County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to plan, organize and direct the fiscal operations for the Alameda County Probation Department; to direct the contract administration and grants operation of the Agency; to serve as liaison to the Auditor-Controller and other County departments and internal and external funding sources or regulatory agencies; to establish and supervise proper accounting and fiscal systems and procedures; to manage/direct a division of fiscal and administrative professional and paraprofessional staff; to do other related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Finance and Contracts Director, for the Alameda County Probation Department is a single-position class that is responsible to the Chief Probation Officer. This position directs a large staff of professional and clerical subordinates through first and second line supervision and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Agency’s financial operations which include: the agency’s budget process, accounting, contracts administration, claims, and revenue generating operations. This position is distinguished from the next lower position of Administrative/Finance Services Manager by its responsibility for the direction and oversight of fiscal operations for the entire agency whereas the Administrative/Finance Services Manager is a second-level manager who directs and oversees both administrative and financial services for a large county department.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are some of the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, the employee may perform other related duties at an equivalent level.

1. Administers the Agency’s financial operations, budget, accounting, payroll, contracts administration, and revenue generation activities.

2. Oversees the coordination of the development and implementation of financial goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities for the Agency.

3. Supervises staff through subordinate supervisors that is responsible for contract negotiations and compliance monitoring; reviewing RFPs and coordinating bid evaluation and award processes with appropriate county agencies; coordinating maintenance of appropriate record-keeping documents for contracts and grants.

4. Reviews and makes recommendations on budget policies and fiscal control activities; gathers and analyzes data and statistics such as operational costs; prepares financial statements, reports, summaries, charts, and related materials for management use, and prepares fiscal and statistical data for reports to various agencies.

5. Manages the preparation of all intra-Agency and departmental program budgets; reviews, analyzes and recommends priorities and alternatives for budget requests.

6. Directs the budgetary and fiscal control programs and the preparation of the Agency budget.

7. Works closely with departmental finance liaisons to streamline financial reporting and create consistent fiscal and accounting practices and procedures.

8. Monitors all Agency fiscal policies and practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and legislation.

9. Participates as a member of the Agency’s executive team and works as a liaison with other County departments, contractors/providers, and community based organizations, and other key stakeholders.

10. Conducts staff meetings with subordinates regarding department policies, procedures and problems; provides technical guidance and advice to insure conformity with established department policies, rules and regulations; take or recommends corrective actions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a closely related field. A Master’s degree is desirable. (Additional experience as listed in pattern II may be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.)

 

AND EITHER I

Experience:

The equivalent of two years as an Administrative/Financial Services Manager in Alameda County classified service.


OR II

Experience:

The equivalent of four years of full time and progressively responsible experience in a management capacity which included a combination of direct experience in fiscal and budgetary oversight, contracts administration, accounting, and revenue generation. At least two years of the required experience must include the supervision of professional and paraprofessional staff.

OR III

Experience:

A combination of training, education and experience that is equivalent to one of the patterns listed above that will provide the required knowledge and abilities.

 
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:

• The principles and methods of budget preparation, accounting, including line item budgeting, systems and current trends in health, welfare or law enforcement fiscal operations, including legislation and state memoranda influencing state to county allocation formulas.
• Public administration principles and practices, including strategic planning, fiscal administration and control, and administrative organization.
• Budgetary, contract and grant administration and financial recordkeeping and reporting practices.
• Federal, state, and County laws.
• Management principles and practices including employee supervision.
• Practices and techniques of financial analysis.
• Computer applications related to financial analysis and accounting.


Ability to:

• Provide leadership to the planning, organization and direction of the budgeting process of the Agency.
• Plan, supervise, review and evaluate the work of others either directly or through subordinate supervision.
• Represent the department and the County in meetings with others.
• Write and speak effectively, including the ability to write complex technical reports and conduct effective meetings.
• Direct technical accounting functions within a large department.
• Perform cost/benefit analyses.
• Research, compile and summarize varied information, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

IC:jf New spec 6/18/2017
CSC Date: 7/19/17

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.