Controller/Assistant Commissioner, Bureau of Controller

About the role

Open to candidates who are permanent in the civil service title of Administrative Staff Analyst, and the comparable civil service titles of Administrative Contract Specialist or Administrative Procurement Analyst. Due to active promotional list for Administrative Staff Analyst, only permanent DOHMH employees can be considered.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) seeks a dynamic, strategic, and results-oriented leader to serve as the Controller/Assistant Commissioner.

Reporting to the CFO and Deputy Commissioner of Finance, the Controller/Assistant Commissioner is responsible for ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and efficiency of financial transactions for the NYC Department of Health.

The Controller/Assistant Commissioner will join the Division of Finance, which has central responsibility and authority for the agency's financial management and helps to ensure that programs and administrative operations have the information, analysis, funding and technical capacity to deliver critical services effectively and meet the NYC Health Department's objectives.

The Controller/Assistant Commissioner is the executive leader of the Bureau of the Controller and is responsible for directing the Agency's Offices of Payroll, Fiscal Management, Funds Management, and Cash Management.

The position provides strategic leadership and oversight for financial operations that generate and monitor more than $1 billion annually in personnel, vendor, consultant, contract, and miscellaneous payments. Leading a team of over 70 professionals, the Controller/Assistant Commissioner fosters a culture of operational excellence, accountability, customer service, and continuous process improvement.

The position leads initiatives to modernize processes, strengthen financial controls, improve customer service, and implement technology solutions that enhance operational effectiveness.

The Controller/Assistant Commissioner also serves as a primary point of contact for oversight agencies, including NYC Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of the NYC Comptroller, FISA/OPA, auditors, financial institutions, and other government stakeholders.

Duties Will Include but Not Be Limited to

• Direct and oversee the Offices of Payroll, Fiscal Management, Funds Management and Reporting.
• Analyze complex financial, payroll, operational, and compliance issues and develop and implement strategic solutions.
• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of payroll, vendor payments, contract payments, and other financial transactions.
• Oversee payroll operations for more than 6,000 employees, including payroll accounting, compliance, examinations, timekeeping administration, and related functions.
• Direct all cash management activities, including banking relationships, bank account reconciliations, cash flow monitoring, and financial controls.
• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard agency resources and ensure financial accountability.
• Ensure compliance with applicable City, State, Federal, and regulatory requirements, including directives issued by oversight entities.
• Lead fiscal year-end closing activities, ensuring timely payment processing, accrual establishment, reconciliation activities, and accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee funds management activities including expenditure monitoring, appropriations tracking, encumbrance management, and fiscal reporting.
• Direct agency financial reporting, expenditure analysis, reconciliation activities, and executive-level reporting.
• Lead business process reengineering initiatives and technology modernization projects designed to improve operational efficiency and strengthen internal controls.
• Provide effective leadership and direction to managers, supervisors, and professional staff responsible for diverse financial and payroll functions through regular meetings and staff development efforts.
• Represent the Agency in intergovernmental, citywide, and external forums involving payroll, fiscal management, financial reporting, and operational matters.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and implement strategic initiatives supporting Agency priorities and operational objectives.
• Play a key leadership role in emergency management, continuity of operations planning, and emergency response activities.

Why you should work for us

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

• o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund.
• o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Additional information

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC.

We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives.

As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Qualifications & Requirements

• A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, public health, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; or in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; or in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, labor relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management. Eighteen (18) months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above; or
• An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college and six years of full-time satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and eight years of full-time satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above; or
• A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", "3", or "4" above. College education may be substituted for professional experience at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of experience as described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.