1657 Accountant IV (Citywide)

Note:  This announcement has been amended to extend the filing date for additional recruitment.  Applicants who have already applied under CCT-1657-058599, issued on September 14, 2012 will be included in the applicant pool and need not reapply. 

1657 Accountant IV - (Citywide) Continuous Class Based Testing

 

Continuous Class Based Testing:  This is a continuous examination process.  Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with periodic suspension as needed.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  For each exam administration, names of successful candidates will be added to an existing list with an eligibility period.  Names are removed from a continuous list at the end of the of the eligibility period.

Online applications will only be accepted during the recruitment schedule below:
Recruitment Period  I:  May 1, 2012 through May 22, 2012 (completed)
Recruitment Period  II:  September 14, 2012 through October 5, 2012 (extended) 

Position Description
Under general direction, performs complex accounting functions consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP); supervises professional and clerical staff. Assigns, manages, and evaluates fiscal and accounting work including budget preparation, purchasing activities, payroll and general ledger analyses, accounts receivables, payables, grants, bonds, revenue, cost allocation, fixed assets, expenditures, and other accounting activities; researches, analyzes and implements accounting rules and regulations as stipulated by GASB, FASB or other regulatory agencies; plans, directs and performs analysis and reconciliation of computerized fiscal and accounting records and reports from FAMIS, ADPICS and other information systems.  Documents transactions to conform with existing fiscal and legal requirements; supervises staff in reviewing contracts, financial documents, accounting reports of receipts, disbursements and encumbrances affecting various funds and accounts to insure conformance with budget and fiscal procedures, existing laws, ordinance and other fiscal requirements; coordinates and directs annual audits and investigations of City departments, concessionaries and public service enterprises to ensure conformance with accounting procedures, forms, lease and insurance requirements.  May perform ad hoc audits as needed; analyses and interprets complex accounting procedures, prepares recommendations for their revision, participates in development and installation of accounting and fiscal procedures and methods; as a Subject Matter Expert, defines specifications for development of financial system’s enhancements and implements enhancements as a member of an information implementation group.  Acts as liaison between accounting staff, financial staff, and information systems staff.  Includes defining, converting documents, testing, training, and installing large financial systems with system project manager or consultant; develops ad hoc reports by direct access or through extracted data using various data files or databases. Includes explaining reports orally and in writing to management and accounting staff; plans, directs and coordinates workload and assignments for staff; plans and conducts meetings related to accounting issues, professional skills, and informational issues; assist in problem solving; Evaluate staff performance by setting goals, objectives while providing feedback.  Identifies staff needs and recommends or provides appropriate training for professional growth and career development; initiates and maintains contact with key departmental staff and other parties in order to keep abreast of complex accounting and financial information. 

1.  A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.  Such education must include twelve (12) semester units or eighteen (18) quarter units of coursework in accounting.  (See notes)   AND

2.  Six (6) years of professional accounting experience which includes analysis or problem solving.  Experience must include: Working with an automated financial system (preferably a government system), performing difficult and responsible accounting, reporting work, preparing financial records, reports and financial statements in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Experience must include two (2) years of verifiable experience supervising subordinate staff.  (See notes)

 

Substitution:  A Master’s degree in accounting, business administration, computer science, public policy, or closely related field may substitute for one (1) of the six (6) required years of professional accounting experience.  

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are being accepted through an online process. Visit www.jobaps.com/sf to register an account (if you have not already done so) and begin the application process.

• Select the desired job announcement
• Select “Apply” and read and acknowledge the information
• Select either “I am a New User” if you have not previously registered, or “I have Registered Previously”
• Follow instructions on the screen

Computers are available for the public (from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date.  Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter.  To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file.  Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records.  Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline.  Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analysts: Vicente Centeno, phone (415) 554-7506, email Vicente.Centeno@sfgov.org or Mirna Palma, phone (415) 554-7530, email Mirna.Palma@sfgov.org

Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director.
                                               

Written Examination (Weight 40%):
Candidates will be tested to determine their relative knowledge, skill and ability levels in job- related areas including:  Knowledge of Accounting Principles (GAAP), Knowledge of Government Accounting, Analytical, Decision-Making Ability and Written Communication. Candidates must pass the written exam in order to move forward in the examination process. 

This is a standardized examination and therefore test questions and test answers are not available for public inspection or review. 

Oral/Performance Examination (Weight 60%):
Candidates will be tested to determine their relative knowledge, skill and ability levels in job-related areas including: Written Communication, Oral Communication, Supervisory Ability, Interpersonal Skills and Skills in the use of Personal Computers.

 

Total weight for both Written and Oral/Performance components: 100%                                    

 

Applicants who fail the examination must wait one year before reapplying.
Note:  Applicants who took the 1657 Accountant IV exam for May 2012 recruitment period cannot participate in the current exam administration. 
 

Continuous Recruitment/Eligible List:
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and receive a passing score on both examination components will have their names placed on the eligible list in rank order.  The score and rank of a candidate will be finalized when the list in which the candidate becomes eligible is adopted.  The names of new eligibles will be merged with existing eligibles names on a continuous basis.

