FINANCIAL SPECIALIST II / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice. The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Financial Specialist II vacancies related to the homelessness crisis. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Financial Specialist II.

About the Role

Analyzes and makes recommendations for the solution of departmental accounting, budgetary, and other financial problems including problems of accounting systems design and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Conducts studies of departmental accounting and budgetary operations, fiscal controls, and accounting standards in both computerized and manual financial systems.
• Assembles and verifies financial data, schedules, and statistical summaries and compiles them into formal reports of study findings.
• Analyzes and evaluates study findings to identify those aspects of the financial system operations which are functioning effectively and those which need to be changed or replaced.
• Determines specific measures necessary to correct identified deficiencies in current departmental financial systems and designs control mechanisms to be incorporated into revised systems.
• Prepares detailed policy and procedures manuals and designs forms relative to the establishment and implementation of new or revised departmental financial systems.
• Orients and trains department personnel before and during conversion to new or modified accounting, budgetary, or other financial systems.
• Adapts manual accounting, budgetary, and other record-keeping functions to computerized processing and establishes preventive, detective, and corrective internal controls.
• Assists departmental data processing personnel or outside consultants in the technical design, development, testing and modification, and installation of computerized financial systems, as required.

Requirements

You MUST meet the following requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

OPTION I: One (1) year of experience assisting in the performance of financial system analysis* in a Los Angeles County department at the level** of Financial Specialist I.

OPTION II: A Bachelor's degree*** from an accredited college or university with:

• Twelve (12) semester units -or- 18 quarter units of accounting
• Nine (9) additional semester units -or- 13.5 quarter units in either accounting or finance
• Six (6) semester units -or- 9 quarter units in computer science including a course in systems analysis and design****

AND

• Two (2) years of experience in an administrative*****, advisory*****, or staff capacity***** resolving accounting, budgetary, and other financial problems including accounting systems design and implementation.

*Financial System Analysis experience is defined as the study and investigation of issues and problems of financial systems development, implementation, administration, or evaluation and the formation of applicable solutions and recommendations.

**You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level — meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

***To receive credit for your education, include a legible copy of all relevant official documents, including your transcript from an accredited institution or email it to hrexams@ph.lacounty.gov within seven calendar (7) days of filing your application. The document should show the number of units and the type of unit system used (e.g., semester, quarter) and be in English. If not in English, then translation is required. International degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to US standards and indicate the number of units and unit system. Documents marked as unofficial will not be accepted.

****Classes comparable/equivalent to systems analysis and design include but are not limited to the following courses: Accounting Information Systems, Introduction to Business Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems, Management Information Systems, or Business Computer Systems.

*****In the County of Los Angeles, administrative capacity is defined as performing work typically in an administrative services branch of an organizational unit, including responsibility for the development of procedures and participation in policy formation. Advisory capacity is defined as possessing expertise in a specialized field and expressing views, providing opinions, and recommending courses of action to be taken on problems presented by others for resolution. Performing in an advisory capacity customarily does not involve regular performance or supervision of performance of day-to-day work in the specialized field. Staff capacity is defined as work in an advisory capacity to line managers to provide program and administrative support. Work includes assisting and supporting administration by doing research, analysis, and making recommendations to line managers on matters such as: utilization of personnel; allocation of funds; workload and workload fluctuations; and, programs and procedures for accomplishing work objectives. Work under general supervision of the line or division manager.

License

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Requirements

Physical Class II – Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.