CLASS SPECIFICATION

SENIOR FINANCIAL SPECIALIST

DEFINITION OF CLASS:
This is professional financial work providing lead level supervision to a section, unit, or program; and/or performing advanced and complex accounting, investment, or auditing work. Contacts are with County financial employees to obtain or exchange information, or with financial representatives of County-funded agencies about external accounting reporting requirements. An employee in this class will also have contact with banking or brokerage representatives to execute investments, with partners and managers of CPA firms to exchange financial information or discuss audit findings and recommendations; or with the executives of County contract vendors to discuss/agree on a course of action or problem resolution. This class of work may entail some public service/assistance, but it is incidental to the primary focus of the work performed.

An employee in this class is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, and resolves most conflicts which arise. Supervisory controls are moderate in that employees are considered to be highly proficient (e.g., in auditing, investments or special accounting reporting). Appropriate guidelines exist, in the form of generally accepted accounting principles, County investment guidelines, reporting requirements, or Federal, State, and local laws, and departmental regulations and procedures, but the employee must apply these guidelines to the current situation with extensive analysis required. The work performed involves substantial complexity, due to the uncertainty of investment conditions or the new and unusual nature of expanding public sector accounting and auditing reporting requirements. The scope and effect of the positions are substantial, resulting in accurate financial statements which reflect the assigned department's financial/operational condition, County investment gains, or in improved practices or reporting procedures. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a typical office setting and presents no hazards to the employee.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)
Plans, assigns, coordinates, and reviews the work of a financial unit; or is responsible for supervising the maintenance of complex financial reporting systems and various accounting ledgers, and reviewing trial balances to ensure proper reconciliation.
Performs cash management and investment functions.
Plans and performs major audit programs and prepares reports and recommendations to improve financial program efficiency, revise procedures to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and to advise management concerning accounting for and safeguarding assets.
Instructs staff on difficult problems, interprets regulations, and ensures correct financial procedures are employed.
Submits financial reports on status of unit activities and confers with supervisor on contents of report.
Prepares/supervises the preparation of financial statements for monthly/annual financial reports.
Prepares correspondence in response to requests from the general public concerning specific financial information.
Performs analyses of diverse accounting systems and management information systems to obtain and reformat accounting data from County-funded agencies for reporting purposes.
Establishes procedures and formulates guidelines for conducting annual physical inventories in departments/agencies.
Prepares working papers, schedules, exhibits and summaries to support audit findings.
Supervises an accounts payable unit, and develops and recommends upgrades of automated accounts payable system.
Provides liaison between the Finance Department and other agency staff to ensure flow of fiscal information between County and State; provides information to and exchanges information concerning assigned department's financial activities with OMB and Finance; and prepares year-end fiscal reconciliation reports.
Supervises the maintenance of various accounting ledgers, and reviews trial balances to ensure proper reconciliation.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience: Considerable (4 years) experience in a financial accounting, auditing or business administration field.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in business or public administration with a major in accounting, or a related field with a major in accounting; or graduation from a recognized school of accounting.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Considerable knowledge of accounting and auditing principles, practices and procedures.
Considerable knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly acquire considerable knowledge of, County, State and Federal rules and regulations and laws pertinent to the activities of the organization.
Considerable knowledge of, or ability to rapidly acquire a knowledge of, government investments, or contract administration, if required for a particular position in the class.
Considerable knowledge of computerized government financial systems and of PC software applications to include spreadsheet and database, or training in computer science.
Ability to provide lead supervision and training to subordinate and support personnel.
Ability to prepare and interpret financial reports and statements.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to deal tactfully, effectively and equitably with people.
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Individuals appointed to a position in this class will be required to serve a probationary period of twelve months and, if promoted to a position in this class, will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Performance will be carefully evaluated during the probationary period. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Medical History Review

Class Established: February, 1974
Revised: August, 1976
March, 1987
April, 1989
May, 1991 (M)
August, 1994 (M)
January, 2013

Formerly Titled: Financial Supervisor