The eligibility period for successful candidates will be twelve (12) months.

Tentative Written Examination Administration Dates:  Mid November 2012
Tentative Oral/Performance Examination Dates:  Mid December 2012   

Verification of Education and Experience:

All applicants, including City employees, must provide written verification of qualifying education needed to meet the minimum qualifications.  Copies of transcripts must be submitted to verify college education.  Incumbency in a class with the same education requirements may be reason to waive this requirement for current city employees.  Verification of qualifying experience may be required at any time during the examination process.  If requested, verification must be signed by the employer or the employer’s authorized representative on the employer’s business letterhead, and must include the name of the applicant, job title(s), dates of employment, and description of job duties performed.  City employees may submit performance evaluations to verify qualifying City experience in lieu of the verification, but must verify education and other qualifying experience as stated above.  City and County employees shall receive credit only for the duties of the class to which appointed or assigned unless sufficient and credible documentation is provided to verify performance of other duties.  Employees may receive credit for duties not usually performed by incumbents in a class if their employee file contains contemporaneous documentation that the duties were assigned and performed.  By way of example but not limitation, records that describe and verify the out-of-class assignment that may be accepted as documentation include a valid performance appraisal completed during the normal evaluation period, payroll records filed at the time of the assignment and Notice of Assignment.  Credit for duties not usually performed by incumbents in a class based on non-contemporaneous documentation shall require the certification of the Appointing Officer and the approval of the Human Resources Director.  Verification may be waived if impossible to obtain. The applicant must submit a signed statement explaining why verification cannot be obtained. Waiver requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Failure to submit the required verification or request for waiver, when requested, may result in rejection of the application.

 

You will be able to upload transcripts showing all qualifying courses/degree to the online application (preferred) or you may fax to (415) 554-7126 -DO NOT fax more than one copy or mail to address below:

 

Att: 1657 CBT-MP

City Hall, Room 488

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA94102

 

Notes regarding Verification of Education and Experience:

1. A degree from a U.S. or foreign college or university not currently listed on accreditation websites may require that an evaluation of the degree must be received before placement on the eligible list.  The evaluation must state that the degree has equivalency as described in the minimum qualifications.
For information on "How to obtain equivalency certification", please visit: http://www.sfgov.org/site/controller_page.asp?id=37940%20%20 

2. Experience must be professional in level and scope.  Experience as an Account Clerk, Sr. Account Clerk, Principal Account Clerk, for example, may not qualify unless it meets the guidelines defined in Civil Service Rule 109 and 110.

3. Incumbency in Class 1652 Sr. Accountant or admission to a previous examination administration does not guarantee admission in this process.  This determination is governed by the terms of this announcement. 
 

Certification:   
The Certification Rule to be used for this eligibility list will be Rule of Three (3) Scores.  The hiring department may conduct additional selection processes to make final hiring decisions. 

Eligible List:
The eligible list resulting from this examination is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of 12 months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

The Human Resources Director may approve use of the eligible list resulting from this selection process to make permanent Civil Service appointments to other position(s) involving the same or similar title in any department.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Requests:
Applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum eligibility requirements for this job announcement can find information on requesting a reasonable ADA Accommodation at:
http://www.sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=20#applicantswithdisabilities

Information regarding requests for Veterans Preference can be found at:
http://www.sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=20#veteranspreference

General Information concerning City and County of San Francisco Employment Policies and Procedures:
Important Employment Information for the City and County of San Francisco can be obtained at http://www.sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=20 or hard copy at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4^th Floor.

Terms of Announcement:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at www.jobaps.com/sf.

Copies of Application Documents:
Applicants should keep copies of all documents submitted, as these will not be returned.

Right to Work:
All persons entering the City and County of San Francisco workforce are required to provide verification of authorization to work in the United States.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Clearance:
Candidates for employment with the San Francisco Airport Commission whose job duties require unescorted Air Operations Area (AOA) access or sterile area access will be required to undergo a criminal history record check, including FBI fingerprints, in order to determine eligibility for security clearance and will be required to undergo drug/alcohol screening.  Per Civil Service Commission Rule Section 110.9.1, every applicant for an examination must possess and maintain the qualifications required by law and by the examination announcement for the examination.  Failure to obtain and maintain security clearance may be basis for termination from employment with the Airport Commission.

Exam Type: CPE 
Issued:  May 1, 2012
Re-issued:  September 14, 2012
Amended:  September 25, 2012

Micki Callahan

Human Resources Director 

Department of Human Resources

Recruitment ID Number: CCT-1657-058599

Team: CON/MP (415) 554-7530

 

MINORITIES, WOMEN AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

An Equal Opportunity Employer

All employees hired on or after January 10, 2009 will be required (pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section A8.432) to contribute 2% of pre-tax compensation to fund retiree healthcare. In addition, most employees are required to make a member contribution towards retirement, typically a 7.5% of compensation. For more information on these provisions, please contact the personnel office of the hiring agency.