New York State of Opportunity

Interdepartmental promotion examination open to all qualified employees of New York State.

Payroll Examiner 1/2

Written Test To Be Held
July 15, 2017
Applications Must Be Submitted or Postmarked By
May 31, 2017

 

Exams Included on This Announcement
Exam Number Exam Title Open to Employees of Salary Salary Grade Non−Refundable Processing Fee (Waivers available)
37-845 Payroll Examiner 1 Multiple Agencies $40,172 G-12 $10
37-846 Payroll Examiner 2 Multiple Agencies $47,631 G-15 $15

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 July 15, 2017, you must be a qualified employee of New York State and have had three months of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as follows:

For No. 37-845:

Either A. as a Payroll Assistant or Payroll Assistant Trainee;

Or B. in a clerical, keyboarding, or paraprofessional* title allocated to Grade 9 or higher. Qualifying titles are available at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/37845titles.cfm.

For No. 37-846:

Either A. as a Payroll Assistant, Payroll Examiner 1, or former title of Payroll Clerk 3;

Or B. as an Office Assistant 2 (Calculations); or in a clerical, keyboarding, or paraprofessional title allocated to Grade 11 or higher. Qualifying titles are available at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/announcements/37846titles.cfm.

*Only paraprofessional titles in an office environment will be considered qualifying. Service in a direct care title is not qualifying experience. Examples of non-qualifying titles are: Developmental Disabilities Secure Care Treatment Aide 1; Direct Support Assistant; Food Service Worker 1; Licensed Practical Nurse; Mental Health Therapy Aide; Security Services Assistant; and Youth Division Aide 3.

Only the title(s) listed is qualifying for this examination(s).

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before April 15, 2017, 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 with the exception of Payroll Assistant Trainees. Successful Payroll Assistant Trainees will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list after one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/55-c service as a Payroll Assistant.†

Eligibles who meet the “B” qualifications, and who are subsequently appointed to an “A” title, may request to have their name added to the “A” list, once they have completed the one year of service at the full performance level in an “A” title. The request should be submitted in writing to the NYS Department of Civil Service, Albany, NY 12239; Attention: S1MXT. †

Order of Certification

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

  1. Promotion Unit "A" eligibles
  2. Promotion Unit "All" eligibles
  3. Department "A" eligibles
  4. Department "All" eligibles
  5. Interdepartmental "A" eligibles
  6. Interdepartmental "All" eligibles

IMPORTANT: Unless waived, you must pay the non-refundable processing fee. For information on fee waivers, visit https://www.cs.ny.gov/examannouncements/types/oc/appinfo.cfm##Fee. It is important that you verify that you entered the correct examination number and title on your online or paper application prior to submitting. If you apply online, you should immediately review your email confirmation notice to verify that you applied for the correct examination. If you do not receive a confirmation number after submitting your online application, your application was NOT received by the Department of Civil Service. No late applications will be accepted after the filing deadline has passed.

Notes

  1. Additional vacancies may include various language proficiency positions (Chinese, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Russian, or Spanish Language). The eligible lists would be used to fill those positions, and eligibles must demonstrate proficiency in the Various Language Proficiencies at a level that will ensure their ability to perform properly the duties of the position.
  2. Background Investigation/Justice Center Review: In some agencies, the names of all prospective employees will be:
    • Checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s);
    • Investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws;
    and may be:
    • Screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees whose names appear on the SCR may be barred from appointment. (NY Social Services Law, Section 424a.)
    You will be responsible for payment of all required fees.
  3. Medicaid and Medicare: Some agencies require that, in order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.

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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
37-845 37-846
1. 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. X X
2. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic. X X
3. 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. You should bring with you a hand-held battery- or solar-powered calculator for use on this test. You will not be permitted to use the calculator function of your cell phone. X X
4. Payroll procedures - Candidates will be required to have knowledge of the application of rules, regulations, laws, and negotiated agreements in effect as of January 1, 2014, which are used to govern the processing of the New York State payroll including, but not limited to, sections of State Finance Law, Civil Service Law, and Retirement and Social Security Law, as they relate to New York State payroll. X X
5. 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

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

Payroll Examiners supervise the staff and operations of an agency or facility payroll program, or a segment of a payroll program, which entails the preparation of the regular, lag, and special payrolls. They also make related payroll determinations concerning salaries, miscellaneous payments, deductions, taxes, and other similar matters.

As a Payroll Examiner 1, you would function as payroll program supervisor in an agency or facility with a payroll of 200 to 500 employees; perform the full range of payroll processing tasks and activities as workload requires; in larger agencies work under the supervision of a higher level Payroll Examiner and specialize in the preparation of a segment of the agency payroll; and typically supervise subordinate clerical staff.

As a Payroll Examiner 2, you would function as payroll program supervisor in an agency or facility with payrolls of approximately 500 to 1,500 employees; supervise Payroll Examiner 1’s and/or clerical staff; and perform the full range of payroll processing tasks and activities as workload requires. In larger agencies, you may work as an assistant to a Payroll Examiner 3 and perform most payroll tasks, but may specialize in the preparation of one or more of the payrolls or in making payroll determinations.

Important: The Department of Civil Service and other state agencies may communicate with you through email correspondence. This may include the notification of your examination results and canvassing you for interest in appointment. It will be important for you to keep your email address, phone number and mailing address current by logging into https://www.cs.ny.gov/home/myaccount.

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How To Apply

This announcement is for viewing purposes only.

If you do not receive a 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 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, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier 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

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 provide equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their application. Further information is available from the Test Administration Unit of the Department of Civil Service. In the Albany area, call 518-457-2487. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627. For TDD services, call NY Relay at 711 (requires a fee) or 1-800-662-1220.

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.

Multiple Examinations Scheduled for the Same Day

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions 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. For your convenience, contact information for all local civil service agencies is available on our website at: http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/local.cfm

Eligibility for Examination

To be considered a qualified employee eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in, or on leave from, 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 MXT-dah
Issued: 4/28/2017
† Revised Material: 5/5/2017

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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