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Michele Mark Levine

Director of Accounting Service
New York City Office of Management and Budget
New York, NY

 

Even though she spends a lot of time thinking about financial issues, Michele Levine says that money isn’t everything when it comes to figuring out your career. “Finding the right match for your interests and strengths is the key,” she says. “If you make a good living doing something you can feel good about, you’ll be a professional success.” As the Director of Accounting Service for the New York City Office of Management and Budget, Michele has put that advice to work.

“In college I got very involved in student government, and found that I enjoyed the public service aspect and felt good about my ability to contribute. I helped oversee the finance and business operations,” she says. Even working in a large global accounting firm after graduating, she enjoyed her work with not-for-profit and government clients most. So she pursued an advanced degree from Syracuse University and went on to work for the New York City Council.

Today, Michele helps balance the budget for one of the largest cities in the world. “It’s rare that I read The New York Times without coming across an article where I have some job-related knowledge of the subject matter,” she says. “I often have insights into situations because I work directly on some aspect of the issue.”

Michele loves her job for the same reason many people love New York itself: “It’s constantly changing, so I’m never bored,” she says.

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