For its Financial Activities the CSS functions as an entity within the IEEE, which operates financially as a non-profit U.S. corporation. The annual budget of the CSS is reviewed and approved by the IEEE Technical Activites Board.

The CSS receives income from membership dues, subscription fees for its publications, possible surpluses from conferences that it sponsors, and interest on its reserve funds.

Its expenses include publications costs for its journals and magazine, awards for outstanding achievements in technical areas related to control systems, annual dues to the American Automatic Control Council (AACC), administrative costs (including charges from the IEEE for services it provides), support for chapter activities, and possible deficits from conferences.