Due to its autonomy, it had somewhat different functions than similar offices in other Provinces of Finland.

Generally a State Provincial Office was a joint regional authority of seven different ministries of the Government of Finland.

In Åland, the State Provincial Office also represented a set of other authorities of the central government, which in mainland-Finland has separate bureaucracies.

On the other hand, duties, which on mainland-Finland were handled by the provincial offices, were transferred to the autonomous government of Åland.

Along with the abolition of all provinces of Finland, the Åland State Provincial Office was replaced by the State Department of Åland in 2009.