Interdepartmental Promotion Examination Open To All Qualified Employees of New York State

Head Account Clerk

* The salary you receive will depend upon the negotiating unit of the position.

For Promotion in State Departments, Facilities, and Agencies

1. Within Promotion Units
2. Within Entire Departments
3. To Other Departments

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Minimum Qualifications

On or before October 15, 2011, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service in a clerical, secretarial, or paraprofessional** title allocated to Grade 12 or higher, or as a Principal Clerk Collection, SG-11. Qualifying titles are listed on www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/36589titles.cfm.

** Only paraprofessional titles in an office environment will be considered qualifying. Service in a direct care title is not qualifying experience.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before July 15, 2011, 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 one year of the service described in the Minimum Qualifications, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Notes

1. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by September 12, 2011. Late applications will not be accepted.
2. The Department of Civil Service does not provide study material for this examination. Civil Service offers candidates information on How to Take a Written Test(105KB), and answers to frequently asked questions for examinations and tests.
3. You may bring a hand-held, battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on the test.
4. You will not be scored for any exam for which you did not apply.
5. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

The Positions

View the locations of the Head Clerical positions by counties and agencies:

Head Account Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=0100600&nu=05

Head Actuarial Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=0750600&nu=05

Head Audit Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=0102600&nu=05

Head Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=2501600&nu=05

Head Clerk Personnel: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=2501612&nu=05

Head Clerk Purchase: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=2501670&nu=05

Head File Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=2503600&nu=05

Head Mail and Supply Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=2709600&nu=05

Head Statistics Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=0702600&nu=05

Head Stores Clerk: http://careermobilityoffice.cs.state.ny.us/cmo/gotit/titleinfo.cfm?jobcode=1831600&nu=04

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Subject of Examination

There will be a written test which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test is designed to test for knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in such areas as:	For Examination Numbers
	36-589	36-590	36-591	36-592	36-593	36-594	36-595	36-596	36-597
1. 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.	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
2. General and governmental account keeping - These questions are designed to test for a candidate's knowledge of concepts of double entry bookkeeping and account keeping as they apply to the private sector and government.	X
3. Office management - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, organizing, and controlling the activities of an office and directing those performing office activities so as to achieve predetermined objectives such as accomplishing office work within reasonable limits of time, effort, and cost expenditure. Typical activities may include but will not be restricted to: simplifying and improving procedures, increasing office efficiency, improving the office work environment, and controlling office supplies.	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
4. 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.	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
5. Understanding and interpreting tabular material - These questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and use the internal logic of data presented in tabular form. You may be asked to perform tasks such as completing tables, drawing conclusions from them, analyzing data trends or interrelationships, and revising or combining data sets. The concepts of rate, ratio, and proportion are tested. Mathematical operations are simple, and computational speed is not a major factor in the test.	X	X	X		X	X		X	X
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.	X	X	X	X
7. Civil Service laws, rules, & regulations relating to personnel transactions - These questions test for knowledge of Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations that are used in performing personnel functions in a public agency.				X
8. Personnel principles and practices - These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices used in performing procedures and in addressing issues that are part of the personnel function in a governmental agency, and in responding to general questions about the personnel function.				X
9. Time and attendance rules including those contained in various employee organization contracts - These questions test for knowledge of time and attendance rules, including those contained in various employee contracts. Typical questions may include, but not be restricted to, vacation leave, personal leave, sick leave, FMLA, holiday leave, and other issues related to the accumulation and use of leave credits.				X
10. Purchasing - These questions will test for general knowledge and understanding of governmental purchasing, including such aspects as competitive bidding, interaction with vendors, and working with specifications. Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of purchasing terminology and the appropriate action to take in given situations. Some arithmetic computation may be necessary.					X
11. Storeskeeping and inventory control - These questions will test for general knowledge of storeskeeping and inventory control in a governmental setting including knowledge used to monitor rates of inventory usage; determine inventory order, quantities and re-order points; assess the criticality of stores items; minimize obsolescence and spoilage; and respond appropriately to changes in availability and usage.					X		X		X
12. Files management - These questions will test for knowledge in such areas as the creation, filing, storage, retention, transfer, and destruction of paper, electronic and other records. The questions may concern but will not be limited to filing rules, systems, equipment, and supplies.						X
13. Mailroom practices, including the rules, regulations, and charges of letter and parcel delivery services - These questions test for a candidate's knowledge of mailroom practices, including the rules, regulations, and charges of letter and parcel delivery services.							X
14. Basic statistical concepts and applications - These questions test for knowledge of the analytical methods used to reduce and describe large sets of numerical data. The questions cover such areas as the organization and presentation of data, statistical terminology, central tendency, and variability. The test does not require any substantial manipulation of data. The questions also test the candidate's familiarity with computerized databases and spreadsheets, and with methods of extracting and/or combining data contained in them into files and reports. Knowledge of specific database/spreadsheet software will not be required.								X

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 wartime 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.

