Comptroller General of Canada

Biographical Notes

James A. Ralston

James Ralston was appointed Comptroller General of Canada on October 3, 2009. The Comptroller General is responsible for government-wide direction and leadership for financial management, internal audit, federal assets and acquired services. The Comptroller General also supports capacity building and professional development in each of these areas.

Prior to becoming the Comptroller General, Mr. Ralston was Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Commissioner of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), a position he accepted in 2004. Mr. Ralston joined the organization in 1999, first as Director General, Corporate Review Directorate, and then in 2002, as Deputy Assistant Commissioner and Agency Comptroller, leading the organization’s Modern Comptrollership Office.

Before his work at the CRA, Mr. Ralston spent 15 years with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (OAG) and throughout most of the period was a Principal responsible for financial and value-for-money audits of Revenue Canada. Prior to joining the OAG, Mr. Ralston worked for eight years in a national public accounting/consulting firm in Edmonton and Ottawa. He began his career with the Provincial Auditor of Alberta.

Mr. Ralston holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, a Master of Arts (Economics) degree from the University of Ottawa, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science) degree from Carleton University. Mr. Ralston is a member of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and Ontario.