NYCHA Awarded for Financial Reporting Excellence

NYCHA was recently recognized for excellence in financial reporting with a Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).  

The GFOA award was bestowed to the Authority for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended December 31, 2019. The report was judged by an impartial panel on various rigorous standards, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate stakeholders to read the report.  

“We are incredibly proud of our entire finance department here at NYCHA,” said Greg Russ, NYCHA Chair and CEO. “This Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is well deserved and well earned. The Authority prioritizes transparency and accountability, and this award is a reflection of that.”  

NYCHA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Annika Lescott added: “We appreciate this recognition of the utmost care and months of hard work that the finance department puts into creating the annual financial statements. We are dedicated to ensuring strong fiscal policy, integrity, and transparency so residents can be assured that funding is being used for their benefit.” 

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  

At the center of NYCHA’s success in financial reporting is the Financial Accounting & Reporting Services Department. NYCHA Controller Jeffrey Lesnoy took pride in his department’s work that helped lead to the GFOA honor, which he said is “truly a reflection of consistent excellence by Finance.” 

“I am very proud of the integrity, commitment level, and attention to detail that our Financial Accounting & Reporting Services team has exhibited throughout the year,” Mr. Lesnoy said. “The continuous focus on ‘doing the right thing’ has been very evident. I would also like to recognize the entire Finance team for its amazing cross-functional collaboration, which undoubtedly contributed to our success.”   

According to GFOA, the Certificate of Achievement represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. 

“We believe that the New York City Housing Authority should be very proud that they have been recognized for excellence in their financial reporting and the dedication to transparency and accountability that it represents,” said Michele Mark Levine, GFOA Director of Technical Services.  

Learn more about the GFOA award here.