Systems Finance Analyst I/II/Senior

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Systems Finance Analyst I/II/Senior

Salary

$75,660.36 - $129,463.29 Annually

Location

Ventura County Government Center, CA

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

0921AUD-24AB (EO)

Department

Auditor-Controller

Division

Business Technology

Opening Date

08/16/2024

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Description

WHAT WE OFFER

• General Salary Increase - 3.50% effective 12/22/2024.

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Incentive – An incentive of five percent (5%) of your base salary may be paid for an active CPA Certification. This incentive may not be combined or in addition to the educational incentive.

• Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.

• Annual Leave – 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service.

• Annual Leave Redemption – The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours in the preceding twelve months.

• Deferred Compensation- Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions. Following five (5) years of continuous County service, and an additional 2% non-elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan.

• Health Plans – You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans. For Plan Year 2024, tier one for employee only is $502 per pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $730 per pay period and tier three for employee plus family is $905 per pay period.

• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.

• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.

• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

THE AUDITOR-CONTROLLER'S OFFICE

By State Law, the Auditor-Controller is charged with the responsibilities normally associated with that of the Chief Financial Officer. The office is charged with the establishment and supervision of the accounting and financial operations of all activities under control of the Board of Supervisors. The Auditor-Controller provides the County with professional fiscal leadership to protect the interests of the citizens of Ventura County; promotes public oversight; and provides accountability. These services are performed in a customer oriented, efficient, economical, and effective manner.

THE POSITION

The Systems Finance Analyst reports to the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS) System Administrator and is responsible for the oversight of all VCFMS reporting products used by the County departments.

Under general supervision (I), direction (II), or under general direction (Senior), plans, leads, schedules, assigns and monitors the work of assigned professional and technical reporting staff; assumes ongoing project management responsibilities (Senior), the Systems Finance Analyst evaluates reporting needs and the fit, efficiency and use of existing reports based on fiscal controls, accounting standards, accounting system modules, and/or legislative impact for the Business Technology section of the Auditor-Controller's Office; coordinates multi-agency fiscal program/system reporting requirements Countywide; develops recommendations/strategies to address financial system accounting needs and reporting options; and, coordinates/directs the rollout of new accounting/financial systems or programs that cross over multiple agencies.

Each successive level in the Systems Finance Analyst series is distinguished by the scope of independence and responsibility with the level being commensurate with the complexity of tasks, special projects and studies assigned.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with Structured Query Language (SQL), possess knowledge of GAAP concepts, be familiar with fund accounting, and have a desire to expand their reporting system knowledge. They should also be comfortable mentoring a team and articulating technical concepts clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Finance Analyst I

A well-defined initial segment of work at the entry level consists of learning the documented (Desk Procedure) operations and processes of the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS) and with emphasized focus on its new and fully integrated reporting module names Insight Essential. Priorities will include ensuring the delivery and accuracy of the Insight Essential reports and the recrafting of the new reporting module's Desk Procedure documentation. As experience is gained, and over a period of time, incumbents will assume the increasingly responsible duties associated with the full journey level of the series; however, formal assignment to the journey level is at the discretion and approval of management.

Finance Analyst II

This is the fully experienced journey-level competent to independently perform the full range of duties assigned that are difficult in nature requiring an in-depth and practical knowledge and skill in applying this knowledge to the analysis and development of new reporting solutions, methods, approaches or procedures.

Senior Finance Analyst

This is the advanced journey level that requires a significant level of independent judgment requiring a specialized technical or functional expertise including performance of duties in a project management capacity. Supervisory duties over lower lever staff may also be included.

PAYROLL TITLES AND APPROXIMATE ANNUAL SALARIES:

Finance Analyst I: $75,660.36 - $103,465.48 annually

Finance Analyst II: $84,067.08 - $117,693.89 annually

Senior Finance Analyst: $92,473.78 - $129,463.29 annually

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, incumbent may be promoted to the higher level without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

The Financial Analyst I is a Management non-exempt classification and eligible for overtime compensation. The Financial Analyst II and Senior are Management exempt classifications and not eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: Friday, August 16, 2024.

