County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, the Retirement System Program Analyst, ACERA serves as a technical and business analyst for the Business Application Support Services Units to the various ACERA Department units.


DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This classification focuses on the business process analysis, operational procedures, and policy adaptation aspects of critical retirement system applications. The Retirement System Program Analyst, ACERA is responsible for providing database and custom application solutions to business users; facilitates database customization services for the organization; serves as a liaison between the various business units within the Benefits Department and the Personnel Computer Network Services unit; performs other duties as assigned. This class is distinguished from the Personal Computer and Network Systems Analyst, ACERA in that the latter has overall responsibility for computer and network design, installation, and maintenance.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Provides recommendations to the Department on procedural improvements based on usage of the pension administration software.

2. Analyzes business processes as they relate to the ACERA Retirement Information System, and reports gaps in system usage.

3. Modifies pension administration and accounting procedures to optimize application and operational efficiency.

4. Performs and resolves routine client/server database application issues independently.

5. Train and educate new users on various business applications (i.e. ACERA Retirement Information System and the ACERA Retirement Accounting System, Health Care reconciliation system).

6. Independently develops and implements ACERA Business Application Support Services solutions to address business unit needs.

7. Implements projects according to plans and schedules developed in conjunction with business units.

8. Interfaces with potential and current software vendors while doing research for emerging standards and solidifying new standards.

9. Provides or obtains from external providers support for complex issues affecting mission-critical databases and custom applications.

10. Analyzes requests for new reports, existing data modifications and updates, determines feasibility, selects the best course of action, obtains necessary administrative approval and resources, and implements plans to incorporate change requests in the area of application development.

11. Acts as the Department’s technical expert on critical business applications, and provides assistance to users on configuration and setup.

12. Maintains current knowledge of the technology in the areas of data processing equipment, application and systems software and database management systems.

13. Maintains responsibility for the data processing function of the pension administration and accounting systems.

14. Establishes standards for the administration and maintenance of all permissions and rights for ACERA users on critical database applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

Experience

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience in the class of Business Analyst in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)

Or II
Experience

The equivalent of three years full-time professional experience in a position involving the design, analysis, and upgrade/maintenance of benefit or pension administration systems and applications.

A Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or a closely related field is highly desirable.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Data organization and access methods in computerized systems.
• Concepts of database architecture.
• Relational database structure and design.
• General database administration standards.
• Basic principles of pension fund administration systems and business operations.
• Various finance and accounting software packages.
• Report writing, including database reporting software.
• Local area networks and client/server database applications.
• Host access and terminal emulation products.

Ability to:

• Analyze problems and make appropriate recommendations.
• Communicate information effectively, verbally and in writing, to technical and non-technical individuals.
• Exercise judgment.
• Execute pension calculations.
• Train other application users.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

JC:pf
4/05/01
Newspecs: 1368.doc
Csc date: 5/9/01
SG:po Revised 5/1/07
CSC Date: 6/20/2007

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
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** 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.