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Duties

As a Head Account Clerk, you would supervise and perform various activities necessary to the fiscal or business management of state agencies, facilities, or institutions or to the fiscal transactions with local agencies. This work may include assigning and directing the work of subordinate account and audit clerks; processing financial claims against the state; preparing annual and quarterly budgets; setting up ledgers from appropriation acts and budget segregations; keeping ledgers of revenue receipts and reconciling balances with monthly bank statements; preparing or auditing payrolls; answering correspondence; and doing related work as required. You may also supervise other clerical operations including inventory records and/or personnel records. In addition, there is an emphasis in this class on General and New York State Accounting Procedures, the rules and regulations of the Office of the State Comptroller, and on State Finance Law. Head Account Clerks are typically assigned responsibility for the maintenance of accounting records at a large and complex organization and, therefore, have more supervisory responsibility; more volume, difficulty, and complexity of the accounting records kept; and more independent judgment exercised in the application of methods to particular problems than Principal Account Clerks.

As a Head Audit Clerk, you would supervise a staff of audit clerks and others in the clerical review of documents to verify the accuracy of recorded data and adherence to prescribed procedures, rules, and regulations. This work requires close attention to prescribed procedures, and exact application of these procedures in verifying the correctness of recorded data. Head Audit Clerks supervise clerical auditing sections composed of one or more Principal Audit Clerks and a subordinate staff of lower level clerical employees.

As a Head Clerk, you would supervise a staff of clerical employees engaged in processing, recording, maintaining, and reviewing state forms, documents, licenses, and other official papers. In agencies having data processing operations, you might supervise data entry and quality control activities. In agencies having optical imaging systems, you may supervise staff involved in electronic indexing, document entry, and retrieval utilizing PCs while ensuring quality and quantity standards.

As a Head Clerk (Personnel), you would supervise clerical staff performing various aspects of personnel clerical tasks and perform a variety of personnel operation support tasks such as maintenance of personnel records, recruiting staff, setting up interviews, orienting new employees, monitoring probationary and performance evaluations, monitoring leaves, processing payroll and benefit transactions, informing payroll of employee status changes, processing records and forms for new and existing employees, and advising supervisors and employees of benefits, Civil Service Rules and Regulations, and agency personnel policies.

As a Head Clerk (Purchase), you would supervise and perform tasks and activities in the preparation and processing of purchase orders for the purpose of purchasing supplies, materials, equipment, food, repair and rental and moving services, communication services, printing, and travel services for an agency. These activities are performed in accordance with the provisions of existing state contracts, open market buying procedures, and rules issued by the Office of General Services and the Office of the State Comptroller governing all such activities.

As a Head File Clerk, you would supervise a staff of clerical employees in the systematic storage, reference, and scheduled disposition of records in a large and active filing system in accordance with policy guides and agency operating manuals. In agencies having optical imaging systems, you may supervise staff involved in electronic indexing, document entry, and retrieval utilizing PCs while ensuring quality and quantity standards.

As a Head Mail and Supply Clerk, you would supervise staff of subordinates responsible for the receipt, control, and timely routing of incoming written communications, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the United States Postal Service and procedures established by the Office of General Services; supervise the collections, preparation, control, and disposition of outgoing written communication; and supervise the receipt, storage, retrieval, and distribution of office supplies, equipment, furniture, and other material.

As a Head Statistics Clerk, you would supervise a statistical-clerical staff of subordinates engaged in the collection, compilation, computation, description, coding, organization, and presentation of statistical data. You may assist professional staff in the development of work materials and might analyze data collected to determine its reasonableness.

As a Head Stores Clerk, you would supervise a staff of subordinate clerical and other storehouse employees, possibly including facility inmates or clients assigned to the stores operation, in the receipt, storage and issuance of a wide variety of goods including perishables and volatile material. Head Stores Clerks are responsible for the storehouse operations of a large centralized storehouse which serves several institutions.

The level of duties and responsibilities of the titles in the clerical series vary based on the level of supervision, complexity of the duties involved, degree of independent judgment, etc.

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How To Apply

All statements you make on your application are subject to investigation.

If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT processed.

Additional Information

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 518-457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at 518-457-8480.

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 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1].

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 518-474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 1], 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.

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.

Cell Phones or Electronic/Communication Devices at the Test Site

Do not bring cell phones, beepers, headphones, or any electronic or other communication devices to the test site. The use of such devices at the test site in the test room, hallways, restrooms, building, grounds, or other areas could result in your disqualification.

S1/TA1 SAR-vla
Issued: 7/29/11

This announcement is subject to amendment or cancellation without notice. Do not copy it, or post it to any other site, but link to it instead.

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