Kenneth Mejia is the 20th City Controller, elected in November 2022 with 513,288 votes. Controller Mejia oversees a team of more than 160 employees who conduct independent audits and investigations, manage the City’s accounting, payroll, and spending, report on the City’s finances, and provide transparency on City operations, policies, metrics, and data.

The City Controller is the elected paymaster, auditor and chief accounting officer for the City of Los Angeles. Along with the Mayor and City Attorney, the Controller is one of three offices elected every four years by citywide popular vote.

In 1878, the position was created as the City Auditor, becoming an elected office in 1889. The 1925 City Charter changed the name of the position to City Controller. In 2000, a City Charter update granted the Controller the power to conduct performance audits of City departments, allowing an examination of departmental effectiveness.

In order to fulfill the Controller’s Charter-mandated functions, the City Controller’s office has three major divisions – Audit Services, Accounting Operations, and Financial Reporting and Analysis – in addition to Executive Office and Management Services leadership and staff.

The Executive Office supports the Controller with staff dedicated to accountability and oversight, financial transparency, research, technology and innovation, government affairs, communications, and community engagement. Management Services is responsible for all aspects of personnel, departmental payroll, budgeting, accounting and facility management for the Controller’s office. Below is a closer look at Audit Services, Accounting Operations, and Financial Reporting and Analysis.

Our Team

Leadership

Kenneth Mejia

LA City Controller

Jane Nguyen

Chief of Staff

Rick Cole

Chief Deputy Controller

Sergio Perez

Chief of Accountability & Oversight

Financial Analysis and Reporting Division

Rahoof (Wally) Oyewole

Chief Financial Officer/Director of Financial Analysis and Reporting

Accounting Operations Division

James Robinson

Chief Operations Officer/Principal Deputy Controller

Audit Services Division

Devang Panchal

Director of Auditing

Management Services Division

Jovonne Lavender

Chief Management Analyst

Accountability and Oversight

Ashley Bennett

Director of Homelessness

Dinah M. Manning

Director of Public Safety

Vincent de Vera

Director of Special Projects

Communications

Diana Chang

Director of Communications

Technology

Vartan Arzumanyan

Director of Technology

Naon Chun

Technology Deputy

Government Affairs

Michael Shear

Director of Research & Government Affairs

Financial Transparency

Maria Rosas

Deputy Controller of Finance

Executive Aide

Jacky Rodarte

Audit Services Division

The Audit Services Division of the Controller’s Office conducts scheduled audits, special audits, and audits requested by the City Council or City management. Audits determine if existing controls in City departments are adequate, gauge whether departments are operating efficiently and effectively, and ensure that revenues and expenditures are properly recorded in conformance with applicable laws and regulations. City auditors recommend improvements that promote efficiency and effectiveness of City operations and save taxpayer dollars. This division conducts the following types of audits:

Financial and Compliance Audits

Financial-related audits determine whether financial information is presented in accordance with established or stated criteria, and whether the internal control structure over financial reporting and safeguarding of assets is suitably designed and implemented to achieve its objectives. These audits also include routine payroll observations and reviews of departmental bank accounts.

Performance Audits

Performance and operational audits of City departments and programs are mandated by the City Charter, and assess whether government programs or functions are efficiently and effectively achieving their goals.

Special Analysis and Reviews

These are different types of reports that do various things, such as tracking the implementation status of audit recommendations as asserted by management, follow-up audits to independently ensure implementation status, and other special assignments as directed. On an as-needed basis, the division also performs information systems audits, such as general control reviews, application reviews, and post-implementation systems reviews to ensure system functionality and data integrity. In addition, the division performs vendor reviews for selected contracts.

Fraud, Waste and Abuse Unit

The City of Los Angeles aims to be as transparent and efficient as possible, going above and beyond to protect taxpayers’ assets and preserve government integrity. Critical to these efforts is tracking reports of fraud, waste and abuse of City resources, a core function of the Controller’s office for 15 years.

Since its creation, the Controller’s Fraud, Waste and Abuse Unit has sought to identify, stop and, ultimately, prevent the misuse of City resources by employees and others. This is done through a 24-hour telephone hotline and web-based complaint form, along with citywide education and training programs.

Accounting Operations Division

The Accounting Operations Division is responsible for paying employees and vendors, budgetary control of all City funds as authorized by ordinance, pre- and post-audit approval, and release of City funds. This division is comprised of the following sections:

Fiscal Oversight and Support Section

Fiscal Oversight and Support is responsible for the review and approval of demands (payments) against the City Treasury. The section establishes Citywide policies and procedures regarding receipt of goods and services, payment processing, and disbursement of City funds. The section is also responsible for the filing and remittance of payroll, sales, and use taxes to federal and State agencies. The section also administers the Citywide Travel and Purchasing Card programs.

Payroll Section

The Payroll Section is the central payroll-processing unit for the City of Los Angeles. It ensures that the City processes its payroll and pays its employees in a timely manner and in accordance with the City Charter, Administrative Code (Division 4), Civil Service Rules, Department Personnel Ordinances, Memorandums of Understandings, and state and federal regulations. This section also provides support to PaySR, the City’s payroll system and is responsible for system enhancements and updates.

