The controller shall have been a resident of the City for at least three years immediately preceding election, unless absent on the public business of the United States or this Commonwealth, and shall reside in the City while serving as controller.
The controller shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the City at a non-mayoralty municipal election. The controller shall serve for a term of four years from the first Monday of January following election until a successor is elected and qualified.
The controller shall have the following powers and duties:
a. 
to inspect, revise and prescribe the form of reports and accounts of council, all units of government and trusts;
b. 
to audit the accounts of council, units of government and all agencies and trusts;
c. 
to conduct performance audits of all agencies, trusts, council and units of government whenever the controller decides it is necessary or is directed to conduct such an audit either by the mayor or by council, but in any event no less than once every four years;
d. 
to submit an annual verified report to council showing revenues, receipts and expenditures; the sources from which the revenues and funds are derived and how they have been disbursed no later than May 1 of each year. All agencies, trusts and units of government shall comply in a timely manner to requests from the Controller's Office for financial records, statements and any other information required to complete the audit;
e. 
to conduct at least once each fiscal year an audit of the annual inventory required by the charter and submit a verified report of the audit to council and the mayor;
f. 
to keep separate accounts for each item or appropriation for council and each unit of government and require all warrants to state specifically against which item the warrant is drawn;
g. 
to accompany each account by a statement in detail of each appropriation, the amount drawn on each appropriation, the unpaid contracts charged against it and the balance outstanding;
h. 
to make certain that no appropriation is overdrawn and that no appropriation for one item is used for any other purpose or by any unit of government other than that authorized;
i. 
to make certain that sufficient funds from which the warrant is payable are actually on hand; and
j. 
to audit, except for election of the controller, preliminary accounts of campaign contributions and expenses required in section 802 of this charter; the controller shall publish the results of these audits and inform the proper authorities of any violation of law revealed by the audit.
No warrant shall be paid unless approved by the controller. If any warrant presented to the controller is disapproved for any reason the controller shall notify the appropriate official.
The controller and all sureties shall be jointly and severally liable if a warrant is approved contrary to law, this charter, ordinance or resolutions.
The controller may require evidence that the amount of a claim is justly due and for that purpose may summon any officer, agent or employee of any unit of government or any other person and examine them under oath or affirmation.
Council and each unit of government shall provide detailed statements of receipts and expenditures to the controller on the third Monday of each month.
The controller shall audit the accounts of all elected officials and officers upon their death, resignation, removal from office or expiration of their term and at the end of each fiscal year. If an elected official or officer should be indebted to the City, the controller shall take appropriate legal action to secure repayment of the indebtedness.
The controller shall appoint a deputy controller who in case of a vacancy in the office or the illness, absence or inability of the controller to act shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as the controller.
The controller may appoint a solicitor who shall hold office at the pleasure of the controller and shall be an attorney qualified to practice law before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The solicitor shall act as legal adviser to the controller and shall at the controller's request represent the controller in any litigation involving that office.