Exam Bulletin - Accounting Officer (Specialist) (LEAP)

State of California

Exam Code: EX-4060

Examination Plans Included:

  • ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST): $5,113.00 - $6,399.00 (A) per Month
ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST): $5,264.00 - $6,592.00 (L) per Month

View the ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST) classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

 

Introduction to the Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP)

 

The Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) is an alternative examination and appointment process for the recruitment and hiring of persons with disabilities into the California state civil service. The LEAP is a two-part process that consists of: (1) a Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation and (2) a Job Examination Period that is administered and evaluated in the work setting.

 

To qualify to take this Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation, you must first have LEAP certification issued by the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). For information on how to obtain LEAP certification, visit the DOR website at https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/LEAP. To find a DOR office near you, contact the DOR at (916) 558-5300, TTY (916) 558-5302, or online at www.dor.ca.gov.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST) - Open

Individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

 

  1. Individuals with a disability, a record of a disability, or who are regarded as having a disability that limits one or more major life activities.
  2. Individuals who have Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP) certification from the California Department of Rehabilitation.
  3. Individuals who satisfy the minimum qualifications as stated in the minimum qualifications section below.

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 24 months:

Exam Code(s):

    4060

For ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 24 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-04060

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104546 - ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST)

Either 1

One year of experience in the California state service performing professional accounting or auditing duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than that of Accountant Trainee or Auditor I. (Applicants meeting the educational requirements who have completed six months of service performing professional accounting or auditing duties of a class with a level of responsibility not less than that of Accountant Trainee or Auditor I will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or 2

Experience: One year in the California state service performing the duties of an Accountant I (Specialist) or Accountant I (Supervisor). Applicants meeting the educational requirements who have completed six months of service performing the duties of an Accountant I (Specialist) or Accountant I (Supervisor) will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be considered eligible for appointment. and

Education: Same as Accountant Trainee.

Or 3

Experience: Two years of increasingly responsible professional accounting or auditing experience. (Experience in the California state service applied toward this requirement must include at least one year performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility not less than that of Accountant I.) (Experience in the California state service may be applied toward the total experience requirement on a proportional basis.) and

Education: Same as Accountant Trainee.

Accountant Trainee Education

Either 1

Equivalent to graduation from college, with specialization in accounting. (Registration as a Senior Student in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of successful completion of the curriculum and the prescribed courses before they may be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or 2

Completion of a prescribed professional accounting curriculum given by a residence or correspondence school of accountancy, including courses in elementary and advanced accounting, auditing, cost accounting and business law.

Or 3

Completion of the equivalent of 19 semester hours of course work; 16 hours of which shall be professional accounting courses given by a collegiate-grade residence institution, including courses in elementary and advanced accounting, auditing, and cost accounting; and three semester hours of business law.

(Persons who will complete work requirements outlined under 2 and 3 above during the current quarter or semester will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of successful completion of the curriculum and the prescribed courses before they may be considered eligible for appointment.) Successful completion of the State Fund Accounting Course administered by the Department of Finance, shall receive credit for three semester hours toward the required accounting courses.

Position Description

00104546 - ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST)

This is the first journeyperson level for the series. Incumbents, under general supervision from a Senior Accounting Officer or an Accounting Administrator, perform professional accounting duties of average difficulty in the establishment and maintenance of accounts and financial records for agency activities, such as maintain accounting records for funds administered by the department; prepare, review and analyze financial reports, statements, accounts and records; maintain the General Ledgers; reconcile the General Ledger to SCO; review expenditures against allotments. Incumbents may exercise moderate control in the administration of established policies and procedures, and may have on-going contacts with program managers, control agencies, local governmental jurisdictions, Federal Government, vendors, and members of the public.

Incumbents in this class have no supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a lead for Accountant Trainees, accounting clerical and semiprofessional personnel.

Special Personal Characteristic

Ability to qualify for a fidelity bond.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1LEAP AssessmentN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

LEAP Process Information

 

PART 1: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ASSESSMENT/READINESS EVALUATION – Weighted 100%

 

This Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation consists solely of minimum qualification questions that assess the training, experience, and education that you have previously obtained. Your responses to the questions will determine if the training, experience, and education you have meet the minimum qualifications for the Accounting Officer (Specialist) classification. If you pass the Minimum Qualifications Assessment/Readiness Evaluation, your name will be placed on the Accounting Officer (Specialist) LEAP Referral List, and you will have referral list eligibility to apply for Accounting Officer (Specialist) vacancies.

 

Applicants who obtain Accounting Officer (Specialist) LEAP Referral List eligibility must compete for job vacancies in order to begin PART 2 of this process, which is called the Job Examination Period.

 

PART 2: JOB EXAMINATION PERIOD (JEP)

 

The JEP begins after you are hired and obtain an examination appointment. When you perform the duties of your state job, you will be evaluated on your job performance at least every four weeks, or more often, if needed. Your evaluation will be based on the classification specification and the duty statement of the position.

 

The JEP will be the same length as the length of the probationary period for the same non-LEAP classification.

 

After successful completion of the JEP, the result will be a transition from an examination appointment to a standard appointment as an Accounting Officer (Specialist). If appointed to a permanent position through the LEAP process, you will not be required to serve a probationary period.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Accounting principles and procedures 
  2. Governmental accounting and budgeting 
  3. The uniform accounting system and financial organization and procedures of the State of California and related laws, rules, and regulations 
  4. Principles of business management, including office methods and procedures
  5. Principles of public finance 
  6. Business law
Ability to:
  1. Apply accounting principles and procedures
  2. Analyze data and draw sound conclusions 
  3. Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action 
  4. Prepare clear, complete, and concise reports
  5. Make sound decisions and recommendations in regard to the professional accounting problems in maintaining control of a departmental budget 
  6. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the work 
  7. Speak and write effectively

Eligible List Information

A Servicewide Open eligible list for the ACCOUNTING OFFICER (SPECIALIST) Classification will be established for:

  • State of California

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

  • State of California

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State of California
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California 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.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State of California reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)