Controllers sit closest to the truth of the business, yet many remain confined to the back office, excluded from strategic conversations they are uniquely equipped to inform. As finance grows more complex and fast-moving, the question is no longer whether controllers add value, but why so few are invited to shape decisions. In this keynote, Kriti Bansal shares her unconventional path through startups, high-growth environments, and emerging industries to challenge the idea that controllership is a career endpoint. Drawing on real-world experience bridging accounting and finance, she explores how controllers can move from scorekeepers to strategic partners, even in ambiguous, high-risk environments like crypto. Key takeaways: - Learn how to reposition the controller role from back-office function to strategic asset. - Understand how to translate accounting insight into decision-making influence. - Gain clarity on career paths beyond traditional controllership, including VP and CFO trajectories.