Assistant Commissioner, PEA

SPECIAL NOTE: The selected candidate must obtain New York State Assessor Certification withing three (3) years of appointment.

NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for administering the tax revenue laws of the city fairly, efficiently, and transparently to instill public confidence and encourage compliance while providing exceptional customer service.

The Property Division (“Property”) is responsible for valuing more than one million properties within the City of New York. The Division develops the City’s annual assessment roll and administers a variety of property tax exemption and abatement programs.

Property Exemption Administration (PEA) administers property tax exemption programs for a diverse range of organizations and individuals. PEA’s core responsibilities include reviewing, processing and managing exemption applications while ensuring statutory compliance and equitable program administration to commercial, industrial, residential multi-family, government entities, non-profits, as well as renters and homeowners, including members of the clergy, seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. PEA is committed to ensuring the accessibility of property tax benefits for all eligible constituents.

The Property Division seeks a forward-thinking public sector leader with strong executive management and customer service skills. The ideal candidate will bring professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to equitable administration of property exemption programs while guiding teams through continuous improvement and organizational growth. Knowledge of property tax administration is highly desirable.

The Assistant Commissioner of Property Exemption Administration provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for the City’s property exemption programs, ensuring the fair, accurate, and lawful administration of property tax exemption services.

This position is responsible for directing the Unit’s operations, policies, and performance of Property Exemption Administration while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and City standards.

Serving as a key member of the Department of Finance leadership team, the incumbent advises executive leadership, elected officials, municipal partners, and stakeholders on exemption matters, operational priorities, legislative impacts, and opportunities for modernization.

Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner of the Property Division, the selected candidate’s duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Direct and oversee all aspects of the City’s real property exemption programs, including application review, eligibility determination and program administration.
• Establish strategic priorities, operational goals, and performance standards to ensure efficient, transparent, and customer-focused service delivery.
• Lead, supervise, and develop professional and administrative staff responsible for exemption processing, and customer service.
• Provide expert guidance on complex exemption matters involving statutory interpretation, eligibility requirements, documentation standards, and appeals.
• Ensure consistent application of policies and procedures across all exemption activities.
• Partner with executive leadership, legal counsel, and external governmental agencies to advance strategic initiatives and resolve complex property tax exemption matters.
• Analyze legislative developments, operational metrics, audit findings, and industry trends to identify risks, improve program performance, and recommend policy enhancements
• Develop and implement process enhancements, technology initiatives, and workflow improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, recommendations, and briefings for senior leadership and public officials.
• Represent the Department at meetings, hearings, community forums, and professional events related to property taxation and exemptions.
• Maintain a strong culture of accountability, professionalism, integrity, and excellence in public service.
• Hire talented staff to fill staff and leadership positions.

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Foster collaboration across DOF’s Property, Legal Affairs, IT, and Community Affairs divisions and with external agencies.
• Develop succession planning through mentorship and staff development.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvements and exceptional public service.
• Promote consistent training and knowledge transfer to preserve institutional expertise.
• Encourage innovation while ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and public accountability.
• Manage resources effectively to support operational objectives and the Division’s priorities.
• Assure quality data to help make data driven decisions.

Additional Information: In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed between the City and the Collective Bargaining Unit representing employees serving in the civil service title.

This position will require employees to have access to Federal Tax Information (FTI) and is subject to an additional background investigation before appointment. The candidate(s) will be required to pass the FTI background investigation as a term and condition of employment.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, business or public administration, human resource management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in or a combination of the following: economic or financial administration, fiscal or economic research, management or method analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation in public administration, 18 months which must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the area described above; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college in the areas described in “1” above and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including 18 months of experience in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity.

Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, finance, business administration, accounting, real estate, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Extensive progressively responsible experience in governmental or financial operations or property tax administration.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs and leading professional teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of real property tax exemption laws, assessment practices, and administrative procedures.
• Strong understanding of public-sector operations, compliance, and customer service principles.
• Exceptional leadership, analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Experience with property assessment systems and exemption administration platforms.
• Experience working with elected officials, auditors, attorneys, and government stakeholders.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.