County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under the general direction of the Finance and Contracts Director, Probation Department, manages the fiscal and procurement operations of the Alameda County Probation Department; manages, through subordinate managers, the contract administration and grants operation of the Department; serves as a liaison to the Auditor-Controller and other County departments, and internal and external funding sources or regulatory agencies; establishes and supervises proper accounting, fiscal and procurement systems and procedures; manages/directs a division of fiscal and administrative professional and paraprofessional staff; and, does other related work as required.

 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Assistant Director, Finance and Contracts, Probation Department, is a single-position class that reports to the Finance and Contracts Director, Probation Department. This position manages a large staff of professional and clerical subordinates through first-line supervisors and is responsible for: the preparation of the agency’s annual budget, quarterly fiscal forecasts, accounting management and year-end closing, contracts administration, grants, claims, and revenue generating operations. This class is distinguished from the next higher level class of Finance and Contracts Director, Probation Department in that the latter is a member of the Executive Team, and has overall responsibility for planning, organizing and directing the Department’s fiscal operations; serving as the executive liaison with the Auditor-Controller Agency and other County departments and regulatory agencies; and, setting departmental financial goals, objectives and priorities.

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. Manages the Department’s financial operations, budget, accounting, payroll, contracts administration, and revenue generating activities.

2. Ensures implementation of financial goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and priorities for the Department as set by the Finance and Contracts, Director and the Chief Probation Officer.

3. Serves as a Probation Subject Matter Expert (SME) and supervises staff through subordinate supervisors who are responsible for contract negotiations and compliance monitoring; reviewing RFPs; and, coordinating maintenance of appropriate record-keeping documents for contracts and grants.

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

6. Directs the contract and procurement programs through subordinate managers.

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

8. 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; and, takes 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 the Alameda County classified service.

 

OR II

Experience:

The equivalent of two years of full time, 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 one year 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:

• 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:ah New spec 1/31/2018
CSC Date: 2/14/18

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.