Walsh names new commissioner of finance

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has named Michael Cannizzaro the City of Syracuse’s new commissioner of finance.

Cannizzaro has been working for the city since 2020, having started as director of accounting before being appointed deputy commissioner of finance in 2022, Walsh’s office said.

“Michael Cannizzaro takes over as finance commissioner with a deep knowledge of Syracuse’s finances and a determination to further strengthen the City’s fiscal condition,” Walsh said in a news release. “He has a strong track record of improving the City’s financial processes and increasing the accuracy and timeliness of our reporting. Michael is also a well-respected leader in our finance department and across city government.”

Cannizzaro, a certified public accountant, has more than 12 years of experience in finance and accounting. He has worked for major private companies and for regional and national accounting firms. As director of accounting with the city, Cannizzaro was instrumental in enabling Syracuse to eliminate material weaknesses in its annual audit in 2021, the first time in more than a decade, the mayor’s office said.

Cannizzaro graduated from Henninger High School and is also a graduate of Cornell University.

He succeeds current finance commissioner Brad O’Connor, who is returning to a position in the private sector. O’Connor served the city for nearly four years, first as its deputy commissioner of finance and then as commissioner of finance from 2020-2023.

“I’m very grateful to Brad O’Connor for his service to the City of Syracuse. Under his leadership, Syracuse made major progress on its path to fiscal sustainability. Brad guided the City through the fiscal uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped build the City’s fund balance to a responsible level, and played a critical role in improving the outlook the big credit ratings agencies have on Syracuse,” Walsh contended. “We are fortunate he brought his talents to city government.”