Financial Services Specialist

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the last day for filing. Applications will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

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 general direction, to provide supervision for financial and administrative services and operational support functions in County departments or agencies; to provide complex professional-level services in the areas of budget development and processing, contract negotiation and administration, and grants management; to facilitate the implementation of a variety of programs and projects; and to do related work as required. In addition to the provision of complex budget, contract, grant, and financial services, responsibilities emphasize the line supervision of large clerical or technical support staff through subordinate supervisors.

The immediate vacancies are in the Sheriff's Department, Alameda County Health, Social Services Office, 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 QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: The equivalent to two years of full-time experience at the level of or higher than the class Financial Services Specialist II in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts). Completion of the Alameda County Management Academy “Management & Supervision Certificate Program” may be substituted for six (6) months of the required qualifying experience for the internal patterns.

Education: The equivalent to graduation from a four-year accredited college or university (180 quarter units or 120 semester units) with major coursework in business or public administration, economics, financial planning, or a related field. (Additional professional or paraprofessional financial planning and support experience may be substituted for the education on a year-for-year basis.)

Experience: The equivalent to two years of full-time professional-level experience in independently performing financial planning or analysis, budget development and processing, contract negotiation and administration, and/or grants management. Some prior lead or supervisory experience is desirable. License: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge of:

• Supervisory principles, including work planning, direction, and review.
• 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.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Plan, supervise, review, and evaluate the work of others through subordinate supervisors.
• Train others in work procedures.
• Develop, coordinate, and administer complex multiple budgets with multiple funding sources.
• Monitor fiscal transactions and audit fiscal records and documentation.
• Plan and conduct administrative and operational studies.
• Interpret, explain, and apply complex policies, regulations, and procedures.
• 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 data for audits.
• Exercise sound independent judgment within established policies and guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

• A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those applicants who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

• An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email 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 RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing: 5:00 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2025

Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: By February 7, 2025

Virtual Oral Interviews: Beginning the Week of February 24, 2025

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

Departmental Hiring Interviews: Alameda County Health, Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, Late March to mid-April 2025, Week of May 5, 2025

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well-being. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1st United Services Credit Union

**Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @jobaps.com, @acgov.org, [email protected] and [email protected] as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.