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FAQ About the State Controller
- What does the State Controller do?
- On what boards and commissions does the State Controller serve?
- Is the State Controller elected?
- What is the organization structure of the State Controller’s Office?
- Does the State Controller report to the Governor?
- How Can I work at the State Controller's Office?
- What is the difference between a State Controller and a State Comptroller?
What does the State Controller do?
A statewide elected official, the Controller serves as California’s Chief Fiscal Officer. In addition to managing the state’s checkbook, the Controller serves on a variety of boards and commissions, influencing policy on the economy, the environment, education and labor.
On what boards and commissions does the State Controller serve?
A statewide elected official, the Controller serves as California’s Chief Fiscal Officer. In addition to managing the state’s checkbook, the Controller serves on a variety of boards and commissions, influencing policy on the economy, the environment, education and labor.
Is the State Controller elected?
Yes, to a four-year term. As with all other statewide elected officials in California, he is limited to two four-year terms.
What is the organization structure of the State Controller’s Office?
The State Controller’s Office, commonly known in Sacramento as the SCO, comprises six divisions, each with a unique fiscal responsibility for the state of California. They are:
The Division of Accounting and Reporting (DAR), which, among other duties, provides periodic reports on the financial status of the state and administers various taxes; the Administration and Disbursements Division, which prints 28 million warrants, the state’s word for checks, every year; the Audits Division, which investigates whether taxpayers dollars are being spent as the law intended; the Personnel/Payroll Services Division (PPSD), which handles the payroll for all state employees and the California State University system; the Information Systems Division, which uses information technology to help the office run more efficiently; and the Unclaimed Property Division, is responsible for the state ’s unclaimed property.
More information on the Divisions of State Controller’s Office...
How Can I work at the State Controller's Office?
We have openings for all types of positions. Please check frequently for SCO job announcements...
What is the difference between a State Controller and a State Comptroller?
Nothing. Both are usually elected positions with wide-ranging fiscal responsibilities. The word controller comes from the Latin words meaning "against" and "rolls"; to be a controller initially meant to check figures against an entity’s financial rolls, or logs. The word comptroller is derived from the Latin verb meaning "to compute," a result of mistaken prefixes by the British in the 15th century. Essentially, the two words are two different ways of saying the same thing.