Final answer:
The treasurer of a company is principally responsible for raising capital and managing the company's financial resources, a role distinctly different from a comptroller or an internal auditor, who maintains accounting records and oversees financial reporting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treasurer of a company is responsible for raising capital, which involves securing funds for the company's operations and growth. This can include issuing stocks or bonds, obtaining loans, or other forms of financial support. While a comptroller, often confused with a treasurer, is typically the chief accounting officer charged with overseeing the accounting records and the management of governmental revenues and expenditures, the treasurer's primary focus is on the management and procurement of the company's finances. Unlike internal auditing functions, which are sometimes handled by third-party firms to ensure objective assessments, the raising of capital is a strategic role that is integral to a company's financial health. The treasurer also works closely with the board of directors and operates under the umbrella of corporate governance to ensure that the financial strategies are aligned with the company's overall goals and investor interests, as seen in the case of institutions like mutual funds or pension funds which have a vested interest in the company's performance.