Comptroller General of the United States
| Comptroller General of the United States of America | |
|---|---|
Seal of the United States Government Accountability Office | |
since March 13, 2008 | |
| Government Accountability Office | |
| Type | |
| Appointer | President of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate |
| Term length | 15 years |
| Constituting instrument | Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 |
| Formation | 1921 |
| First holder | John R. McCarl |
| Website | Official website |
The comptroller general of the United States is the director of the Government Accountability Office (GAO, formerly known as the General Accounting Office), a legislative-branch agency established by Congress in 1921 to ensure the fiscal and managerial accountability of the federal government.