Senior Account Clerk – Promotional
February 10th, 2024
ISSUED: November 27, 2023
ANNOUNCES A PROMTIONAL EXAMINATION FOR
SENIOR ACCOUNT CLERK
EXAM NO. 79-576
DATE OF EXAMINATION: February 10, 2024
EXAM FILING FEE: $15.00
LAST DAY FOR FILING: Applications must be received no later than close of business December 29, 2023.
VACANCY: This examination is being held to fill present and future vacancies in Lewis County departments and school districts. When filling vacancies, preference in appointment may be given to residents of each jurisdiction where the vacancy exists.
SALARY:
$19.99 hr. – $23.84 hr. (County Departments – 2023 Rates)
$18.90 hr. – $24.79 hr. (Hospital – 2024 Rates)
School district ranges vary between school district.
DUTIES: The work involves responsibility for the independent performance of moderately difficult financial accounts and records maintenance. The incumbent is responsible for entering and retrieving information using computer database/spreadsheet software.
QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class in a Lewis County Department or school district and must have served continuously on a permanent full-time basis, for 12 months in the position of Account Clerk, Account Clerk/Typist, or Audit Clerk immediately preceding the date of examination.
SENIORITY CREDITS: Points may be added to an eligible score as follows:
- Seniority is credited at 1 point for each appropriate 5-year period or fraction.
- Rating of seniority is based on the length of continuous competitive class service in the jurisdiction.
SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the
following areas.
- Name and number checking: These questions test for the ability to distinguish between sets of words, letters, and/or numbers that are almost exactly alike. Material is usually presented in two or three columns, and you will have to determine how the entry in the first column compares with the entry in the second column and possibly the third. You will be instructed to mark your answers according to a designated code provided in the directions.
- Fundamentals of account keeping and bookkeeping: These questions test for a knowledge of basic principles and practices of account keeping and bookkeeping. The questions test for recognizing account keeping and bookkeeping terms, concepts and relationships; recording financial transactions; and solving elementary problems in account keeping and bookkeeping.
- Arithmetic computation with calculator: These questions test for the ability to use a calculator to do basic computations. Questions will involve addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. You may also be asked to calculate averages, to use percents, and to round an answer to the nearest whole number. 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.
- Working with office records: These questions test your ability to work with office records. The test consists of two or more sets of questions, each set concerning a different problem. Typical record keeping problems might involve the organization or collation of numerical data from several sources; maintaining a record system using running balances; or completion of a table summarizing data using totals, subtotals, averages and percents. 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.
CALCULATOR STATEMENT: The use of a hand-held battery or solar-powered calculator is recommended for this examination.
TEST GUIDE: A Guide for the Written Test for Higher Level Account Clerical is available at the New York State website: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
APPLICATIONS: Unless otherwise indicated on this announcement, the candidate will complete one “Application for Examination or Employment” for each exam he/she wishes to take. No copies will be accepted. Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will be disapproved. All statements made by candidates are subject to verification. POST-MARKED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
FILING FEE: The fee must accompany the application. Applicants whose forms are not accompanied by the appropriate fee or whose personal checks are returned for insufficient funds will not be considered as candidates. Payment must be in the form of check or money order made payable to the Lewis County Treasurer. Refunds of fees will not be issued to applicants who are disqualified for failure to apply by the last day for filing, not meeting the minimum qualifications, or a candidate’s failure to appear for testing on the scheduled test date.
WORK EXPERIENCE: Unless otherwise noted, experience credited towards meeting the minimum qualifications must be full-time paid work experience. Part-time paid work experience will be accepted based on its full-time equivalent.
APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Family Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local Social Service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a “Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the application deadline as listed on the examination announcement. Fee waiver forms are available at the Lewis County Civil Service office or online at lewiscountyny.gov.
TIME AND PLACE OF EXAM: Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for an exam. No one will be admitted to an exam without the official admittance notice.
RESIDENCY: New York State Residence is not required for most positions. However, you must be eligible for employment in the United States. An appointing authority may exercise its rights under Section 23-4a of Civil Service Law to give preference to legal residents of their jurisdiction.
VETERAN CREDITS: If you are a War-Time Veteran, or if you are currently in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible to have extra credits added to your passing exam score. However, it is your responsibility to submit the appropriate Veterans’ Credit form(s) on or before the date of the examination. Forms are available in the Civil Service office or online at: lewiscountyny.gov. In addition to the Veterans’ Credit Form, you must include a copy of your discharge papers (DD-214). The time periods for which veterans’ credit is permitted are listed on the Veterans’ Credit Application.
ADDITIONAL CREDIT ALLOWED CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional 10 points in a competitive exam for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this exam and are a child of a firefighter or a police officer killed in the line of duty killed in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for exam. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.
ELIGIBLE LISTS: Eligible lists will be established in the order of final rating for successful candidates and will be established for a minimum period of one (1) year and a maximum of four (4) years. Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top 3 candidates willing to accept appointment.
SABBATH OBSERVERS/DISABLED CANDIDATES/MILITARY MEMBERS: Applicants whose religious beliefs or military service prevent their taking exams on the scheduled date and disabled candidates who require special accommodations to take the test should indicate the need for special arrangements on their application.
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 the written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one test site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center. The Cross-Filer form is available at the Lewis County Civil Service or online at lewiscountyny.gov.
CALCULATORS: Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, Spellcheckers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries, or any other similar devices are PROHIBITED.
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.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you move, it is your responsibility to notify the Civil Service Office of your new address. The Civil Service Office makes no attempt to find candidates who have moved. Failure to notify the Civil Service Office could result in being passed over for appointment.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Appointees from an eligible list are required to undergo a criminal history background investigation, which may include a fingerprint check to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in disqualification.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS: Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designation by a school district as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.
This examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-3 of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating of examinations, will apply. Federal and State law prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap or national origin.
APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE LEWIS COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE OFFICE, 7660 N. STATE STREET, LOWVILLE, NY 13367. PHONE (315) 376-5349.
LEWIS COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER