State Controller Malia M. Cohen was sworn in Monday, Jan. 2, as California’s chief fiscal officer.

The oath of office was administered by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“I am proud and honored to serve as California’s state controller,” said Cohen. “The work to create a more equitable California has already begun. I look forward to ensuring fiscal accountability, with an eye toward transparency and innovation.”

Cohen was elected in November 2022, following her service on the California Board of Equalization, or BOE.

She is the first Black woman to serve as California’s state controller.

She was elected to the BOE in November 2018 and was Chair in 2019 and 2022.

As controller, she continues to serve the board as its fifth voting member.

Before being elected to the BOE, Cohen served as president of the Board of Supervisors of the city and county of San Francisco.

As a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, she served as the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and president of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System.

Cohen was born and raised in San Francisco and proudly attended public school. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Fisk University and a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.

She and her husband reside in San Francisco along with their daughter.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources.

The controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds.

She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds.