Leadership Team

Sandra Abeles serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, aligning administrative and IT infrastructure to equip our 700 staff members with the tools necessary to deliver high-impact results for New Yorkers.

Prior to that, she served as the First Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, overseeing the enforcement, administration, and technology divisions. Under her leadership, the agency expanded its enforcement efforts and implemented several technology projects to improve productivity and transparency.

Ms. Abeles also led the Worker Protection Division at the New York State Department of Labor which enforces labor standards and safety and health regulations. She also served as an Assistant Attorney General working to obtain nationwide reform of the consumer reimbursement system for out-of-network health care charges. Before entering public service, Ms. Abeles worked in commercial litigation.
Ms. Abeles received her law degree from New York University and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. She is a member of the New York State Bar.

As Executive Deputy Comptroller for Budget and Finance, Francesco Brindisi advises the Comptroller’s work as budget watchdog, economic forecaster, and public financier. He oversees the Bureaus of Accountancy, Budget, and Public Finance. Dr. Brindisi previously served as Senior Deputy Director for Revenues, Economics, and Policy at the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget, where he oversaw City revenues, economic analysis, and policy design and evaluation.

Prior to that, Dr. Brindisi was the Chief Economist at the NYC Economic Development Corporation. Dr. Brindisi is an Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, where he teaches classes in urban and public economics, political economy, and macroeconomics. Dr. Brindisi holds a Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University and a laurea summa cum laude from the University of Rome "Tor Vergata."

As Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs, Alana oversees the bureau that is the primary liaison between the Comptroller’s office and the public, mayoral agencies, and federal, state and local authorities.

Alana was the Deputy Assistant Director of Intergovernmental Relations at the New York City Office of Management and Budget. In this role, she oversaw, communicated and developed legislative and budgetary strategy with a specific focus on impacts to the financial plan.

Prior to this, Alana served as Vice President of Advocacy for the New York Immigration Coalition where she led the planning, implementation, and execution of policy campaigns. She also managed member, political, civic and community engagement programs across seven NYS regions. Additionally, Alana was Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications where she advanced community investment and municipal compliance and supported national initiatives to expand digital access and diversity and inclusion with local stakeholders. Ms. Cantillo has previously worked at the NYC City Council and Board of Education.

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia and raised in New Jersey, Alana has a BA in Anthropology and Spanish Literature and Culture from Rutgers University and a MS in Bilingual Special Education from City College, City University of New York.

As Executive Deputy Comptroller, Chris Carroll helps advise and lead the strategic, policy and communication initiatives of the Comptroller. He oversees the bureaus of Audit, Communications and Policy.

Chris has more than a decade of experience in government leadership, policy-making and advocacy. He previously served as Chief of the Staff and Policy Director to then-Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and has worked in organized labor, campaigns, communications, legislation, economic development and as a consultant.

Chris is a classically trained musician, and first came to New York City as a freelance musician after receiving a B.A. in Music Performance from the Bard Conservatory of Music. He lives in Brooklyn.

Deputy Comptroller for Audits Maura Hayes-Chaffe oversees the bureau that conducts audits and investigations into City-funded operations to bring accountability, efficiency, and oversight to make government work better. 

Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office, Ms. Hayes-Chaffe served as Executive Director of Audit and Compliance Services for the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Audit Services and Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Medicaid Provider Investigations and Audit at the NYC Department of Social Services. Prior to working in Audit services, she was a senior attorney of hearings and litigation at the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General and staff attorney on HIV & AIDS Law Consortium for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York. 

Hayes-Chaffe graduated with a BA from McGill University in Montreal and a Masters of Law and Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney. She is admitted to the Bar in New York and New South Wales, Australia as well as a member of the Institute of Internal Audit. 

As Deputy Comptroller for Contracts and Procurement, Charlette Hamamgian oversees the review of all contracts, contract amendments, leases and concessions between City agencies and vendors to determine whether the agreements should be registered.

