IntroductionREAD THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT. THIS IS A REOPENING OF A CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION.If you have previously applied or started an application for the Financial Services Specialist, Examination #23-0214-01, read this entire bulletin. There are specific instructions on how to reapply for this position.
PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST, IONE BELL AT IONE.BELL@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU. The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, you new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.
Supplemental Questionnaire:A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.
Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted online. DESCRIPTIONP
THE COUNTY :
Established in 1853, Alameda County has a population of over 1.6 million residents making it the second largest county in the Bay Area and the seventh largest in the State. The County encompasses 14 cities including Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City as well as six unincorporated communities and rural areas that span a total of 738 square miles.
Alameda County employs approximately 9,000 employees working in 21 different agencies and departments and has an annual budget of over $3 billion. As a major urban County, Alameda delivers a full spectrum of services, including general government and internal services, health care, social services, public works, criminal justice, and other public safety services for its community.
The County celebrates the rich diversity of its workforce, which in large measure, reflects the cultural and ethnic diversity of the community it serves. The County’s mission is to enrich the lives of its residents through visionary policies and accessible, responsive, and effective services. Its vision is to be recognized as one of the best counties in which to live, work, and do business.
THE POSITION :
Under direction, to provide professional-level financial services in areas of budget development and processing, contract negotiation and administration, financial planning and monitoring, financial accounting and reporting, and gra nts management to County departments and agencies; to conduct a variety of studies and inquiries and perform financial analytic and administrative work; and to do related work as required.
Financial Services Specialist I/II is a flexibly staffed class series with the work normally performed at the II level, but with initial selection possible at the I or entry level. Incumbents hired at the I level will be expected to gain experience and dem onstrate proficiency which qualifies them to promote to the II level after the equivalent of two years full time service. If proficient, incumbents will be eligible to be flexibly promoted to the II level after the equivalent of one year. Appointment at th e I level will not be extended beyond two years.
Positions in this class series are normally found in County departments with multiple budgets and funding sources and/or with extensive contracting with service providers or community-based organizations. I n addition to the provision of financial services, responsibilities also include performing general administrative services work, planning and conducting analytical studies and overseeing support functions and staff. Although the work is diverse, all posit ions are typically characterized by all of the following elements:
1. Independent decision-making.
2. Capacity to present clear oral and written reports to senior managers.
3. Knowledge of governmental financial processes and systems.
4. Ability to conduct financial analysis and formulate financial recommendations; and
5. Limited availability or nature of supervision
This series is distinguished from the Administrative Specialist class series, which has primary responsibility for the provision of more general administrative services in such areas as personnel, purchasing, contracting, budgeting and departmental communications. It is further distinguished from Senior Financial Services Specialist, which is a skilled, technical specialist class with a primary rol e in financial strategic planning and policy development.
For a detailed listing of the essential responsibilities and core competency requirements for this position, please
click here for the job specification.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE :
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a track record of success in:
- Preparing clear and accurate reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials.
- Communic ating clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
- Effectively performing financial recordkeeping and demonstrated auditing best practices.
- Computer applications related to the work, such as word processing, databases, and spreadsheets.
- Performing work involving the principles and practices of contract and grant administration.
- Performing work involving the principles and practices of governmental budget development and administration.
- Performing work involving the practices and techniques of administrative analysis and report preparation.
- Organizing and prioritizing work to meet critical deadlines.
- Interpret ing , explain ing , and apply ing applicable federal, state and local policies and regulations.
- Developing and admi nistering multiple budgets.
- Planning and conducting administrative and operational studies.
THE VACANCIES : The immediate vacancies are in the Alameda County Health, the Social Services Agency, and the Probation Department. However, the eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be used by any County department or agency needing to fill a vacancy.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSEither I
The equivalent of one year full-time experience in the class of Financial Services Specialist I in the Alameda County classified service.
Or II
Education:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) with major coursework in business or public administration, accounting, economics, financial planning or a field related to the work. (Additional professional financial planning and support experience equivalent to the County’s classification of Financial Services Specialist I may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.)
And
Experience:
Equivalent to one year of full-time professional-level experience in areas of budget development and processing, contract negotiation and administration, financial planning and monitoring, financial accounting and reporting, grant management or similar financial services equivalent to that performed by the Alameda County classified service of Financial Services Specialist I.
Licenses: Specified positions may require possession of a valid California driver's license.
NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLSThe most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:
Knowledge of:
• Principles and practices of governmental budget development and administration.
• Principles and practices of contract and grant administration.
• Financial record-keeping and auditing practices.
• Practices and techniques of administrative analysis and report preparation.
• Applicable federal, state and local policies and regulations.
• Computer applications related to the work, such as word processing, data bases and spreadsheets. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Outlook.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.
Ability to:
• Develop and administer multiple budgets.
• Monitor fiscal transactions and audit fiscal records and documentation.
• Plan and conduct administrative and operational studies.
• Interpret, explain and apply financial regulations, policies and procedures.
• Direct the work of others on a project or day-to-day basis.
• Prepare clear and accurate reports, correspondence, procedures and other written materials.
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with others.
• Organize and prioritize work and meet critical deadlines.
• Maintain accurate financial records and audit data.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Clearly and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing; write contract documents, electronic mail, and Board letters to the Board of Supervisors at a professional skill level.
• Communicate fluently using the English language to present and request information to/from internal and external customers effectively by phone or in person.
EXAMINATION COMPONENTSTHE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
1) A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the final step in the examination process.
3) An oral interview/exam which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview/exam may contain situational exercises.
CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.
We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components .
Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.
To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website,
www.acgov.org/hrs.
Selection PlanApplicants will be informed via e-mail with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:
TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN: Deadline for Filing (LDF): Monday, August 26, 2024, 5:00 p.m. Review of Minimum Qualifications:
Monday, September 2, 2024
Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:
By September 20, 2024
Virtual Civil Service Pre-Recorded Oral Interviews:
Week of October 7, 2024
Notification of Results:
Week of November 4, 2024
CSC Promulgation of Eligible List
November 27, 2024
Closing Date/Time: 9/24/2024 5:00:00 PM