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications to meet business needs.

REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: Applications will be reviewed on a weekly basis beginning the week of August 26, 2024.

Examples Of Duties

Duties at the I level are limited in nature, initially under close supervision, and will result in a sound understanding of the administration of the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS) and hands on experience in the administration of the integrated Insight Essential reporting system. At the II and Senior levels, tasks are more complex and performed with more independence.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Fields and documents all solutions for user generated VCFMS Help Desk tickets pertaining to reporting issues/questions. Assists with all report related training and user discussion sessions.

• Coordinates with the VCFMS System Administrator for the testing each of the tri-annual VCFMS cloud-based release of the Insight Essential reporting system and tracks the results (I) / Tests and documents the test results of each of the tri-annual VCFMS cloud-based releases of the Insight Essential reporting system and research and technical/desk procedure changes needed resulting from the tests (II).

• Becomes familiar with the cloud-based Insight Essential reporting system and learns how it integrates with the Ventura County Financial Management System (VCFMS) and supports uses of other County systems (I) / Coordinates with programming staff to make fully documented recommendations to the VCFMS System Administrator for both technical and functional compliant reporting improvements/efficiencies for the Insight Essential system (II).

• Coordinates with the VCFMS Security Desk for the processing of the integrated systems (Insight Essential) user security requests.

• Reconciles monthly, quarterly, annual, and special event reporting products and confirms consistency across systems. Consults with (I) or makes recommendations to (II) the VCFMS System Administrator for any issues and potential resolutions as well as documenting any changes needed.

• Uses documented desk procedures, coordinates the generation, delivery and long-term storage of the daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and special event reports.

• Consults with (I) or makes recommendations to (II) the VCFMS System Administrator about Reporting System issues and changes needed resulting from VCFMS changes, organizational restructuring, staffing, Board approved changes and/or external (system) changes.

• Performs other reported related duties as required and/or assigned.

In addition to the above duties, the Senior Finance Analyst may also perform the following duties:

• At the discretion of the VCFMS System Administrator, serves as Project Manager, responsible for the development and implementation of reporting processes utilizing the Insight Essential reporting system and deliverables associated with system upgrades; participates in all functional areas of the reporting projects and contributes to the development and documentation of system user policies and procedures; responsibilities include, but are not limited to, approval and priority and Rollout Plan of each reporting project; procuring project resources and the production of the deliverables; evaluating risk concerns and options; providing technical input into the development of specifications for systems external to VCFMS; ensuring project compliance with County procedures or protocols, budgetary constraints and staff/resource utilization.

• Provides report developers with source system functionality and source system requirements training as needed to develop VCFMS and non-VCFMS system reports. Draft, maintain, and store the final copies of each reporting product's Technical Requirements Document, used by the programmers to develop report products. Maintains and stores the final copies of the Functional Requirements Document for each report product having garnered the requirements from the source system users, and when necessary, from: Documented County Policies and Procedures; Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); and California Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development (OSHPD).

• Approves all Insight Essential training materials and User Discussion Session presentation materials as well as the internal use solution documentation. Coordinates, schedules and conducts Report User Training and Report User Round Table sessions.

• Independently, analyzes the triannual system software Release Notes, prioritize, plans (with input from the Programming and Financial Teams), and leads the testing effort to measure the impact of software changes on reports. Develop the Technical and Functional Requirements documents for needed reporting changes and lead the development effort. Updates Desk Procedures as needed and both, develop Rollout Plans and communicate pertinent changes and time frames to the user community and stakeholders.

• Analyzes, approve, prioritizes, schedules, plans, documents and leads implementation projects for independent and integrated with VCFMS compliant reporting improvements/mandated changes/release update requirements/user requests to/for the Insight Essential system.

• Provides the final approval for all items stored, maintained, and tracked in the Insight Essential Knowledge Base (MS Access) DB, which houses the following: VCFMS Reporting Inventory and requirements documentation; Reporting Library of Solutions; Reporting Data Dictionary; and Reporting Desk Procedures.

