NEW YORK STATE
Department of Civil Service Announces
Promotion Examination Open to All Qualified Employees of the Department of Taxation and Finance


Written Test To Be Held:
October 15, 2005

Oral Test To Be Held:
Early 2006
Applications MUST Be
Postmarked No Later Than

September 5, 2005

archived statement
This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed.

Examination Number and Title
Salary
Grade
Salary
34-823010 Senior Excise Tax Investigator
20
$47,759
34-824 Supervising Excise Tax Investigator
23
$55,928
34-871 Supervisor, Cigarette Tax Audit and Investigation
25
$62,244

Minimum QualificationsSubject of ExaminationHow to Apply

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On or before October 15, 2005, you must be a qualified employee of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and have had three months permanent competitive or 55 b/55-c service as follows:

For Number 34-823010: as an Excise Tax Investigator;
For Number 34-824: as a Senior Excise Tax Investigator;
For Number 34-871: as a Supervising Excise Tax Investigator or as a Senior Excise Tax Investigator.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 15, 2005, and have served continuously in this title since that date, you are eligible to file for this examination.

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR APPOINTMENT FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST: After the service described below, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

For Number 34-823010: one year of service as an Excise Tax Investigator;

For Number 34-824: one year of service as a Senior Excise Tax Investigator;

For Number 34-871:

Either: one year as a Supervising Excise Tax Investigator;
Or: two years as a Senior Excise Tax Investigator.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test and an oral test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. You will be called to the oral test only if you have achieved a score of 70 or higher on the written test.

Scope of Written Test: The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:

For Examination Numbers 34-823010, 34-824 and 34-871:

  1. Advanced investigative and court-related techniques – These questions test for knowledge of the more complicated and technical aspects of field investigations. The questions will cover such areas as interviewing principles and practices, investigative principles, sources of information, documents and forms commonly used in field investigations, securing statements and affidavits, rules of evidence and evidence collection, preparing cases for court or legal hearings, preparing legal materials, gathering court-related data and evidence, and testifying in the courtroom or in hearings. Many of the questions are situational in nature. The questions are generic rather than dealing with investigations in a particular field.
  2. Evaluating information and evidence – These questions test for the ability to evaluate and draw conclusions from information and evidence. Each question consists of a set of facts and a conclusion based on the facts. The candidate must decide if the conclusion is warranted by the facts.
  3. Interrogation and Surveillance Techniques – These questions will test the candidate's knowledge of interrogation and surveillance techniques that are currently accepted in the field of investigation and law enforcement.
  4. Sections of New York State Criminal Law; Tax Laws, Rules and Regulations; and the Penal Law related to excise tax investigations – Sections of the Criminal Procedure Law regarding the role of peace officer status, arrests without warrant, and search warrants; relevant sections of the New York State Tax Laws, Rules and Regulations related to excise tax investigations; and general definitions within the Penal Law. Questions will be based on laws in effect on January 1, 2005.
  5. Preparing written material – These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
  6. Understanding and interpreting written material – These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

In addition to the above, for Examination Numbers 34-824 and 34-871:

  • Administrative supervision – These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.
  • Administration – These questions test for knowledge of the managerial functions involved in directing an organization or an organizational segment. These questions cover such areas as: developing objectives and formulating policies; making decisions based on the context of the administrator's position and authority; forecasting and planning; organizing; developing personnel; coordinating and informing; guiding and leading; testing and evaluating; and budgeting.

In addition to the above, for Examination Number 34-823010:

  • Supervision – These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices employed in planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of a work unit toward predetermined objectives. The concepts covered, usually in a situational question format, include such topics as assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; maintaining work standards; motivating and developing subordinates; implementing procedural change; increasing efficiency; and dealing with problems of absenteeism, morale, and discipline.

Scope of Oral Test: The oral test is designed to evaluate against the general background of the position, the ability to:

  1. Identify, Analyze and Solve Problems
  2. Respond Clearly and Effectively
  3. Use Interpersonal Skills to Accomplish Work Objectives and to Establish Rapport with various clientele.

The Oral Test will be held in several locations throughout the State in early 2006.

The Oral Test will use a format where the candidate makes a presentation before a facilitator. This presentation is videotaped for later review and rating by two evaluators.

Final passing scores will be computed by equally weighting your score of 70 or higher on the written test and your score of 70 or higher on the oral test. If you pass, your seniority credit(s), if any, will be included in the computation of your final score. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any war-time veterans credits to your final passing score.

CREDIT FOR SENIORITY: Seniority is credited at the rate of one credit for each five-year period (or fraction thereof) excluding the first year of service.

DUTIES: As a Senior Excise Tax Investigator, you would assign, coordinate, and conduct regulatory inspections, field investigations, surveillances, seizures, and arrests made by Excise Tax Investigators. You would either supervise a team of Excise Tax Investigators or independently conduct the more complex investigations. The needs of the position frequently require working irregular hours and extended shifts.

As a Supervising Excise Tax Investigator, you would direct and supervise a unit of Excise Tax Investigators engaged in enforcing New York State Excise Tax Law on petroleum, alcohol and tobacco laws. The needs of the position frequently require working irregular hours and extended shifts.

As a Supervisor, Cigarette Tax Audit and Investigation, you would assist in coordinating and managing the work of Excise Tax Investigators engaged in enforcing the New York State Excise Tax Law on petroleum, alcohol, and tobacco products. You would either coordinate the work of Excise Tax Investigator staff in several offices in a region, or coordinate activities in specific programs within the Petroleum, Alcohol, and Tobacco Bureau.

apply information
This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed.

The NYS Department of Civil Service reserves the right to reject for lateness or to accept applications filed after the advertised filing period. All statements you make on your application are subject to investigation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY FOR EXAMINATION: To be eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in the specified department or agency on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class, or in the non-competitive class or labor class if specifically noted on this announcement (or be on an appropriate preferred list), and have the specified time in the specified title or salary grade. You may not compete in a test for a title if you are permanently employed in that title (unless you are still on probation) or in a higher direct line of promotion.
ADMISSION TO EXAMINATION: Notice to appear for the test may be conditional as review of applications may not be made until after the test. If you have not received your notice to appear for the written test three days before the date of the test, call (518) 457 5483 if taking the test in Albany; (518) 457-6556 for New York City Test Center; (518) 457 7022 for all other Test Centers.
NEW YORK STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION: Most written tests are held on Saturdays. If you cannot take the test on the announced test date, due to a conflict with a religious observance or practice, check the box under "Religious Accommodation." We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date (usually the following day).
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TESTING: In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-3416 or TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) (518) 457-8480.
MULTIPLE EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULED FOR THE SAME DAY: With the exception of written tests announced by New York City, if you have applied to take a written test announced by a local jurisdiction (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must call (518) 457-7022 no later than two weeks before the test date to make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All tests will be held at the State examination center.
S4/TC1 SER-dmb
Issued: 7/29/05
include file for bottom of promotion announcements
This is an Archived Announcement.
The application filing date has passed.