Director of Timekeeping, Bureau of Controller

City of New York • Long Island City, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Payroll within the Division of Finance’s Bureau of the Controller seeks a highly motivated, detail-oriented professional to lead the Timekeeping Unit. The Director reports directly to the Assistant Commissioner/Controller and provides executive oversight of agency-wide timekeeping operations, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and compliance of time and attendance records with Citywide regulations, labor agreements, and agency policies.

The Director provides strategic oversight of the CityTime Administration and PATS units, supervises timekeeping staff, and works closely with Payroll, Human Resources, Labor Relations, and other stakeholders to support accurate pay processing and leave administration. The position oversees payroll-related analyses, reconciliations, audits, internal controls, quality assurance, staff performance and training, and process improvements.

Candidates must be permanent in the civil service title of Administrative Staff Analyst or a comparable civil service title of Administrative Manager or Administrative Contract Specialist. Because there is an active promotional list for Administrative Staff Analyst and Administrative Manager, only permanent DOHMH candidates can be considered. The posting lists the civil service qualification pathways for Administrative Staff Analyst, including specified education and professional experience combinations and at least 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience supervising staff performing relevant professional work.

The position is with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Depending on the position, employees may be able to work from home up to two days during the week. City employment benefits described include a premium-free health insurance plan, possible additional health, fitness, and financial benefits based on the position’s union or benefit fund, a defined-benefit pension plan, a tax-deferred savings program, and a Worksite Wellness Program. Prospective City employees may also be eligible for federal or state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.

Requirements

• Must be permanent in the civil service title of Administrative Staff Analyst or a comparable civil service title of Administrative Manager or Administrative Contract Specialist; only permanent DOHMH candidates can be considered due to active promotional lists for Administrative Staff Analyst and Administrative Manager.
• For the Administrative Staff Analyst qualification pathway, a master’s degree in a listed relevant field or a Juris Doctor, plus two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in specified fiscal, management, personnel, or public administration areas, including 18 months in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity supervising staff performing relevant professional work; or an alternative education and experience pathway described in the posting.
• Alternative Administrative Staff Analyst qualification pathways include a bachelor’s degree plus four years of relevant professional experience; an associate degree or 60 semester credits plus six years; or a high school diploma or equivalent plus eight years. Each pathway requires the specified 18 months of relevant executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience.
• A combination of education and experience may qualify under the listed Administrative Staff Analyst pathways. College education may substitute for professional experience at 30 semester credits per year, but all candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of relevant experience, including 18 months of qualifying executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience and ability to manage multiple priorities and critical deadlines in a compliance-driven environment.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting principles, internal controls, reconciliation procedures, and payroll-related financial transactions.
• Ability to analyze complex payroll and financial data, identify discrepancies and trends, and develop corrective actions.
• Strong written, verbal, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in a high-volume, compliance-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in accounting, payroll, timekeeping, financial analysis, reconciliation, auditing, or related fiscal operations.
• Demonstrated experience in City payroll and timekeeping operations.
• Strong working knowledge of CityTime, CHRMS, NYCAPS, PMS, RMDS, PATS, and related Citywide systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience developing analytical, reconciliation, and management reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly advanced Excel skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and multitasking abilities.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily Timekeeping Unit operations, including supervision of two Timekeeping Supervisors, the PATS Unit, and the CityTime Administration Unit.
• Ensure the accuracy and financial integrity of time and attendance transactions affecting payroll, including regular salary, overtime, leave without pay, differentials, holiday payments, and other payroll adjustments.
• Review, analyze, and reconcile timekeeping and payroll reports to identify discrepancies, overpayments, underpayments, unusual transactions, and other conditions requiring corrective action.
• Establish and maintain internal controls and quality assurance procedures to ensure transactions are authorized, supported, recorded, and accurately reflected in payroll.
• Monitor agency compliance with Citywide payroll, timekeeping, leave, and attendance regulations by reviewing and analyzing exception, reconciliation, and management reports.
• Oversee employee leave and pay status changes, including managerial and non-managerial transitions, leave vesting and balance adjustments, pay class changes, and holiday pay for eligible part-time physicians.
• Conduct quantitative and financial analyses of payroll-related activity, including overtime, leave without pay, attendance trends, payroll adjustments, and other transactions affecting personnel expenditures.
• Develop reports and analytical tools to identify payroll trends, financial risks, operational deficiencies, and opportunities to strengthen controls and improve efficiency.
• Conduct periodic audits and reconciliations of timekeeping and payroll-related transactions and ensure discrepancies are researched, documented, and resolved in a timely manner.
• Assist with internal and external audits involving timekeeping, payroll transactions, leave balances, and related financial records.
• Interpret and implement Citywide and Agency policies, payroll procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and CityTime requirements affecting employee compensation, leave, and timekeeping.
• Collaborate with management, Human Resources, Labor Relations, union representatives, and other stakeholders to resolve timekeeping, payroll, leave, and contractual matters.
• Set priorities, monitor performance, and ensure work is completed accurately and within established payroll deadlines.
• Develop and implement operating procedures, performance standards, internal controls, and quality assurance measures for the Timekeeping Unit.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide leadership, coaching, training, and professional development to staff.
• Lead agency-wide training on timekeeping policies, payroll controls, systems, and procedures.
• Identify opportunities to automate and streamline processes while maintaining appropriate financial controls.

Benefits

• Potential eligibility for federal and state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.
• Premium-free health insurance plan.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public sector defined-benefit pension plan.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program.
• Depending on the position, the possibility of working from home up to two days during the week.
• Job security compared to private-sector employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: High school or GED