The main objective of this research is to investigate the role of controlling in the innovation management process respecting sustainability. The question of interest is whether controlling is involved in the innovation management process and how to measure the effectiveness of innovation process using controlling as analytical and informative function and support to the management of the company. Today's approach to strategic management emphasized concept of sustainability and innovation. For that reason there is a need for a broader role of controlling in decision making process, especially for the purposes of efficient measurement system. In order to develop conceptual model of the relationship between innovation management and controlling research is done on Croatian enterprises that has controlling department. The involvement of controlling function in innovation process is analyzed using interview method and results confirmed insufficiently developed linkage between controlling and sustainable innovation management. The conceptual model which is proposed is developed with regard to sustainable innovation process and management performance within which controlling place coordinative and integrative role. A model suggests five stages of the innovation process in which controlling is included as analytical and informative function. Also, a model provides a framework for further elaboration of controlling effectiveness, when it is included in innovation management process.