Paymaster Section

The Paymaster Section is responsible for the security, control and disbursement of all warrants (checks) for City vendors, workers’ compensation and payroll. This section is also responsible for enforcing legal wage garnishments against City employees and vendors, and disbursing funds collected through the voluntary child and spousal support payroll deduction program.

Financial Analysis and Reporting Division

The Financial Analysis and Reporting Division is responsible for producing federal, state and local financial compliance reports, and providing financial reports and forecasts to the City Council and management. The Division also include oversight of the City’s Financial System, FMS. The following are the sections of the division:

GAAP Compliance Section

Produces the City’s Annual Financial Report (AFR) in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) and in compliance with accounting standards set by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The CAFR is the official financial report of the City of Los Angeles. In compiling the AFR, the GAAP section converts non-GAAP budgetary basis (cash) financial data to a GAAP format (modified and full accrual) for financial statement presentation. The section provides GAAP conversion guidelines to all City Departments as well as training and guidance.

General Accounting Section

The General Accounting Section tracks, forecasts and reports on City receipts, cash flows, debt levels and the status of the Reserve Fund. The section prepares the Controller’s annual March 1 revenue forecast for the General Fund and the Preliminary Financial Report — the first official financial information available on the prior fiscal year — and performs the accounting function for the Municipal Improvement Corporation of Los Angeles.

Single Audit Section

The Single Audit Section produces the Single Audit in support of $426 million in grants awarded to the City each year, in compliance with the Federal Single Audit Act of 1984, the Single Audit Amendments of 1996 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133.

Cost Allocation Plan (CAP) Section

The Cost Allocation Plan Section produces the City’s federally-approved Cost Allocation Plan. The CAP shows how indirect costs — pensions and benefits, central services, and department administration and support — are allocated across City operations. The methodology and resulting rates are audited and approved by the federal government, and the rates are used to secure reimbursement for these indirect costs associated with grants and other federally funded programs. The reimbursements average about $20 million annually.

Check Reconciliation Section

This section reconciles all warrants issued against warrants paid, taking into account all adjustments. The Check Reconciliation Section protects the City by ensuring that the banks only honor the checks that are issued by the City and not fraudulent checks. This section is responsible for processing remakes of checks, issuance of duplicate and emergency checks and the processing of returned checks.

Financial Management System Section

The Financial Management System Section (FMS) is the City’s financial system of record and integrated to the business processes of virtually all aspects of the Controller’s office. FMS provides four major functions and a business intelligence tool for the City of Los Angeles.

The FMS group provides support, reporting, and troubleshooting for approximately 2,000 users, along with project management for FMS upgrades and enhancements.

Funds and Appropriations Section

The Funds and Appropriations Section is responsible for budgetary control of all City funds authorized by ordinance, the Mayor and City Council. The section verifies the availability of funds before releasing expenditures for all City departments. This section also sets up the budget appropriations within the City’s General Ledger in accordance with the approved budget. It reviews, analyzes and audits all journal entries to ensure compliance with the City Charter, Administrative Code and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Open Data Section

The Controller’s Open Data section develops, implements, supports and maintains Control Panel L.A., and collaborates with other City and proprietary departments to publish financial information related to audits and reports in a centralized location. Control Panel L.A. promotes accessibility and transparency by allowing users to search, download and share City financial data and providing an interactive experience. It includes Checkbook L.A., Payroll Explorer, Inside L.A. City Finances, departmental statistical and metrics, and other information.

Management Services

The Management Services Division is responsible for all administrative aspects of the Controller’s Office, including all departmental personnel, payroll, budgeting, accounting, facilities management, and emergency preparedness tasks. The Division also provides administrative support to the Executive Office and works closely with Office management to accomplish division and departmental goals.

Personnel, Budgeting, Accounting and Procurement

Management Services handles all Office personnel matters including the hiring and onboarding of new employees, employee development, workers’ compensation, labor relations, training, and discipline. The division also administers and manages the payroll for Controller employees and ensures they are paid correctly. The Division also prepares and submits the department’s annual budget request prepared through collaboration with Divisions on resources needed to support departmental programs, expenditure tracking and control, revenue projections, and performance metrics. The Division also oversees Controller accounting functions including accounts receivable and payable, departmental financial report preparation, and ordering and issuing all employee supplies and equipment. Management Services facilitates procurement of professional services, technology and equipment. Duties include project scoping, RFP/RFQ development, RFP/RFQ process administration, contract negotiations, contract administration (30+ contracts), procurement recommendations and compliance with City procurement policies.

Facilities Management, Records and Technical Support

Management Services also oversees all technical support services for the Controller’s Office including maintenance of the Controller’s Internet and Intranet websites, and coordination of computers, phones, servers, e-mails, and financial system security for department employees. The Division handles all Controller facilities-related tasks including maintenance and construction requests, contracted facilities services, and coordination with building security and General Services Division (GSD) on security requests and access control. The division also manages the Controller’s records including record storage facilities, retrieval of records, and destruction of files based upon retention schedule, and the Office’s California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests.