County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to plan, organize and direct the fiscal operations for the Social Services Agency; to direct the revenue-raising operations of the Agency; to serve as liaison to the Auditor-Controller, other County departments and external funding, and regulatory agencies; to establish and supervise proper accounting, and fiscal systems and procedures; and to do related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The Director, Financial Services for the Social Services Agency directs a large staff of professional and clerical subordinates through first- and second-line supervisors. This position reports to the Agency Director, and is responsible for the agency's budget process, accounting, and recipients’ payroll operations, as well as contract services, and welfare claims.

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. Represents and acts for the Social Services Agency in contacts with the Auditor-Controller's Office, Central Collections, Data Processing, Medicare and Medi-Cal fiscal intermediaries, and the State Department of Finance in all fiscal and related matters.
2. Plans, designs, and coordinates accounting systems with budgetary procedures, advises the Director, Assistant Agency Directors, and Department Administrative Officers on budget development and quarterly forecast issues.
3. Creates and maintains Social Services Agency budget schedule; ensures that problems, costs and proposed solutions are well defined and decided at the proper administrative level and at the appropriate time; supervises the preparation, assembly and completion of the budget; participates in the negotiation of all budget issues with appropriate assistant agency director; and in some areas negotiates final budget appropriations and revenue estimates on behalf of the Agency.
4. Supervises departmental revenue and collection activities; develops and recommends patient care rates and prepares revenue estimates in conjunction with agency administration; plans and coordinates methods and procedures for accounts receivable records; collections, and cashiering for reimbursement and support funds, and directs the invoicing to the proper agencies.
5. Supervises administrative accounting and clerical staff through subordinate supervisors who are responsible for accounting for welfare expenditures, claiming of reimbursement for welfare expenditures, processing of emergency financial documents for welfare recipients and preparation or negotiable documents.
6. Plans, designs, and installs accounting methods and procedures within the agency; revises accounting records to meet statute, budgetary, and departmental needs; standardizes and integrates new procedures within the departments and coordinates with the Auditor-Controller's Department; reviews budgets; negotiates terms and compensation amounts including administrative and program controls and conducts financial monitoring.
7. Supervises staff through a subordinate supervisor who are responsible for contract negotiations and compliance monitoring; reviews RFP's and coordinates bid evaluation and award process with appropriate county agencies; coordinates maintenance of appropriate record-keeping documents for contracts and grants. Acts as department Financial Officer responsible for grant administration.
8. 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.
9. Participates as a member of the Agency Executive Team, which reviews and establishes general Agency policy
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; takes or recommends corrective actions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a degree in accounting; business administration, public administration, or a closely related field.
AND
Experience:
The equivalent of four years of progressively responsible experience in a management or administrative capacity which included fiscal and budget activities, two years of which required considerable independent judgment in financial policy development and interpretation. (Additional professional financial or administrative experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.)

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:
• Health or welfare funding sources.
• Budget preparation, including line item budgeting systems and current trends in health or welfare fiscal operations, including legislation and state memoranda influencing state to county allocation formulas.
• Management principles and practices including employee supervision.
• Principles of accounting.
• Practices and techniques of financial analysis.
• Budgetary, contract and grant administration and financial recordkeeping and reporting practices.
• Computer applications related to financial analysis and accounting.

Ability to:

• Write and speak effectively, including the ability to write complex technical reports and conduct effective meetings.
• Administer a large staff performing technical accounting functions.
• Perform cost/benefit analyses.
• Research, compile and summarize varied information, evaluate alternatives and reach sound conclusions.
• Provide leadership to the planning, organization and direction of the budgeting process of the appropriate 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.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

AM:pf 8/22/05
Newspec: 6075.doc
CSC Date: 8/31/2005

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.