A comptroller (pronounced either the same as ''controller'' or as ) is a management-level position responsible for supervising the quality of

accounting Accounting, also known as accountancy, is the measurement, processing, and communication of financial and non financial information about economic entities such as businesses and corporations. Accounting, which has been called the "languag ...

and

financial reporting Financial statements (or financial reports) are formal records of the financial activities and position of a business, person, or other entity. Relevant financial information is presented in a structured manner and in a form which is easy to un ...

of an organization. A financial comptroller is a senior-level executive who acts as the head of accounting, and oversees the preparation of financial reports, such as balance sheets and income statements. In most

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

countries, the comptroller general, auditor general, or comptroller and auditor general is the external auditor of the budget execution of the government and of government-owned companies. Typically, the independent institution headed by the comptroller general is a member of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. In American government, the comptroller is effectively the

chief financial officer The chief financial officer (CFO) is an officer of a company or organization that is assigned the primary responsibility for managing the company's finances, including financial planning, management of financial risks, record-keeping, and financ ...

of a public body. In business management, the comptroller is closer to a chief audit executive, holding a senior role in internal audit functions. Generally, the title encompasses a variety of responsibilities, from overseeing

and monitoring internal controls to countersigning on expenses and commitments.

Etymology

The word is a variant of "controller". The "cont-" or "count-" part in that word was associated with "compt-", a variant of the verb "count". The term, though criticized by lexicographers such as Henry Watson Fowler, is probably retained in part because in official titles it was deemed useful to have the title dissociated from the word and concept "control". A variant explanation is that ''comptroller'' evolved in the 15th century through a blend of the French ''compte'' ("an account") and the Middle English (someone who checks a copy of a scroll, from the French ''contreroule'' "counter-roll, scroll copy"), thus creating a title for a who specializes in checking financial ledgers.Etymology of comptroller at Merriam-Webster online
m-w.com. Accessed 2007-07-01. This etymology explains why the name is often pronounced identically to "controller" despite the distinct spelling. However, ''comptroller'' is sometimes pronounced phonetically by those unaware of the word's origins or who wish specifically to avoid confusion with "controller".

Business role

A comptroller is a person in the business who oversees accounting and the implementation and monitoring of internal controls, independently from the

in some countries. In the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel and Canada, a comptroller or financial comptroller is a senior position, reporting to the CFO in companies that have one. In business, the title is typically spelled ''controller'', with government organizations only using the spelling ''comptroller''.

Government role

India

In India, ''Comptroller'' is an appointment. * The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is the authority which

audit An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon.” Auditing ...

s all

receipts A receipt (also known as a packing list, packing slip, packaging slip, (delivery) docket, shipping list, delivery list, bill of the parcel, manifest, or customer receipt) is a document acknowledging that a person has received money or propert ...

and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. * The ''Comptroller of the President's Household'' is responsible for the President of India's Household at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The post is held by a Naval officer of the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. * There are officers called ''Comptroller of the Governor's household'' in each state who are responsible for the Governor's households at the Raj Bhavans of each

States and union territories of India India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions. History Pre-indepen ...

Mexico

In Mexico, the comptroller, translated as 'contralor', was established in the public administration during the presidency of

Miguel de la Madrid Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado (; 12 December 1934 – 1 April 2012) was a Mexican politician affiliated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) who served as the 59th president of Mexico from 1982 to 1988. Inheriting a severe economic an ...

, when he created the in 1982. This ministry was renamed as the

Secretariat of the Civil Service The Mexican Secretariat of the Civil Service (Spanish: ''Secretaría de la Función Pública'', ''SFP'') is the entity of the cabinet of Mexico in charge of coordinating, assessing and monitoring the public exercise of the federal government. It ...

by president Vicente Fox in 2003. Nevertheless, several states still name as General Comptroller Office their audit and oversight institutions. Namely, Mexico City has the Secretariat of the General Comptroller of Mexico City and

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal En ...

has the Comptroller General Office of the State of Jalisco.

United Kingdom

The title of ''comptroller'' is used in the Royal Household for various offices, including: * the

Comptroller of the Household The Comptroller of the Household is an ancient position in the British royal household, nominally the second-ranking member of the Lord Steward's department after the Treasurer of the Household. The Comptroller was an ''ex officio'' member of t ...

(nowadays a

sinecure A sinecure ( or ; from the Latin , 'without', and , 'care') is an office, carrying a salary or otherwise generating income, that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service. The term originated in the medieval chu ...

, invariably held by a government

whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...

in the House of Commons). The office was established as part of the Wardrobe (a powerful department of household and state) in the 13th century, in order to maintain a check on the accounts of the Treasurer of the Household. Today, the Comptroller's duties outside of government are minimal and mainly ceremonial. * the Comptroller of the

Lord Chamberlain's Office The Lord Chamberlain's Office is a department within the British Royal Household. It is concerned with matters such as protocol, state visits, investitures, garden parties, royal weddings and funerals. For example, in April 2005 it organised the ...

, who is a full-time member of the Royal Household; his duties are concerned with the arrangement of ceremonial affairs rather than financial affairs. The

Comptroller of the Navy The post of Controller of the Navy (abbreviated as CofN) was originally created in 1859 when the Surveyor of the Navy's title changed to Controller of the Navy. In 1869 the controller's office was abolished and its duties were assumed by that of ...

is a post in the Royal Navy responsible for procurement and

matériel Materiel (; ) refers to supplies, equipment, and weapons in military supply-chain management, and typically supplies and equipment in a commercial supply chain context. In a military context, the term ''materiel'' refers either to the specific ...

. The Comptroller and City Solicitor is one of the High Officers of the City of London Corporation, responsible for provision of all legal services. The post of comptroller dates from 1311, and that of City Solicitor from 1544; the two were amalgamated in 1945. The Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks is the head of the

UK Intellectual Property Office The Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom (often referred to as the UK IPO) is, since 2 April 2007, the operating name of The Patent Office. It is the official government body responsible for intellectual property rights in the UK ...

or Patent Office. The Comptroller and Auditor General is head of the National Audit Office, and is the successor of the former Comptroller General of the Exchequer and the former Commissioners of Audit.

United States

The title of comptroller is held by various government officials. *The Comptroller General is the director of the

Government Accountability Office The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a legislative branch government agency that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services for the United States Congress. It is the supreme audit institution of the federal govern ...

(GAO), an agency founded in 1921 (as ''General Accounting Office'') to ensure the accountability of the federal government. *Banks are supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, an officer within the federal Department of The Treasury. *Several states and local governments (cities, counties, etc.) have comptrollers, variously elected or appointed, with widely varying powers over budgetary and management matters. (See

Connecticut Comptroller The State Comptroller is the chief fiscal guardian of the State of Connecticut. The duties and responsibilities of the state comptroller include, among other things, overseeing state accounting, preparing state financial reports, paying and administ ...

, Florida Comptroller, Illinois Comptroller,

Comptroller of Maryland The Comptroller of the State of Maryland is Maryland's chief financial officer, elected by the people to a four-year term. The Comptroller is not term-limited. The office was established by the second Maryland Constitution of 1851 due to concern ...

State Comptroller of New Jersey The New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) is an independent agency of the Government of New Jersey created by an act of the state legislature in 2007 in order to make government more efficient, accountable and transparent. The State Com ...

, New York State Comptroller, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; New York City Comptroller.)

Spain

In Spain, the word comptroller is translated as "''Interventor''". * The Comptroller General is the head of the Office of the Comptroller General of the State Administration (IGAE), an agency founded in 1874 to ensure the accountability of the Spanish administration. * All the government departments and agencies have a unit of the IGAE, with a comptroller as its head. * The

Armed Forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

and the Social Security are supervised by the Comptroller General of the Defence and the Comptroller General of the Social Security, respectively. * Since 2007, the Royal Household has an auditor known as the ''Comptroller of the Royal Household of His Majesty the King''. * All the regions and local administrations possesses comptrollers.

References

External links

*{{cite EB1911, wstitle=Comptroller , volume=6 , short=x * Management occupations