Compliance Advisor

City of New York; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York, acting through the SBS division, seeks a Compliance Advisor to educate and advocate for entrepreneurs as they launch and operate storefronts across the five boroughs. The role focuses on navigating city, state, and federal rules, reducing violations, and guiding businesses toward compliant operations.

Responsibilities include onsite consultations, regulatory research, KPI tracking, and collaboration with multiple agencies.

Qualifications

• Minimum education includes a bachelor’s degree plus two years of community work, or a high school diploma with at least six years’ related experience.
• Candidates should have strong communication, customer service and documentation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct onsite walkthroughs with small businesses and provide one-on-one compliance guidance.
• Explain regulatory inspection processes and potential actions to achieve compliance.
• Outline adjudication processes for violations and appropriate tribunals.
• Document findings and follow up with business owners for compliance support.
• Support pipeline development and engage with entrepreneurs through outreach events.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Active listening

Interpersonal skills

Education

Baccalaureate degree

High school diploma

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Agency Description

The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a vibrant, client-centered agency whose mission is to serve New York’s small businesses, jobseekers and commercial districts. SBS makes it easier for companies in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, supporting commercial districts, promoting financial and economic opportunity among minority- and women‑owned businesses, preparing New Yorkers for jobs, and linking employers with a skilled and qualified workforce. SBS continues to reach for higher professional standards through innovative systems, new approaches to government, and a strong focus on its employees. SBS also works to make changes to the overall regulatory environment to help the small business community.

Division Description

The Division of Business Services (DBS) is dedicated to helping NYC businesses start, operate, and expand in New York City while leading systemic change to improve the regulatory environment for businesses. The Division is guided by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Job Description

NYC BEST (Business Express Service Team) is a dedicated team who educate and advocate for entrepreneurs as they launch and operate their storefront businesses across the five boroughs. Through their knowledge of city, state and federal agency rules and regulations, the team helps small business owners navigate licenses and permits as well as avoid and reduce fines and violations. NYC BEST Compliance Advisors work directly with new and existing businesses looking to open and operate in New York City alongside NYC BEST Small Business Advocates. NYC BEST Compliance Advisors visit small businesses throughout the five boroughs and assess the business space in order to help owners understand how to comply with City, State, and Federal rules and regulations and avoid violations. The onsite consultations performed by the NYC BEST Compliance Advisors help business owners understand regulations and recommend actions businesses should take to become compliant.

Compliance Advisors will become experts in the regulatory requirements of multiple City or State agencies, as well as relevant Federal regulations as needed, including but not limited to: the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department of Buildings (DOB), Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Department of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP) and New York State Agriculture and Markets (Ags and Market) and State Liquor Authority (SLA).

Specific Responsibilities Of The Compliance Advisor Include

Service Delivery

• Conduct onsite walkthroughs with small businesses, providing one‑on‑one guidance that addresses a business’ specific questions and needs regarding compliance
• Describe the regulatory inspection process and what business owners should expect during an inspection
• Explain possible actions business owners could take to eliminate conditions contributing to noncompliance with City, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Be prepared to outline the adjudication process for violations received, including general timeframes and the appropriate tribunal court for hearings.
• Refer business owners to additional resources or information as needed to further promote and enable compliance.
• Document key findings from the consultation and follow up as needed with business owners to provide additional clarification or compliance‑related support.

Subject Matter Research

• Conduct research into City, and relevant NYS, codes, permits, and requirements.
• Conduct research into rules and regulations of agency processes, as assigned.
• Support deepening NYC BEST’s impact to storefront small business by proposing areas for improvement and development.
• Support internal trainings or knowledge‑sharing sessions related to regulatory changes or agency processes.

Performance Management

• Ensure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & program goals are met, and that data is correctly entered in SBS Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software.
• Maintain accurate and specific status reports in the designated software or data analysis tools of establishments participating in these services, including inspection activity, plan examination, issues encountered, opening dates, and time saved.
• Utilize tracking systems to monitor service delivery and monitor client pipeline.
• Track performance metrics such as project milestones, business openings, and operational efficiencies.
• Report KPIs on a regular basis for Executive‑level staff through dashboards, reports and presentations.

Engagement and Pipeline Management

• Proactively identify and engage entrepreneurs at early stages of business development to provide regulatory guidance before licensing and permitting applications are submitted.
• Present agency services and relevant City services on the phone, over email, during one‑on‑one meetings, and at outreach events.
• Support pipeline development by identifying potential clients through outreach events, community partnerships, and referrals from City agencies and community‑based organizations.
• Support collaboration with all City agencies and their respective personnel to identify solutions for NYC’s business community, especially working with the team at SBS dedicated to programming to help businesses launch.
• Assist other initiatives and programs in the agency toward shared goals as required.
• Assist the senior leadership team with pipeline building projects, activities, and relationship management with key private and public partners.
• Lead given projects and travel to meetings or events within the five boroughs and be available for evening and weekend events.
• Participate in community events and forums to represent NYC BEST and increase awareness of City services for entrepreneurs.

How To Apply

To apply, go to www.nyc.gov/jobs and search for Job ID: 786433. We appreciate the interest and thank all applicants who apply, but only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. If you are unable to apply via Jobs NYC, you can email your cover letter and resume to [e-mail] with the subject line: “Compliance Advisor”. If you do not have access to email, mail your cover letter & resume to:
NYC Department of Small Business Services
Human Resources Unit
1 Liberty Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10006.

Additional Information

This position may be eligible for remote work up to 2 days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed to between the City and DC37. However, the nature of the role requires a strong in‑person presence, and responsibilities include travel around the five boroughs of NYC and on‑site engagements as needed.

Residency Requirement: New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. 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. Discuss the residency requirement with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• Candidates with previous experience related to compliance issues at DOHMH, DOB, FDNY, DEP, DSNY, DCWP or other NYC regulatory agencies are strongly preferred.
• At least two years of customer service and/or experience that demonstrates a proven record of helping individuals, clients and/or business owners.
• Ability to communicate complex, technical information – such as City codes, zoning requirements, and permitting procedures – in plain language that individuals without technical training can easily comprehend.
• Good observational skills, including the abilities to adequately describe observations in detail, deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risk, and accurately document findings or observations.
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to interact positively with business owners, ask questions to understand the core issues facing the business, identify information to be researched, and build trust during the conversation.
• Flexibility, multi‑tasking capability, and proactive work ethic.
• Strong active listening skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of MS Office (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Preferred fluent or working knowledge of Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, Polish, Haitian Creole, or French.
• Willingness to travel and/or drive to businesses across the five boroughs. A Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the State of New York may be required for certain assignments.
• Ability to climb stairs and ladders and engage in extensive walking at facilities being inspected including those under construction and renovation while following all mandated safety procedures.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

$65,000.00 – $75,000.00