Exemptions Administrator

Department-of-Finance; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Finance in New York City seeks a Principal Administrative Associate to manage exemptions and abatements for diverse property owners, ensuring accurate processing within the Property Exemptions Administration.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Housing & Commercial Renovation Benefits, you will review applications, update records, and coordinate with applicants, proxies, and internal teams. A strong background in data entry and office software is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three years of clerical/administrative experience, with one year in supervisory capacity.
• Associate degree or 60 semester credits and four years of clerical/administrative experience, including one year supervisory.
• High school diploma or equivalent and five years of clerical/administrative experience, including one year supervisory.
• Education/experience equivalent to above, with one year supervisory experience required.

Responsibilities

• Review, research and process applications for property tax abatements and exemptions using SOPs.
• Make adjustments and updates to exemptions and abatements records.
• Update database information to ensure correct tax abatements credits or exemptions.
• Ensure data accuracy in all entries and applications.
• Respond to inquiries from customers and proxies.
• Access applicant data from multiple sources for review.
• Verify completeness and update databases.
• Contact applicants regarding status or procedures.
• Use Property Tax System to process applications for multiple programs.
• Interchange between programs to meet deadlines.
• Perform special projects as requested.

Skills

Highly motivated

Organized

Independent work

Data entry accuracy

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Adaptability

Education

Baccalaureate degree

Associate degree

High school diploma or equivalent

Supervisory experience substitution option

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

IMPORTANT NOTE: CANDIDATES MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE PRINICIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE, ARE REACHABLE ON THE PRINICIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE OPEN COMPETITIVE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM NO. 1128 OR ARE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR A 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN) WHEN APPLYING AND INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER YOUR PERMANENT CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR INDICATE YOUR LIST NO. FOR EXAM NO. 1128. 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 Exemptions Administration (PEA) oversees and executes property tax benefits for a diverse array of entities and individuals. PEA’s core responsibilities encompass the examination, processing, and management of applications for exemptions and abatements. These benefits extend to commercial and industrial properties, residential multi-family construction, new one- to two-family construction, government entities, and 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 Commercial Exemptions & Abatement Unit of Property Exemptions Administration is looking for a highly motivated, organized, and skilled individual to ensure that exemptions and abatements are correctly applied to appropriate property owner and borough, block, and lot (BBL) in NYC.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Housing & Commercial Renovation Benefits, the selected candidate duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Review, research and process applications for multiple property tax abatements and exemptions programs, using standard operating policies and procedures (SOPs).
• Make adjustments, corrections and updates to exemptions and abatements records.
• Update database information to ensure proper tax abatements credit or exemption is allocated to property.
• Ensure accuracy of all data entered and applications processed.
• Respond to inquiries from internal and external parties, including customers and their proxies.
• Access applicant data and documentation from multiple sources for review.
• Verify completeness and make needed updates in appropriate databases.
• Contact applicants or their proxies via phone or email regarding their application status or the application procedure.
• Utilise the agency's Property Tax System (PTS) to process exemptions and abatements applications for multiple property tax benefit programs.
• Interchange between different programs based on changes in workload priorities within the division to meet processing deadlines.
• Perform special projects as requested.

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.

PRINCIPAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOC - 10124

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience 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 five years of satisfactory full-time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in "1" above;
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above. Education above the high school level may be substituted for the general clerical/administrative experience (but not for the one year of administrative or supervisory experience described in "1" above) at a rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience up to a maximum of 3½ years.

Preferred Skills

• Highly motivated and organized.
• Proven ability to work independently and on a variety of projects and in a team.
• Capable of adapting to a fluid work environment, changing needs, priorities and learning new computer-based programs.
• Skilled in data entry with high rate of accuracy and efficiency showing a high level of responsibility for quality of work and attention to detail.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel experience including but not limited to formulas, configuring tables, conditional formatting and charting, queries, etc.
• General mathematical skills, specifically for the purpose of manual calculations and prorating benefit amounts.
• General knowledge of NYC Property Tax Benefits.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

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/.

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.

Additional Information

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.