Comptrollers of Army Accounts


Comptrollers of Army Accounts were British public officials first appointed on 10 June 1703, by the Lord High Treasurer, Lord Godolphin; there were two Comptrollers. Initially under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief, they were instead made accountable to the Treasury in 1708.

Role

The Comptrollers were established to audit the accounts of all army Paymasters and regiments, to keep an account of all weapons, tents and provisions issued to each regiment and to inspect all muster rolls. To begin with, they also had responsibility for inspecting the clothing contracts entered into by each regiment but in 1708 this duty was handed over to a separate Clothing Board established under the Board of General Officers.
In 1783 the role of the Comptrollers was extended, to cover 'the examination of the Provision and Store accounts of the Commissariat Department'.
In 1785 the two Comptrollers of Army Accounts were made ex officio members of the new Audit Board. In 1806 the Comptrollers were separated from the Audit Board; their responsibilities and powers were again extended and a third Comptroller was appointed. By 1833 they were described as: "Comptrollers of all extraordinary military expenditure and auditors of the provision and store accounts of all Commissariat and other officers in charge of stores on foreign service".

Demise

In 1835 the office of the Comptrollers of Army Accounts was dissolved and its responsibilities given to the Commissioners of Audit.

List of Comptrollers