• Reconciles monthly, quarterly, annual, and special event reporting products as well as confirm consistency across systems. Documents and convey reconciliation issues and resolutions to all applicable parties and implements changes as necessary.

• Anticipates and independently documents and communicates Reporting System changes needed because of VCFMS changes, organizational restructuring, Board approved changes, staffing and/or external (system) changes.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on the eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and EXPERIENCE

Considerable education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can also be obtained by a Bachelor's degree with at least eighteen (18) semester units of accounting coursework including:

• Upper-division Managerial Accounting;

• Six (6) units of upper-division coursework in the business administration field;

AND

Finance Analyst I

Four (4) years of professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or analyst which included responsibilities for the evaluation of financial accounting systems or automated information systems.

Finance Analyst II

Five years (5) of progressively responsible experience as an accountant, auditor, or analyst which included responsibilities for the design and implementation of financial accounting systems, or automated information systems, OR one (1) year as a Finance Analyst I for the County of Ventura.

Senior Finance Analyst

Six years (6) of progressively responsible experience as an accountant, auditor, or analyst which included responsibilities for the design and implementation of financial accounting systems, or automated information systems, OR two (2) years as a Finance Analyst II for the County of Ventura.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Skilled at developing Structured Query Language (SQL)

• Ability to train users in the operation of financial systems

• Possession of strong analytical skills

• Experience utilizing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

• Project management experience

NOTE: The ability to communicate effectively in writing must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Verification of the required college degree and 18 semester units of accounting coursework is required. Transcripts or grade reports from an institute of higher learning recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation which include your name, grades, units per class, and that the courses were completed is to be submitted to County Human Resources within three (3) business days of the closing date of this recruitment. If they are not submitted, your application may be screened out and you may not be allowed to continue in the process. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you need additional time to submit transcripts, please contact the recruitment analyst referenced near the bottom of this bulletin.

If the name on the documentation is different from the name on your application, include documents that show the name change.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Applicants who attended a college or university that is accredited by a foreign or non U.S. accrediting agency must have their educational units evaluated by an educational evaluation service.

DESIRED

• Experience with:

• Reporting systems

• Financial Accounting using GAAP in a government environment;

• Ability to perform variance analyses;

• Reconciling financial data from multiple sources;

• Working knowledge of large automated financial systems;

• Experience leading, building, training and coaching teams.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES

Knowledge (I/II) to thorough (Sr.) knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities in hosted Cloud based systems;

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS);

• Laws and regulations affecting governmental financial operations;

• Structured Query Language (SQL);

• Fiscal monitoring and control methods;

• Systems analysis and design methods;

• Computer application system and development procedures;

• Operational processes and their relationship to automated solutions.

Skill in:

• Use of computers and related technology including software applications specific to work performed;

• Reconciliations;

• Developing clear and concise fiscal reports, statements and related documents;

• Developing complex SQL statements

Ability to:

• Evaluate and reconcile financial data from multiple accounting systems;

• Interpret complex SQL statements;

• Exercise sound judgment;

• Understand interrelationships among financial records and documents;

• Analyze financial/accounting data and draw logical conclusions;

• Analyze and evaluate administrative and abstract accounting concepts and procedures;

• Understand, interpret and apply procedural requirements;

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;

• Develop, modify and implement financial accounting systems;

• Work effectively with information systems staff as well as accounting staff;

• Train users in the operation of the financial system.

At the Senior level:

Thorough knowledge of: project management; methods of effective team building; different instructional and coaching techniques.

Ability to: plan, organize and direct the work of professional and technical staff; make oral presentations.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.ventura.org/jobs. A paper application can be obtained by calling (805) 654-5129. Our address is County of Ventura Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.

NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (http://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/HR/docs/Lateral_Transfer.pdf) for additional information.

Note to Applicants: Sufficient information must be provided under the Education/Work Experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to thoroughly and accurately demonstrate your qualifications to determine eligibility. A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – Qualifying

All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION – Qualifying

All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING and EXPERIENCE EVALUATION

A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded by or replaced with a score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence. Responses such as "See Resume" or "Refer to Resume" are not acceptable and may disqualify an applicant from further evaluation.

