State Comptroller Offices

The office of the individual who has been elected to manage the financial affairs of the state and oversee the fiscal affairs of local governments. The comptroller in most states is responsible for tax collection, payroll, accounting, financial reporting and estimating revenue for the state; and, depending on the configuration of statewide offices in a particular state, may act as the custodian of state funds and investments, conduct audits of state agencies or manage the retirement system. In some states, the responsibilities of the state comptroller and the state treasurer are combined in a single office (treasurer or comptroller); and responsibilities of the state comptroller in one state may be assigned to the state treasurer in another. In a few states, a separate state tax commissioner is responsible for tax collection.