Office of the City Controller

Mission

The City Controller is the elected fiscal watchdog for the citizens of the City of Pittsburgh. It is the job of the Controller to protect City tax dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse. City Controller personnel actively monitor and audit City expenditures while also producing audit reports that retrospectively review financial controls and compliance for both revenues and expenditures. The audits produced by the City Controller report in purview on the internal controls, compliance, and performance of all City departments and City component units such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Pittsburgh Parking Authority (PPA), Pittsburgh Water, and the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA). Through audits of City departments and authorities, the Controller makes recommendations on how to make those departments more effective, efficient and how to better spend City tax dollars. In addition to auditing City departments, the City Controller reviews and approves City contracts and is also charged with reporting to the citizens of Pittsburgh, the Mayor, and City Council the state of the City’s fiscal condition. Every year, the City Controller issues the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The ACFR provides detailed information on Pittsburgh’s short-term and long-term financial outlook.

Departmental/Bureau Overview

Accounting - The Controller’s accountants are tasked with tracking all revenues and expenditures made by the City. At the end of each fiscal year, they produce an annual financial report that details the City’s fiscal condition.

Accounts Payable - The accounts payable section oversees the payments made by City departments. They receive purchase orders and process checks in addition to performing audits of payments to make sure City funds are being spent appropriately.

Contract Review - The Controller’s office reviews all contracts that come through the City. They check the contracts to make sure they are authorized and the City has enough money to pay them. Engineering/Inspection - The Controller’s office has a team of inspectors who travel across the City to ensure that major work meets standards before it is paid. They work closely with the City’s Department of Public Works and Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.

Internal Auditing - Auditors perform financial reviews of programs by analyzing their revenues and expenditures. A key focus is ensuring funds are being appropriately tracked and spent across the City government. Additionally, auditors conduct audits of City departments to find inefficiencies and make recommendations that save money or improve the delivery of services.

OFFICE OF THE CITY CONTROLLER 2027 Expenditures by Subclass 55 - OTHER SERVICES 56 - SUPPLIES 54 - PROPERTY SERVICES 57 - PROPERTY