CERTIFIED COUNTY FINANCE OFFICER


                                                         UNCLASSIFIED
                                                        NJSA 40:A9-28.1


  

DEFINITION


       Under direction, plans, manages, controls, and directs the fiscal
  work and employees involved therin of a county government, and serves
  as a financial advisor; does related work as required.

  DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

       Positions in this class are responsible for: (1) developing,
  coordinating, and maintaining an integrated system of financial staff
  services including accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting; (2)
  exercising control over the financial resources of the county; (3)
  coordinating and synthesizing financial and management data to
  interpret the composite financial results of operations; (4)
  developing, coordinating, and carrying out financial policies,
  procedures, and plans; (5) reviewing, analyzing, evaluating, and
  reporting on program accomplishments in financial terms; and (6)
  advising and assisting elected and management officials by supplying
  financial management advice required to make fiscally sound management
  decisions, establish organizational goals and objectives, and manage
  the county.

  
EXAMPLES OF WORK:


       Organizes and manages the financial affairs of a county; controls
  the receipt and/or disbursement of funds.

       Supervises and performs professional functions involved in the
  analyses and audits of accounts, vouchers, and other records; prepares
  statements concerning the financial condition of the county.

       Provides technical guidance in reviewing, analyzing, evaluating,
  and reporting on program accomplishments in financial terms.

       Compares performance with operating plans and standards as
  reflected in financial data.

       Reports on and interprets financial data with the objective of
  promoting economy and efficiency in the execution of programs.

       Develops, coordinates, and executes financial policies,
  procedures, and plans.

       Develops, coordinates, and maintains an integrated system of
  financial staff services including the syntheses of data and efficient
  information flow to provide the necessary financial control for the
  organization.

       Serves as a technical advisor on financial problems and other
  related matters.

       Manages work operations and/or functional programs, and has
  responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively
  recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or
  disciplining of employees.

       Prepares various financial reports and analyses for the advice and
  guidance of administrators and other officials.

       Oversees the establishment and maintenance of a fixed assets
  schedule.

       Prepares, audits, and edits reports of costs and financial
  summaries and statements.

       Prepares correspondence in the course of official duties.

       Reviews disbursements and controls to ensure adherence to
  contractual obligations.

       Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records
  and files.

       Establishes economic and financial objectives, internal operating
  policies, and procedures.

       Plans projects or programs and recommends changes to existing
  operations.

       Estimates budgetary needs and allocates resources appropriately.

       Prepares annual budget for the county in accordance with
  established procedures and policies; oversees and provides assistance
  to staff responsible for developing specific components of the budget.

       Forecasts budgetary increases/reductions based upon an analysis of
  goals and needs, and anticipated growth and development.

       Monitors expenditures against allocations to ensure disbursements
  do not exceed authorized funding levels.

       Develops recommended cost containment plans to ensure efficient
  fiscal administration.

       Maximizes revenues by ensuring proper state/federal
  reimbursements.

       Develops and maintains a system of accounts consistent with the
  policies, procedures, and requirements of the county and applicable
  state/federal statutes and rules.

       Conducts and arranges for the conduct of periodic audits and
  inspections of varied financial transactions and records.

       Prepares and supervises the preparation of required fiscal,
  statistical, budget, and financial reports.

       Analyzes fiscal/statistical management reports.

       Establishes and supervises the maintenance of suitable budgetary
  controls.

       Ensures that financial operations are in accord with all legal
  requirements.

       Performs or directs the performance of cost analyses and
  recommends changes.

       Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
  and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by
  the agency, office, or related units.

  REQUIREMENTS:

           NOTE: All appointees to this position must obtain
  certification by the NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of
  Local Government Services.  An examination for this process is held
  annually.  All applicants must be 21 years of age and a US citizen, and
  meet the requirements listed below.  Appointees may serve for only a
  single three (3) year term.

       EDUCATION:

           Graduation from an accredited college with a Bachelor's degree
  in Accounting, Business Administration, or other appropriate area.

           NOTE: Applicants who do not possess the required education
  may substitute either:

           Four (4) years of experience as a county finance officer.

                                    OR

           Sixty (60) college credits and two (2) years of experience as
  a county finance officer.

       EXPERIENCE:

           Two (2) years of experience as a county finance officer.

           NOTE: The statute defines a county finance officer as a
  county director of finance, assistant director of finance, fiscal
  officer, comptroller, assistant comptroller, treasurer, assistant
  treasurer, deputy treasurer, or other position involved in the day-to-
  day conduct of fiscal operations of a county government who is not a
  member of the governing body of the county.

       CERTIFICATE

           Applicant must present completion of the following courses
  conducted by Rutgers, the State University: municipal finance
  administration, municipal current fund accounting 1 and 2, municipal
  capital and trust fund accounting, municipal budget preparation and
  control, county fiscal operations, principles of financial management,
  and preparation of the annual financial statement.

       LICENSE:

           Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license
  valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than
  employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the
  position.

  KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

           Knowledge of the principles, methods, and procedures used in
  budgeting, accounting, internal auditing, internal control, program
  evaluation, and financial management.

           Knowledge of supervisory principles and techniques.

           Knowledge of the methods and techniques used to prepare
  detailed accounting and other financial reports containing findings,
  conclusions, and recommendations.

           Knowledge of modern government budgeting, accounting, and
  financial problems, practices and methods, and their application to
  specific situations.

           Knowledge of the methods used to prevent, discover, and
  correct discrepancies in financial records.

           Knowledge of the types of records and systems used to maintain
  accounts of financial transactions.

           Ability to organize and manage financial affairs, and control
  the receipt and disbursement of funds.

           Ability to analyze complex financial problems.

           Ability to develop, coordinate, and execute financial
  policies, procedures, and plans.

           Ability to develop, apply, and adjust financial plans and
  policies to achieve organization objectives.

           Ability to provide technical advice and guidance on financial
  problems and other related matters.

           Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of
  essential records and files.

           Ability to forecast budgetary increases/reductions, estimate
  budgetary needs, and allocate resources accordingly.

           Ability to prepare the annual budget in accordance with
  established procedures and to provide guidance to others who assist in
  this process.

           Ability to monitor expenditures against allocations.

           Ability to analyze financial data and prepare clear, sound,
  and accurate reports containing findings, conclusions, and
  recommendations.

           Ability to prepare correspondence in the course of official
  duties.

           Ability to conduct audits.

           Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
  manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or
  related units.

           Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in
  English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American
  Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of
  communication.

           Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as
  long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after
  reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.  If the
  accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue
  hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

  CODES: 07806                       JMR                   2/23/95

  THIS SPECIFICATION IS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT USE ONLY.