Ms. Hamamgian previously served as the Senior Executive Director for Contracts and Purchasing for the New York City Department of Education (“DOE”). In that capacity, she developed and implemented the procurement policy and strategy and managed the procurement services and contract compliance for the largest school system in the nation, supported by an annual spend budget of approximately $6 billion. Prior to joining DOE, Charlette served as the Agency Chief Contracting Officer (“ACCO”) for the New York City Departments of Design and Construction and Parks and Recreation, Capital division. In those roles, she oversaw all procurement-related activities for the Agencies including managing the Capital Budget while at the Parks Department. Before those roles, Charlette was the Vice President of Contracts at the New York City Economic Development Corporation where she directed and managed the entire portfolio of NYCEDC procurements, as well as the contracting activities of all NYCEDC affiliated entities, including the New York City Industrial Development Agency.

Charlette is a graduate of New York University where she majored in Politics and Art History. Charlette earned her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut.

As First Deputy Comptroller, Aya Keefe provides strategic leadership, and operational guidance to the Comptroller and to the entire senior leadership team. Aya is a results-oriented public sector leader with over two decades of experience. She previously served as the Deputy Borough President to then-Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine where she oversaw land use and planning, budget, communications, capital funding, and operations. In that role, Aya spearheaded initiatives including the identification of sites for the creation of thousands of housing units and providing over $2 million in zero-interest loans to small businesses. She also served two terms as Chief of Staff to Levine during his tenure on the New York City Council, where she helped advance major legislation, including the city’s right-to-counsel law for tenants facing eviction. Prior to joining Levine, Aya served as a senior analyst and a Presidential Management fellow at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, advising the Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. Born and raised in Israel, she received her B.A. in economics from SUNY and her Masters in Public Administration as a Dean Scholar from NYU’s Wagner School. Aya lives in Inwood with her two spectacular children.

As Deputy Comptroller for Public Finance, Jay Olson leads all aspects of City borrowing for the Comptroller’s Office including bond issuances, debt policy, and improving the City’s financial position by establishing and enforcing fiscally responsible borrowing practices and identifying savings opportunities.

Olson is a seasoned municipal finance professional with over two decades of experience in the City’s municipal finance market. He most recently served as Senior Assistant Director at the New York City Office of Management and Budget (OMB). During his tenure at OMB, Olson was responsible for managing the City’s bond issuances, debt service budget, and a variety of financing authorities and corporations with the Office.

He served as treasurer for several debt issuers within OMB including the New York City Transitional Finance Authority (TFA) and Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation (HYIC). Olson holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and MBA in Finance from The University of Texas and a BA from Northwestern University.

Deputy Comptroller for Budget Krista Olson leads the team that provides independent oversight and economic analysis of New York City’s budget and financial planning. A finance executive with two decades of experience in the public sector, she brings a strong attention to financial management, analysis, and oversight to the Comptroller’s Office. 

Ms. Olson spent seventeen years at NYC Health + Hospitals in various leadership capacities, including Deputy Budget Director, North Brooklyn Health Network, Director of Healthcare Planning in the Office of Managed Care, and culminating as Senior Assistant Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. Before NYC Health + Hospitals, she was the Director of Quality Assurance in the Division of Adult Services for NYC Department of Homeless Services and Senior Budget Analyst for the NYC Office of Management and Budget.

Olson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University and earned a Masters of Public Policy from University of Michigan’s Institute of Public Policy Studies. 

Justina Rivera serves as General Counsel and Deputy Comptroller for Legal Affairs at the NYC Comptroller’s Office, where she is the chief legal officer and a trusted strategic partner to the executive leadership team. She leads a multidisciplinary legal team and oversees matters involving fiscal oversight, procurement integrity, audits, claims and litigation, ethics, legislation, and employment law, advancing accountability and effective governance across City operations.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Justina played a key role in crisis response and led affirmative litigation and legal strategy addressing procurement and fiscal oversight issues impacting the City’s policy and financial interests. With more than 15 years of experience, she is known for navigating complex, high-stakes legal challenges with sound judgment, integrity, and a collaborative approach.

Prior to joining the Comptroller’s Office in 2021, Justina practiced as a litigator in private practice, handling complex tort, toxic tort, products liability, medical malpractice, and commercial litigation matters, and serving as outside counsel to the City. She previously served as an Assistant Borough Chief, Senior Counsel, and trial attorney at the New York City Law Department, defending the City, its agencies, and employees in civil litigation and jury trials.

