The State Controller is the Chief Fiscal Officer of California, the eighth largest economy in the world. The Controller helps administer two of the largest public pension funds in the nation and serves on 78 state boards and commissions charged with duties ranging from protecting our coastline to helping build hospitals. The Controller provides sound fiscal control for, and independent oversight of, more than $100 billion in receipts and disbursements of public funds. In addition, the Controller offers fiscal guidance to local governments, and its audit functions uncover fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. The Controller's primary objectives are to:

• Account for and control disbursement of all state funds.
• Determine legality and accuracy of every claim against the State.
• Issue warrants in payment of the State's bills including lottery prizes.
• Administer the Uniform State Payroll System.
• Audit and process all personnel and payroll transactions for state civil service, exempt employees, and state university and college system employees.
• Responsible for auditing various state and local government programs.
• Inform the public of the State's financial condition.
• Administer the Unclaimed Property Law.
• Inform the public of financial transactions of city, county and district governments.