Assistant General Counsel - Generalist

The New York City Comptroller’s Office works to promote the financial health, integrity, and effectiveness of New York City government, in order to strengthen trust, secure a thriving future for all New Yorkers, and build a more just, equitable, and resilient city. Led by an independently elected citywide official, the comptroller’s office provides checks and balances needed to hold City government accountable for budgeting wisely, investing responsibly, operating efficiently, acting fairly, living up to its obligations and promises, and paying attention to the long-term challenges we face together.

The Comptroller’s Office of General Counsel leverages the expertise of its diverse team of attorneys to provide high quality legal advice, counsel, and support to the Comptroller and the Agency’s various bureaus. OGC facilitates and advances the Office’s strategic objectives in advising on the various legal and operational opportunities and risks, while ensuring compliance with the Agency’s Charter mandate, as well as local, state, and federal laws.

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is responsible for handling all legal matters implicated in the work of the Comptroller—the City’s independent and chief fiscal watchdog. OGC addresses myriad legal issues, including: compliance and risk management, litigation strategy, municipal finance and pension investment transactions and disclosures, agency audits, settlements of claims brought on behalf of and against the City, employee discipline, records access, public policy, and proposed federal, state, and local legislation. OGC works closely with all of the divisions within the Comptroller’s Office and with various City agencies.

Under the direction of the General Counsel, with wide latitude for the exercise of legal knowledge, judgment, and experience.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Perform legal research, draft memoranda, and provide legal advice on complex and important legal matters to all the divisions within the agency, including the Bureau of Contract Administration, Bureau of Asset Management, the Bureau of Labor Law, the Bureau of Accountancy, Audit Bureau, and the Executive and Policy Divisions, on complex legal questions and matters.
• Assist with difficult and important litigation, subpoenas, discovery requests, and document retention issues.
• Advise on Procurement Policy Board rules and government contract rules. Draft and review complex requests for proposals (RFPs) and contracts, and negotiate important agency agreements, as needed.
• Draft legislation and review important and complex proposed legislation.
• Review and analyze reports and recommendations in prevailing wage cases brought before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
• Assist with complex Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) matters and responses.
• Address significant compliance and risk issues, including development of best practices and agency policy.
• Handle important matters relating to New York civil service law and Chapter 68 of the City Charter, which addresses conflicts of interest issues; and,
• Perform other related assignments and special projects as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Preferred Skills

• Exceptional research, writing, and oral communication, including the ability to analyze, communicate, and explain complex legal issues to various audiences.
• Ability to think creatively and critically, solve problems, and multi-task effectively.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment, both independently and collaboratively, with excellent interpersonal and time-management skills.
• Excellent organization skills and demonstrated project-management skills involving engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position