Democratic Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and his Republican opponent Jonathan Trichter will debate Monday night.

The office for members of the general public may be an obscure one, but it’s vitally important. The comptroller manages the state’s pension fund for public employees, valued at more than $200 billion.

At the same time, the comptroller conducts key audits for state and local government spending, reviewing issues ranging from Medicaid to how town board conducts its budgets.

In recent years, the comptroller’s office has provided assessments on whether a local government is in danger of entering “fiscal stress.”

DiNapoli is the longest serving statewide official in Albany, having entered the office in 2007 following the resignation of Democrat Alan Hevesi. He’s won re-election in 2010 in a relatively close race against Republican Harry Wilson and again in 2014 against Bob Antonacci.

Well-liked in state government circles, DiNapoli has sought to forge an independent streak from Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Their offices have repeatedly clashed over spending and audits as well as oversight of contracting.

Trichter is a former Democrat, but has ties to Wilson, DiNapoli’s 2010 opponent. Trichter has been critical of DiNapoli’s handling of the pension fund and management of the office in general.

The debate will air at 7 p.m. on NY1 in New York City and at 8 p.m. on Spectrum News throughout New York State.