City Hires New Assistant Comptroller

The city announced the hiring of Tejal Desai as the new assistant comptroller, according to a press release. 

Desai, who until recently served as a commissioner on the Hoboken Municipal Hospital Authority, will be earning $80,000 for the full time job, according to spokesman Juan Melli. Desai will not be receiving benefits from the city. 

"We’re making sure that we have the staffing that we need for our finance department," said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in a phone interview on Monday evening. She added that the department needs to be fully staffed to "prevent financial mismanagement." 

The finance department is now made up of eight people, Zimmer said. The mayor added that the fact that the city's finance director works on a part-time basis, adds to the need of having an assistant comptroller. 

Desai started working in City Hall on Monday morning. Zimmer said that Desai will work on drafting the 2011 budget and help the city with bonding and other financial transitions. 

"Desai will be responsible for advising the Administration on the City’s financial condition and making recommendations on Hoboken’s fiscal policies and financial transactions," a press release stated on Monday afternoon. 

Desai will be working under Finance Director Nick Trasente.

Desai, who holds a master's degree from the University of Chicago, has worked in public finance investment banking for Bank of America and in the Corporate Treasury department of The Dow Chemical Company, according to the city's release.