Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE ERIE COUNTY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE. At present there is one vacancy. 

The eligible list resulting from this examination will not supersede currently existing promotional eligible lists for this title, if any. The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated.

Examples of Duties:

A Systems Accountant performs professional accounting systems analysis work; assisting in the design, development and implementation of accounting systems controls and applications pertaining to an integrated financial management system;

Conducts studies and makes evaluations of existing departmental accounting operations, fiscal controls, accounting standards and forms, in both computerized and non-automated accounting systems;

Participates in the design and development of all types of accounting systems controls and applications, and works with the Division of Data Processing in the design and technical development of computerized applications;

Prepares work papers, schedules, statistical summaries, and formal reports concerning accounting systems analysis and design;

Assists in testing accounting controls incorporated into computerized and non-automated fiscal control systems;

Assists in orienting and training departmental personnel on the County’s accounting systems;

Participates in discussions relating to fiscal matters, systems review plans, and findings with departmental personnel;

Prepares written modifications and additions to the County’s Accounting Policies Manual.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 24 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Job Grade 9 plus the following:

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field including or supplemented by a minimum of 24 semester credit hours in accounting* and four (4) years of accounting experience (see Notes), at least (1) year of which must have been in the area of systems.

Notes:

1. *ACCOUNTING – recording, classifying, verifying, reporting and analysis of financial data.

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Master’s degree in Business Administration may be substituted for one (1) year of the required accounting experience, but may not be substituted for the required experience in the area of systems.

2. Examples of acceptable accounting experience are full-charge bookkeeper**, junior accountant and similar positions.  **BOOKKEEPER responsible for a full set of financial records including General Ledger and all subsidiaries.

3. Examples of unacceptable experience are: account-clerical experience and experience limited to posting, maintaining, examining or preparing one or more of the following: voucher register, sales register, cashbook, insurance register, accounts receivable ledger, accounts payable ledger, any other special journal or subsidiary ledger; or experience preparing income tax returns. 

4. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting full-time experience requirements.

5. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the New York State Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. A grade of "D" or better is necessary for a course to be credited as successfully completed. If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. You can write to this Department for a list of acceptable companies providing this service; you must pay the required evaluation fee.

Notice to Candidates:  Transcripts will now be accepted by the Department of Personnel ONLY at time of application.  

All subsequent transcripts must be submitted at time of interview.

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. General accounting

These questions test for knowledge of the general accounting principles and practices used in the preparation of financial statements, in the recording and reporting of financial transactions, and in financial decision-making. Candidates will be required to demonstrate a current knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Knowledge of computerized information systems as it applies to accounting may be required.

2. General auditing

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and procedures involved in substantiating and examining transactions and financial statements. It will require a knowledge of auditing techniques and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). Knowledge of the use of computerized accounting or auditing systems as it pertains to auditing may be required. Questions relating to internal controls applicable to manual and computerized accounting systems may be included.

3. Governmental accounting

These questions test for knowledge of the accounting practices employed to provide financial information used in determining and forecasting the condition of governmental units, and used for monitoring governmental performance, in terms of legal, contractual and fiduciary requirements. These questions will test for knowledge of and familiarity with common governmental funds, appropriation and encumbrance accounting, accounting for revenue and expenditures, and other aspects of accounting relating to the governmental sector.

4. Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

5. Understanding and interpreting tabular material

These questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and use the internal logic of data presented in tabular form. You may be asked to perform tasks such as completing tables, drawing conclusions from them, analyzing data trends or interrelationships, and revising or combining data sets. The concepts of rate, ratio, and proportion are tested. Mathematical operations are simple, and computational speed is not a major factor in the test. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A None filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.