Accountant, HARD

READ THIS ENTIRE BULLETIN FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REAPPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.

THE EXAMINATION:
THIS IS A REOPENING OF AN EXISTING EXAMINATION. If you have previously applied or started an application for the Accountant, HARD, Examination #19-1190h-01, read this entire bulletin. There are specific instructions on how to reapply for this position.

PLEASE CONTACT THE EXAMINATION ANALYST, SAM GEE AT SAMSON.GEE@ACGOV.ORG TO HAVE YOUR PREVIOUS APPLICATION RELEASED BACK TO YOU.

The scores and dispositions of candidates for this examination will be merged with previous exam participants. If you have previously submitted an application and choose to reapply, you new score/disposition will replace your current disposition.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification

THE DISTRICT 
The Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, known locally as “H.A.R.D.," is an independent special use district created to provide park and recreation services for over 280,000 residents. Our boundaries encompass a 100 square-mile area, which includes the City of Hayward and the unincorporated communities of Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, and Fairview. In 1944, representatives of the City of Hayward, various school districts, and local civic organizations developed a proposal for establishment of the Hayward Area Recreation and Parkway District. When an initiative was placed on the November 7th ballot, the residents voted overwhelmingly for the creation of the District, which was officially formed on December 11, 1944. In 1958, the District changed its name to the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District, and has become the largest recreation district in the State of California. Since its creation, the District has provided residents with many beautiful facilities and parks, many of which have received national and state recognition for their design, innovation and beauty, as well as hundreds of educational and recreational classes and programs

THE POSITION
Under general supervision, performs complex professional accounting work in reviewing and maintaining District fiscal records; examines, analyzes, and verifies financial data and records; prepares statistical and financial reports; consults and advises staff on purchasing guidelines; and performs related work as required.

This class represents a higher skilled, journey level professional accounting position.  The Accountant is expected to work independently, exercise good judgment and apply generally accepted accounting principles to ensure the accuracy and integrity of records for specified aspects of the District's finances.  The Accountant will review vouchers, warrants, purchase orders, requisitions, and similar financial documents.  This position must interpret and implement the District's Financial Policies in order to ensure that financial activity complies with District regulations.

A combination of training and experience which demonstrates that a person has obtained the required knowledge and is able to perform the required work with reasonable accommodation, if needed.  A person with the following combined training and experience would typically qualify to compete in a selection process:

Education:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting or a closely related field.

Experience:
A minimum of three years experience at a professional accounting level.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit for long periods of time, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, finger, grasp, write, and perform repetitive motions.
• Exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects with the human body.
• Hearing and speaking ability sufficient to carry on a conversation with another individual (or groups of individuals) in person and over the telephone.
• Visual ability sufficient to read and produce printed material and information displayed on a computer screen.

NOTE:  The Civil Service Commission may modify the above minimum qualifications in the announcement of the examination.

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

Knowledge of:

• Generally accepted accounting and auditing principles for municipal governments, including fund accounting.
• The principles and practices of governmental purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and auditing.
• Local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations, especially related to accounting, auditing, purchasing and payroll.
• Various purchasing and procurement methods and options.
• Modern office equipment and computer applications including Microsoft Office products (Word, Outlook, and Excel), financial accounting systems and software applications.
• Principles and practices of good customer service.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

Ability to:

• Analyze accounting and financial data generated by a computer-based finance system.
• Prepare and maintain clear, accurate, and concise statistical, accounting, and financial records and reports.
• Learn and effectively apply District policies, procedures and practices.
• Research and analyze fiscal and statistical data; utilize problem solving and decision-making skills; and verify accuracy of financial data and information.
• Analyze and prepare clear, accurate, concise and often technical reports, specifications, Reports for Quotes, Requests for Proposal, correspondence, and written materials.
• Analyze and evaluate price proposals, financial reports and other information to determine reasonable prices.
• Interpret federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to purchasing.
• Evaluate and monitor contracts to be sure vendors and supplies comply with terms and conditions of contract.
• Communicate in English effectively in both oral and written form; and maintain accurate records; prepare clear, concise reports.
• Utilize computer systems and software applications including automated financial systems.
• Ability to make accurate arithmetical calculations and operate an electronic calculator by touch.
• Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to effectively utilize computer applications and technology related to the work.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Work independently and set priorities.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN*

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

*Updated 2/5/2020

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS FOR POSITIONS AT THE HAYWARD AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT

• Ten (10) working days paid vacation each year; fifteen (15) days after five (5) years of service; and twenty (20) days after thirteen (13) years of service Fourteen (14) paid holidays a year. Sick leave is accrued at the rate of one (1) day per month.
• Choice of three (3) health plans for employees and their dependents, most, if not all of which is paid for by the District. The medical plan design offered to employees is a $15 HMO Plan or High Deductible PPO Plan. Employees may elect coverage provided through one of the two medical carriers, United Healthcare HMO or PPO, Kaiser Permanente HMO Comprehensive dental plan for employees and their dependents.
• Vision care reimbursement benefit.
• Social Security paid for by District and employee.
• Public Employees Retirement System 2% at 62 for new hires; 2% at 60 for new employees hired after January 1, 2013 that are already members of CalPERS.
• Long Term Disability Plan paid by District.
• Life Insurance policy ($75,000) paid by District.
• Deferred Compensation Plan available, employee funded.
• Employee Credit Union services.
• Educational Tuition Reimbursement.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Post employment healthcare plan contribution of 2.52% of base salary paid by District.
• State Disability, employee funded

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Sam Gee, Human Resources Division Manager
Human Resource Services Department, County of Alameda
510-267-9492