There shall be an office of Controller, elected under the election laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a term of four (4) years. Candidates for the office shall be registered voters of the City of Chester and shall be qualified by education and experience to perform the duties of the office.
The provisions of this Charter applying to Council members on qualifications for office (Section 202), prohibitions (Section 203), forfeiture of office (Section 204), and vacancies (Section 207) shall apply to the office of Controller.
Section 208 of this Charter applying to the filling of vacancies in the office of Council member shall apply to filling vacancies in the office of Controller. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The compensation for the Controller shall be as set by Council. Council may by ordinance establish the compensation for future offices of Controller, provided that no ordinance increasing the salary of the Controller shall take effect until the expiration of the term of the officer holding the office at the time the ordinance was adopted. Ordinances affecting the compensation of future Controllers shall be enacted prior to the first day of February in municipal election years in order to apply to the officers elected in such years.
Council shall authorize the employment of such personnel as it deems necessary for the performance of the functions assigned to the Controller. Employees of the offices of Controller shall be employees of the City and subject to all rules and regulations of Council on personnel administration.
Council shall designate a qualified employee of the office of the Controller to serve as deputy during any temporary absence or disability of the Treasurer or the Controller. Persons appointed as deputy shall have all the powers and responsibilities of their principal.
The duties of the Controller shall be:
A. 
Approve all orders of disbursement submitted when such disbursements are for a lawful purpose and there is sufficient unexpended balance in the appropriate account. If the order of disbursement is not for a lawful purpose or, if there is not a sufficient unencumbered balance in the account to which the disbursement is to be charged, the Controller shall return the order and state the reasons for withholding approval.
B. 
Approve all contracts and purchase orders after determining that there is a sufficient unencumbered balance in the proper account to which the eventual expenditure will be charged and the expenditure will be for a lawful purpose.
C. 
Review monthly financial report and report promptly in writing to Council any exceptions thereto.
D. 
To administer, subject to the direction of the various pension boards, all City employee pension funds and to make such reports and keep such records as are necessary for the proper administration of said funds.
E. 
To perform an internal audit of all City accounts on a quarterly basis and to report to Council the results of said audit every fiscal year.