Exam Bulletin - Financial and Performance Evaluator I

Department of Finance

Exam Code: EX-4578

Examination Plans Included:

  • FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE - Open

Final Filing Date: 11/14/2025

Classification Details

FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE: $4,605.00 - $5,948.00 (A) per Month *1
FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE: $5,699.00 - $7,492.00 (B) per Month *1
*1: The above salary does not include a Hiring Above Minimum and up to a 10% Recruitment and Retention Pay Differential.

View the FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE classification specification.

Application Instructions

Final Filing Date: 11/14/2025.

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will not be accepted.

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):

  • FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE - Open

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.

You may apply by mail to:

  • Nguyet Nguyen
    Department of Finance
    Human Resources Office
    915 L Street
    Sacramento, CA 95814

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

  • Department of Finance
    Human Resources Office
    915 L Street
    Sacramento, CA 95814
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Human Resources Office is closed Monday - Friday from 12pm - 1pm (PST)

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

  • Transcript (Official or Unofficial)

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.

00105432 - FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

All Levels:
Education Requirement: A four-year college degree from an accredited institution. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or its equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Either I

An undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution and completion of a minimum of 12 semester units in accounting (excluding accounting courses in tax, real estate, human resources, report writing, and marketing). These courses can be taken at either undergraduate or graduate levels. 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.

Or II

Two years of increasingly responsible professional experience in accounting or auditing experience, which shall have included the preparation of reports and the presentation of recommendations to management, and 9 semester units in accounting (excluding accounting courses in tax, real estate, human resources, report writing, and marketing). These courses can be taken at either undergraduate or graduate levels. 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.

 These positions are located in Sacramento. Finance operates under a hybrid telework model, which requires employees to work in the office (report to headquarters) for a minimum of two days during the workweek. The hybrid policy is subject to change, and additional in-office days may be required at management's discretion, including, but not limited to, initial onboarding and training for the position.

Position Description

00105432 - FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

This is the entry level in the series. Under supervision, incumbents assist in the planning, data gathering, analytical, and consultative duties associated with most assignments. Incumbents conclude and report as to the adequacy, completeness, and accuracy of financial data and/or other work products. Incumbents may also independently perform smaller or less complex assignments and/or assist in the completion of a segment of a larger or more complex assignment.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1WrittenAfter Acceptance100%

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

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.
  2. Research, analytical, and evaluative techniques to obtain relevant information.
  3. Problem-solving techniques.
  4. Verbal communication fundamentals to gather and convey required information.
  5. Effective writing skills to convey relevant information.
  6. Word-processing and spreadsheet tools to prepare work products.
Ability to:
  1. Learn general and governmental accounting and auditing principles and procedures.
  2. Analyze, comprehend, and interpret policies, procedures, laws, regulations, and guidelines.
  3. Manage time and multiple priorities effectively.
  4. Work both in a team environment and individually.
  5. Adapt/transition to changing assignments and/or situations as required.
  6. Maintain confidentiality of information.
  7. Verbally summarize a variety of facts, data, and recommendations to all levels of staff, management, and clients.
  8. Prepare written products that are grammatically correct and convey relevant information.
  9. Maintain professionalism and tact when interacting with colleagues, supervisors, and clients.
  10. Comply with office policies and procedures and departmental core values.
  11. Effectively utilize word-processing and spreadsheet tools to prepare work products.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the FINANCIAL AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATOR I, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Finance

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List will be used to fill vacancies in Sacramento.

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

  • Department of Finance

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Finance
Nguyet Nguyen
Department of Finance
915 L Street, Suite 1235
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 323-4071
Nguyet.Nguyen@dof.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.

Department of Finance 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)
By Mail
In Person (see bulletin for details)
Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)