Critical Functions in the Controller's Office
The Controller is the City’s chief financial officer. Our team includes financial, technology, analytical and other professionals who work hard to secure the City’s financial integrity and promote efficient, effective and accountable government. Some of the Controller's Office functions exist behind the scenes. We have outlined some core duties below.
Accounting Operations and Supplier Management Division
AOSD’s primary mission is to control the financial activities of the City. The division certifies contracts, pays vendors, approves personnel requisitions and reviews, monitors, controls, and projects departmental expenditures on a continuous basis to assess overall fiscal condition. The division assists departments to achieve fiscal compliance, accuracy, timeliness and meaningfulness for the resulting financial information. The division is also responsible for the producing the City's annual audited financial statements including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the Single Audit Report, and other reports required by federal, state, and local regulations, as well as the Countywide Cost Allocation Plan (COWCAP). Other functions include developing and maintaining citywide financial systems, system policies, procedures, training, security, and documentation.
Administration & Finance
The Administration & Finance Division is our internal support division, serving over 300+ Controller's Office employees in two locations. The Division manages the Controller’s Office:
- Internal Human Resources & Hiring
- Controller's Office Payroll
- Controller's Office Budget
- Contracts
- Accounting and Financial Reporting
- Management Information System (MIS) / Information Technology (IT)
- Facilities and Operations
- Emergency Management
- Public Information & Records Requests
- Administrative Services
Payroll
The Payroll Division provides payroll administration services to over 35,000 City employees bi-weekly, distributing over $ 2 billion payroll payments electronically via direct deposit and pay cards annually. In its role as the central payroll office for the City, the Payroll Division provides training and guidance regarding compliance with City ordinances, state and Federal regulations, and provisions in accordance with over 50 labor contracts to all departmental payroll divisions. The Payroll Division is also responsible for:
- Processing payroll adjustments to include retro payments, lump sum payments, non-payments, settlements, and beneficiary payments;
- Withholding and remitting all voluntary and involuntary deductions, health benefit deductions, SFERS and CalPERS retirement contributions as well as deferred compensation 457(b) contributions;
- Processing the State of California Employment Development Department’s Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate (DE 4) and Internal Revenue Service Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Certificate to properly withhold, report, and deposit all employee and employer taxes including FICA; and
- Producing and distributing IRS Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement both via electronic and hard copy by January 31st of each year.
- Payroll forms, manuals, and calendars can be found on the SF Employee Portal Support website.
Systems
The division serves over 35,000 active City employees, 75,000 retirees and 25,000 City vendors (bidders and suppliers). Peripheral and legacy applications also leveraged by the division include Oracle Identify & Access Management, Phire Architect, Control-M, and FreshWorks. The technology implemented and maintained by the Systems Division provides standardization, transparency, and efficiency for the City’s crucial business processes. Users are fully supported to ensure adoption of these interconnected functionalities.