The powers and duties of the State Treasurer and Treasury involve the receipt and disbursement of funds by the Commonwealth, as well as the deposit, investment, and safekeeping of monies and securities belonging to the Commonwealth. The State Treasurer is responsible for collecting dividends and interest, executing securities transactions, and handling daily settlements of trades. The Treasury Department is responsible for conducting investigations of loss, theft, or fraud involving all Commonwealth checks; serving as a repository for all Commonwealth contracts valued at $5,000 or more, and making the contracts available for public review; and approving real estate leases and sole-source contracts entered into by Commonwealth agencies.

The publications of the Treasury Department contain annual reports. Selected topics from these publications include yearly expenditures and receipts of the Commonwealth, and statements from the State Treasurer. The bulk of the current material is dated from 1818 to 1918.