Senior Tax Attorney, Conciliations

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 Legal Affairs Division serves as the in-house legal department for DOF, providing professional and comprehensive legal advice and services in support of a full range of city tax and other revenue-related matters. Legal Affairs Division attorneys and staff handle a wide range of legal issues, including real property taxes and exemptions, business income and excise taxes, collections, parking violations, treasury, land registry, FOIL, and employment law.

Within Legal Affairs, the Conciliations Unit is an independent forum at DOF, charged with resolving disputes in an informal conference setting for City business and excise taxes.

The Conciliations Unit is seeking experienced attorneys with a background in State and Local Tax or tax audit matters to serve as a Senior Tax Conciliator Attorney. Reporting to the Senior Director, the attorneys handle responsibilities including:

• Direct conciliation conferences for tax cases.
• Handle a significant portfolio of cases including complex tax cases and cases with substantial financial, legal or policy considerations.
• Evaluate complex and difficult tax audit matters to understand and resolve complex areas of disagreement.
• Conduct all tax mediation conferences following Conciliation's policy and procedures while seeking to resolve the City business income and excise tax matters.
• Review taxpayer submissions and audit files to develop a complete understanding of the facts, legal and technical issues involved.
• Research and analyze relevant statutes, rules, and case law on a wide range of City business income and excise tax matters. Apply the legal research to issues presented in Conciliation, including, but not limited to, complex and difficult City business income and excise tax cases.
• Ensure taxpayers understand their rights in the conciliation process. Ensure that all parties understand the facts and the positions of each party as set forth during the process.
• Review the research and other submissions of the taxpayer and the DOF representatives.
• Communicate complex tax matters and issues clearly and effectively in the conference and to the Director.
• After thorough review and analysis, provide supported recommendations to the Director.
• Handle processing and closing cases in the DOF's Business Tax Services computer system.

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 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.

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.

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the New York State Bar; and either "2" or "3" below.
• One year of satisfactory United States legal experience subsequent to admission to any state bar; or
• Six months of satisfactory service as an Agency Attorney Interne (30086).

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

In addition to meeting the minimum Qualification Requirements: To be assigned to Assignment Level (AL) II, candidates must have one year of experience at Assignment Level I or two years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment. To be assigned to AL III candidates must have two years of experience in Assignment Levels I and/or II or three years of comparable legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, in the areas of law related to the assignment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in resolving complex Audit controversies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to use MS Word and Excel and willingness to learn and use DOF's computer systems including Business Tax System to input and process cases in the computer system as needed.
• Strong tax law and legal research skills, and experience handling with detailed matters.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is not required for this position.