Deed Theft Ombudsperson

City of New York•New York, NY

8d•$98,140 - $117,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) is responsible for administering the tax revenue laws of the city. The DOF’s Office of the Taxpayer Advocate (OTA) is an independent office that assists customers who have been unable to resolve their tax issues through normal channels and makes systemic recommendations for improvement. OTA is seeking a Deed Theft Ombudsperson to support the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention (MODTP). This role will assist homeowners impacted by deed theft, fraudulent property transfers, foreclosure-related fraud, and other unlawful property practices. The selected candidate will report directly to the Taxpayer and Parking Advocate.

Requirements

A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management; or in a related area. 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above.
OR A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.

Nice To Haves

Candidates permanent in the Administrative Staff Analyst civil service title or are permanent in a comparable civil service title eligible for a 6.1.9 title change may be considered for an interview.

Responsibilities

Serve as a point of contact for taxpayers seeking assistance related to deed theft and fraudulent deed transfers.
Interview taxpayers to understand their claims and concerns regarding alleged deed theft or other types of deed transfers.
Assist homeowners with navigating complex state and city processes by providing information regarding available resources, support services and referrals.
Assist homeowners with legal processes, connect taxpayers with resources, and ensure their rights are protected.
Support Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention investigation and research as needed.
Liaise between homeowners and the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention, DOF business units, and community resource groups.
Explain to taxpayers the actions taken, applicable laws, regulations, or procedures as necessary; monitor and track taxpayer’s case activity and follow-up actions.
Input and maintain the case management system with respect to incoming cases and inquiries.
Assisting with constituent inquiries and identifying trends or systemic issues affecting homeowners and deed theft victims.
Provide taxpayers with additional support and resources where cases are deemed to not be deed theft.
Support and advocate for taxpayers who successfully regain title to their homes after deed theft and need resources to address their outstanding tax liability.
Support public education efforts and develop outreach designed to increase awareness of deed theft prevention resources and available assistance programs.
Conduct policy analysis, research, and investigations in the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate as necessary.
Research New York property, criminal, and civil law, New York City property and business tax, and fees collected by the Department of Finance, as needed.
Suggest ideas and improvements that will enhance the effectiveness of the Deed Theft Prevention processes and Department of Finance procedures.
Assist the Taxpayer Advocate with the preparation of any annual or periodic reports required by statute or otherwise.
Assist in special projects and research projects.