Este artículo analiza los patrones de liderazgo en la Sindicatura de Comptes de la Comunitat Valenciana durante sus tres décadas de existencia. Como organización pública de relevancia estatutaria ha experimentado una modernización sostenida para adecuar sus estructuras al entorno sociopolítico. Uno de los factores que explican el calado de los cambios de la Sindicatura es el liderazgo y el modelo directivo (Bass 1985) de sus síndicos mayores en las distintas fases del ciclo de vida (Levitt, 1965; Adizes, 1994). Por consiguiente, partiendo de un estudio longitudinal de la caracterización de los liderazgos de los síndicos mayores entre 1985-2015 se expondrán los principales rasgos que han caracterizado cada una de las fases de esta institución para desempeñar su papel con eficacia y generar legitimidad. This article analyzes the leadership patterns in the Sindicatura de Comptes of the Valencian Community during its three decades of existence. The purpose of this institution of self-government is the control of the public funds of all the Valencian autonomous public sector. As a public organization of statutory relevance, it has undergone a sustained modernization to adapt its structures to the socio-political environment. One of the factors that explain the significance of the changes of the Syndicate is the leadership and the management model (Bass 1985) of its 'síndics majors' in the different phases of the life cycle (Levitt, 1965). Therefore, starting from a longitudinal study of the characterization of the leadership of the 'síndics majors' between 1985-2015 will be exposed the main features that have characterized each of the phases of this institution to play its role effectively and generate legitimacy. This article analyzes the leadership patterns in the Sindicatura de Comptes of the Valencian Community during its three decades of existence. The purpose of this institution of self-government is the control of the public funds of all the Valencian autonomous public sector. As a public organization of statutory relevance, it has undergone a sustained modernization to adapt its structures to the socio-political environment. One of the factors that explain the significance of the changes of the Syndicate is the leadership and the management model (Bass 1985) of its «síndics majors» in the different phases of the life cycle (Levitt, 1965). Therefore, starting from a longitudinal study of the characterization of the leadership of the «síndics majors» between 1985-2015 will be exposed the main features that have characterized each of the phases of this institution to play its role effectively and generate legitimacy.