold to accounting and finance technology and service vendors — currently including Paystand, anrok, BILL, Citrin Cooperman, insightsoftware, and AvidXchange. The organization donates 20% of membership dues to the AICPA Foundation-administered scholarship fund. Distribution is community-led via content marketing, webinars, LinkedIn/YouTube/Facebook/X channels, the awards program, and dual-membership arrangements with state CPA societies (VSCPA, NJCPA, COCPA, NSBCPA, MECPA) and a strategic alliance with IMA. The entity is privately held, has no disclosed outside funding, and operates with 1-10 employees from Chicago.

Name

Controllers Council

Legal name

Modern Associations, Inc.

Website

https://controllerscouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Controllers Council is a Chicago-based professional membership association serving Financial Controllers, CFOs, and corporate accounting and finance professionals in North America with CPE education, peer networking, a career center, annual research studies, recognition awards, and an AICPA Foundation scholarship fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Professional association services
• Continuing professional education
• Accounting finance community
• Membership association platform
• CPE training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Individual and corporate membership fees provide primary revenue. Both individual and corporate membership options are available with various features and benefits.
2. Sponsorship Programs: The organization relies on sponsor generosity to fund programs and initiatives. Multiple sponsorship tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and A la Carte options are offered to companies serving the accounting/finance organization. Current sponsors include Paystand, anrok, BILL, Citrin Cooperman, insightsoftware, and AvidXchange.
3. Donations to Scholarship Fund: Controllers Council donates 20% of all membership dues to the Controllers for a Cause CPA Scholarship Fund. 100% of donations go to AICPA Foundation for scholarship awards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Controllers Council operates a membership-based national professional community and association for Controllers, CFOs, and corporate accounting and finance professionals. Its core offering is annual membership that bundles NASBA-registered CPE courses, a national Career Center, webcast training events, annual research studies, a private Member Forum and Directory, and eligibility for the Controller of the Year Awards. It supplements membership revenue with tiered sponsorship and advertising programs sold to accounting and finance technology and service vendors, and with the Controllers for a Cause CPA Scholarship Fund in partnership with the AICPA Foundation.

Product overview

Controllers Council is a professional association and community platform serving Controllers, CFOs, and corporate accounting/finance professionals. The organization offers a membership-based platform with integrated features including free and discounted CPE courses, a national Career Center, webcast training and on-demand webinars, annual research studies (Corporate Accounting & Finance Talent Study and CFO/Controller Outlook & Sentiment Study), a private Member Forum and Directory, and the annual Controller of the Year Awards Program. Additional offerings include the Controllers for a Cause CPA Scholarship Fund in partnership with AICPA, the Seal of Approval peer-validation program, resources including whitepapers and case studies, and the Controller/CFO Interview Series. The platform enables peer interaction through forums, roundtable panels, and live events while providing recognition and career development opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Controllers for a Cause™: A scholarship program developed in partnership with the Controllers Council and the AICPA Foundation to support students pursuing CPA licensure and address the acute shortage of CPAs and accountants.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AICPA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2024Controllers for a Cause scholarship fund is a program developed in partnership with the Controllers Council and the AICPA Foundation (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). All donations and scholarship awards are managed by the AICPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Controllers Council donates 20% of all membership dues to this scholarship fund.
• FloQastminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024FloQast is a valued sponsor of the Controllers for a Cause scholarship program, supporting efforts to reverse the CPA shortage trend.
• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2020IMA and Controllers Council formed a partnership to advance the management accounting profession and provide resources for Controllers and CFOs. The partnership leverages both organizations' expertise and member bases.
• New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNJCPA represents more than 13,000 CPAs and accounting professionals. Partnership provides member benefits and cross-promotion opportunities.
• Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVSCPA has nearly 13,000 members. Dual membership program offered with Controllers Council at a discounted rate for corporate accounting and finance professionals.
• Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants (COCPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCOCPA has a membership of 6,400 CPAs and accounting professionals in Colorado. Partnership provides member services and cross-promotion.
• National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants (NSBCPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNSBCPA mission is to increase the number of Black CPAs. Partnership supports diversity and inclusion within the profession.
• Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants (MECPA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMECPA is Maine's premier professional association for CPAs and accountants. Partnership provides member benefits and networking.
• Northern Illinois University - Department of AccountancyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNIU Department of Accountancy is nationally ranked with AACSB accreditation. Partnership supports accounting education and student development.
• IllumeominorGTM or Marketing PartnerIllumeo is a specialized learning platform for professionals in Audit, Accounting, and Corporate Finance. Offers 10% off unlimited CPE courses for Controllers Council members.
• NASBA (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerControllers Council is registered with NASBA as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards have final authority on acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.
• PaystandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPaystand is a sponsor of Controllers Council, supporting the organization and reaching Controllers, CFOs and decision makers.
• anrokminorGTM or Marketing Partneranrok is a sponsor of Controllers Council, providing sales tax compliance solutions for finance professionals.
• BILLminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBILL is a sponsor of Controllers Council, providing payment automation and AP solutions for finance professionals.
• Citrin CoopermanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitrin Cooperman is a sponsor and partner providing digital services and NetSuite solutions to Controllers Council community.
• insightsoftwareminorGTM or Marketing Partnerinsightsoftware is a sponsor of Controllers Council, providing financial reporting and EPM solutions.
• AvidXchangeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvidXchange is a sponsor of Controllers Council, providing payment automation solutions for AP departments.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Going Concern: Media and community platform for accounting professionals featuring news, content, and career resources — emerging audience-overlap community targeting many of the same finance professionals.

Broad incumbents

• CPA.com: AICPA-affiliated platform delivering technology, content, and practice resources to CPA firms and corporate accounting teams — sits in the same audience with a stronger technology and content distribution footprint.
• Financial Management Association International (FMA): Global professional association for finance and financial management practitioners and academics — broader in scope but a parallel professional-body model serving finance executives.
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): The largest U.S. accounting professional association, providing CPE, content and member benefits to a related audience and partnering with Controllers Council on the CPA scholarship fund. Massive incumbent with broader scope.
• Reuters Events: CFO Forum / CFO Innovation: Large-scale events and content platforms serving CFOs and senior finance leaders — comparable audience and sponsorship-driven business model even though not a membership association per se.

Direct peers

• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants): The largest global association dedicated to management accounting and Controllers — many of the same buyers Controllers Council targets. It is also an explicit strategic partner, deepening the peer relationship.
• Association for Financial Professionals (AFP): Membership association for treasury and finance professionals including Controllers and CFOs, offering certification, events, and research — overlapping audience and program structure.
• CFO Leadership Council: Member-based community for senior financial executives (CFOs and Controllers) offering peer roundtables, content, and events — the closest direct analog to Controllers Council's community-led GTM motion.

Regional players

• CPA Canada (Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada): Canadian national accounting body serving CPAs and Controllers with CPE, member benefits, and standards — comparable membership/community model in an adjacent geography.
• Illinois CPA Society (and other state CPA societies): State-level professional associations offering CPE, networking, and member benefits to CPAs and Controllers — direct channel partners of Controllers Council through dual-membership programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ControllersCncl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtCcOZV0uSZomyRnVEX3SvA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ControllersCouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/controllers-council

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Controllers Council