Officials Intrusted with Administrative Functions

These are usually the comptroller, secretary and superintendent of agents. The comptroller is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the company's bookkeeping and of collecting premiums and interest from policyholders. The bookkeeping department ranks among the most important branches of the office work. It has charge of the numerous cash, investment and insurance accounts and must record them in such a practical and scientific manner as to enable the company to know at any time the progress of its business and to meet the demands of the various state insurance departments for information. It must also be organized in such a manner as to permit a frequent proving of the correctness of its work. The secretary has charge of the company's correspondence, the minutes of the board of directors and its various committees, and the company's records. He also prepares the reports which are presented to the board of directors and its committees, and is frequently charged with the oversight of the office organization and the discipline of employees. The superintendent of agents selects and supervises the company's agents and, as concerns the field force, carries out the instructions of the head of his department (usually one of the vice-presidents) and of the committees which handle agency matters.