ORAL EXAMINATION – 100%: A job-related oral examination may be conducted to evaluate and compare participating candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination will not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST

Applicants successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed Term), Intermittent, Extra-help vacancies for this and similar vacancies within the Auditor Controller's Office. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Auditor Controller's Office.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post-offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Esmeralda Oseguera via e-mail at Esmeralda.Oseguera@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 477-7268.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

MANAGEMENT

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website (https://hr.ventura.org/benefits) or you may call (805) 654-2570.

• Retirement FAQ's (https://vcportal.ventura.org/CEO/benefits/docs/RETIREMENT%20-%20FAQs.pdf)

• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: MB3, MB4, MS, MT, MCC, MU

01

You are required to submit transcripts or grade records to verify the successful completion of the required course work used to qualify for this recruitment.

You must show that you have completed a minimum of 18 semester units of college-level accounting course work, including:

1) Upper division Managerial Accounting.

2) Six (6) units of upper division courses in the business administration field which may include accounting, business law, economics or other business coursework.

Please choose the statement below which best describes your situation related to transcripts or grade records.

• I meet the minimum course work requirements listed. A copy of my transcripts or grade records is attached to my on-line application.

• I meet the minimum course work requirements listed. I will email a copy of my transcripts to Esmeralda.Oseguera@ventura.org within 3 days of this recruitment closing.

• I do not have and/or cannot submit a copy of my transcripts or grade records and I understand this means I will not be considered further in the examination process.

  02

  Which statement best describes your full-time progressively responsible professional experience as an accountant, auditor, or analyst, which includes responsibilities for financial accounting systems, and/or automated information systems?

  NOTE: Full-time experience is defined as 40 hours or more per week. If you work part-time, your work experience will be prorated based on the number of hours you work per week.

• I do not have this type of experience

• 3 years or less

• More than 3 years but less than 4 years

• More than 4 years but less than 5 years

• More than 5 years but less than 6 years

• 6 years or more

  03

  Describe your work experience in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and project management methods and processes. Be thorough in your response and provide details that demonstrate the scope of your experience in each of these areas. Include the following information:

  A) Name of employer(s) and your job title(s) where you obtained this experience

  B) Time frame (dates and length of time you performed these duties)

  C) Specific duties and examples which demonstrate the scope of your responsibilities in these areas

  Employer(s) where you obtained the experience must be included in the previous work experience section to be considered qualifying.

  If you have no experience in this area, type "no experience."

  04

  Describe your work experience in developing Structured Query Language (SQL) and Structured Query Language (SQL) statements. Include the following information:

  A) Name of employer(s) and your job title(s) where you obtained this experience

  B) Time frame (dates and length of time you performed these duties)

  C) Specific duties and examples which demonstrate the scope of your responsibilities in these areas

  Employer(s) where you obtained the experience must be included in the previous work experience section to be considered qualifying.

  If you have no experience in this area, type "no experience."

  05

  Provide an example of how you demonstrate strong analytical skills.

  If you have no experience in this area, type "no experience."

  06

  Describe your work experience in reconciling financial data from multiple sources. Be thorough in your response and provide details that demonstrate the scope of your experience in each of these areas. Include the following information:

  A) Name of employer(s) and your job title(s) where you obtained this experience

  B) Time frame (dates and length of time you performed these duties)

  C) Specific duties and examples which demonstrate the scope of your responsibilities in these areas

  Employer(s) where you obtained the experience must be included in the previous work experience section to be considered qualifying.

  If you have no experience in this area, type "no experience."

  07

  Describe your experience in training users in the operation of financial systems. Include the following information:

  A) Name of employer(s) and your job title(s) where you obtained this experience

  B) Specific duties and examples which demonstrate the scope of your responsibilities in this area

  Employer(s) where you obtained the experience must be included in the previous work experience section to be considered qualifying.

  If you have no experience in this area, type "no experience."

  Required Question

Agency

Ventura County

Address

800 S. Victoria Avenue LOC. #1970 Ventura, California, 93009

Phone

(805) 654-5129

Website

http://hr.ventura.org

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