Justina is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law, where she also served as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, and St. Francis College, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science, summa cum laude. She is President-Elect of the Metropolitan Black Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Afro-Latinidad in the Legal Profession Section of the Hispanic National Bar Association. Her honors include City & State’s 2024 Trailblazers in Law and the Dorothy Miner Award from the New York City Corporation Counsel.

As Chief of Staff, Matt Rubin helps manage the day-to-day functions and responsibilities of the office, and oversees the Bureaus of Public Affairs, Administration & the Executive Offices.

Matt has over a decade of experience leading teams and managing complex issues in government and public affairs. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Comptroller’s Office, in intergovernmental affairs in the Governor’s Office, in state and local public affairs in the private sector, and led operations for city- and statewide campaigns. Matt’s most recent role was Campaign Manager for Mark Levine’s campaign for Comptroller.

Matt has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and lives in Brooklyn.

As Deputy Comptroller for Policy, Jordan leads the development of the Comptroller’s public policy agenda. Working in close partnership with bureaus across the office, he oversees the policy team and advises the Comptroller on strategies to advance a more just, equitable and resilient New York City—one that delivers opportunity for all New Yorkers.

Prior to this role, Jordan served as Chief of Staff at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he advised the District Attorney, guided policy development, managed strategic initiatives, and strengthened community engagement and partnerships. Previously, Jordan directed the Young Men’s Initiative (YMI)—the nation’s largest municipal program dedicated to improving outcomes for boys and men of color. Before his tenure at YMI, Jordan served as the Deputy Director of the Close Rikers Initiative, led Raise the Age implementation, and advanced school climate and safety reforms. A former special education teacher in Harlem and a Fulbright Scholar in Madrid, Jordan holds a master's degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University and a Master’s of Science in Education from Hunter College. Jordan was recognized by City & State New York as a “40 Under 40 Rising Star.”

As Interim Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Comptroller for Asset Management, Monte Tarbox oversees investments for the five New York City retirement systems.
Monte Tarbox was the President of the AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation, from July 2023 to January 2024, at which point he retired. The ITC provided investor services and labor relations oversight to the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust, an open-end equity real estate fund whose primary clients are Taft-Hartley pension funds.

Previously he served for ten years as the Executive Director, Investments for the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF) which provides pension benefits to IBEW members and the electrical industry nation-wide. NEBF has over 500,000 participants, over 9,000 contributing employers and assets of $18 billion. Monte joined NEBF in 2013 and was responsible for the investment program, including asset allocation, investment policy, and oversight of external investment managers.

Prior to joining NEBF, Monte was Chief Investment Officer at the Machinists National Pension Fund in Washington. Previous experience included five years with IFM Investors, a global investment firm that is wholly owned by over 30 Australian superannuation (pension) funds. He held senior positions with investment consulting firms in Chicago, Washington, and Melbourne, Australia. Monte also spent two years as the Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Center for Working Capital where he developed a trustee training and education program and created a trustee curriculum on fiduciary duty and investment responsibilities.

Monte has a B.A. from Carleton College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago with a specialization in finance. He served for 18 years as a Trustee on the Board of Investments for the Montgomery County Public Schools Retirement System in Rockville, MD. In 2018, he was appointed as a member of the Investment Committee and Public Advisor to the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System. In 2024, President Joe Biden appointed Monte to the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation in Washington, DC.

As Deputy Comptroller for Accountancy, Jacqueline Thompson is responsible for overseeing all functions of the Bureau of Accountancy. This includes, but is not limited to: producing the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), overseeing the Citywide financial statement and single audits, ensuring accuracy with respect to the financial reporting of City agency’s expense and revenue accounting, reconciling more than 100 City bank accounts, servicing the City’s general obligation debt, validating vendors who want to do business with the City and maintaining this data in the City’s Financial Management System (FMS), and providing accounting guidance for Citywide implementation of standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and provide accounting support for the City’s five main pension plans.

Previously Ms. Thompson held several other leadership positions in the Bureau of Accountancy including Division Chief, Deputy Bureau Chief, and then Bureau Chief. Ms. Thompson also served in the Comptroller’s Audit Bureau as a Staff Auditor and then Audit Supervisor.

A graduate of Baruch College, Ms. Thompson holds a BBA in Accounting and is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).