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Financial Institutions Examiner Series

Financial Institutions Examiner Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established September 2, 1998

Scope

This series specification describes four class levels used in performing technical, analytical, supervisory, and managerial duties to assure State regulated financial institutions, business firms, and services comply with various laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of the Department of Financial Institutions and to provide the people of the State of California with a safe, sound, and efficient financial environment. Positions in these classes conduct or supervise the examination of books and records of financial institutions, business firms, and services; perform assignments relating to the administration and enforcement of applicable laws; plan, coordinate, and direct the appropriate examination programs; and work cooperatively with other agencies.

 

Financial Institutions Examiner Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes
Schem CodeClass CodeClass
JA204101Financial Institutions Examiner
JA154102Senior Financial Institutions Examiner
JA104103Financial Institutions Supervisor (abolished 09/06/2017 per Pay Letter 17-29)
JA054104Financial Institutions Manager

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Complexity, difficulty, and nature of work; independence of action and decision; degree of supervision exercised and received; level of interaction with licensees, industry groups, Federal examiners, and auditors; and for the Financial Institutions Manager, responsibility for program and policy formulation and implementation, staff management, and the type of licenses and number of licensees subject to supervision/administration.

 

Complexity of examinations is determined by a number of factors such as: Capital, Assets, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, and Sensitivity (CAMELS) ratings; size of institution; existing problems; expertise required to develop corrective action; scope of examination; degree of use of auditing tools (materiality, risk analysis, and statistical sampling); and level of assistance provided to licensees.

Definition of Levels

Financial Institutions Examiner

This is the entry, working, and journey level of the series. Under close supervision, entry level examiners are trained to assume increasing responsibility in the examination of the financial condition of institutions, business firms, and services that are regulated by the Department. At this level, the scope and variety of work is limited by established policies, procedures, guidelines, or technical practices.

 

At the working level, incumbents work under supervision performing work of average difficulty in the examination of financial institutions, business firms, and services to ensure compliance with Department laws and regulations.

 

At the journey level, Financial Institutions Examiners work under general supervision performing technical work and making financial analyses in the examination of more complex State-licensed financial institutions, business firms, and services; assist in larger examinations; act as the examiner-in-charge directing and working with a team of examiners to provide the licensee with competent, expeditious, and cost-effective supervision.

Senior Financial Institutions Examiner

This is the advanced journey or expert level of the series. The incumbents initiate, develop, or decide plans of action and evaluate and analyze work that is assigned. The status of work or the development of the problem is generally more difficult and there is greater responsibility for decisions and actions. Well-developed analytical skills are required at this level.

 

The Senior Financial Institutions Examiner acts as lead person in the most complex examinations or is responsible for investigations where plans or actions must be initiated, developed, or decided upon to a great extent by the incumbent. This level may lead or be assigned special projects by management that require a high degree of self-direction and independent decision making.

Financial Institutions Supervisor

This is the first supervisory level of the series. The incumbent assists in the organization, planning, and direction of an examination program; supervises Financial Institutions Examiner staff and is responsible for providing formal training, either separately or as part of a team. This first-level supervisor has authority to hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline employees that have been assigned to him/her. Using independent judgment, the Supervisor has responsibility for directing staff, adjusting their grievances, or recommending action. The incumbent provides management with performance data and makes recommendations and follows through on training and career development for assigned staff.

Financial Institutions Manager

This is the managerial level of the series. The Financial Institutions Manager has significant responsibility for formulating or administering agency or Department policies and programs and to represent the Department as a prominent leader in regulatory matters. The incumbent defines the scope and direction of the program; directs and monitors a group of licensees; and plans, organizes, and directs the examination activities for a sector of the Department. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for assigned staff engaged in the performance of examinations and special projects.

Minimum Qualifications

Financial Institutions Examiner

Either I

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a specialization in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or a related business/management specialization. (Registration as a senior in a recognized institution will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation or the equivalent before they can be considered eligible for appointment.)

Or II

 

Completion of a prescribed professional accounting curriculum given by a residence or correspondence school of accountancy, including courses in elementary and advanced or intermediate accounting, auditing, cost accounting, and business law.

Or III

 

Completion of the equivalent of 16 semester hours of professional accounting courses given by a collegiate-grade residence institution, including courses in elementary and advanced or intermediate accounting, auditing, and cost accounting; and three semester hours of business law. (Persons who will complete course work requirements outlined under II and III above during the current quarter or semester will be admitted to the examination, but they must produce evidence of successful completion of the curriculum and the prescribed courses before they may be considered eligible for appointment.)

Senior Financial Institutions Examiner

Either I

 

Experience: One year of experience in California state service performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range C.

Or II

 

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible experience in professional auditing or examination of financial institutions, business firms, or services. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include two years performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range C.) and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a specialization in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or a related business/management specialization.

Financial Institutions Supervisor

Either I

 

Experience: One year of experience in California state service performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range C.

Or II

 

Experience: Four years of increasingly responsible experience in professional auditing or examination of financial institutions, business firms, or services, including two years supervising a staff of examiners, accountants, or auditors. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include two years performing the duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range C.) and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a specialization in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or a related business/management specialization.

Financial Institutions Manager

Either I

 

Experience: One year of experience in California state service performing professional examination duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Senior Financial Institutions Examiner or Financial Institutions Supervisor.

Or II

 

Experience: Two years of experience in California state service performing professional auditing or examination duties of a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range

C.

Or III

 

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible professional auditing or examination experience, including three years supervising a staff of accountants, auditors, or examiners. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must include two years performing the duties in a class at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of a Financial Institutions Examiner, Range C.) and

 

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with a specialization in accounting, business administration, economics, finance, or a related business/management specialization.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: General accounting and auditing principles and procedures; business law; statistics; information systems programs; the English language with proficiency in reading, writing, and grammar.

 

Ability to: Work arithmetical computations; gather, organize, summarize, and interpret financial data; analyze data and draw sound conclusions; prepare reports; establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the work; communicate effectively; evaluate and appraise information; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; use a variety of spreadsheets or word processing software packages.

All Levels Above Financial Institutions Examiner, Range A

Knowledge of: All of the above, and laws, policies, rules, and regulations administered by the Department of Financial Institutions; financial operations and practices of organizations subject to regulation by the Department of Financial Institutions; purposes, activities, and functions of the Department of Financial Institutions; regulatory terminology; applicable Federal rules and regulations and operations of regulatory agencies that work closely with the Department; specialized accounting and auditing principles; financial examining practices obtained through on-the-job training and through prescribed training courses.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and apply specialized financial examining practices and procedures; perform detailed portion of financial institution, business firm, or services examinations; analyze data and draw sound conclusions; apply specialized examination practices and procedures; analyze financial and operating statements, reports, and records relating to licensee operations; gather, organize, analyze, and summarize financial data and draw logical conclusions; prepare clear, concise, and accurate reports; discuss reports of examination and other financial data and hold meetings with executive officers and directors of financial institutions, business firms, and services.

All Levels Above Financial Institutions Examiner, Range B

Knowledge of: All of the above, and technical report writing; complicated practices and procedures of the licensee; sophisticated data analysis; public speaking; procedures, organization, and operations of the Department of Financial Institutions.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and devise procedures and program activities; lead others in conducting examinations.

Senior Financial Institutions Examiner

Knowledge of: All of the above, and how to evaluate reports generated by corresponding agencies, the industry, the institution, business firm, or service; other related agencies; provision of laws, rules, regulations, related legal opinions, and court decisions governing licensees and related departmental policies.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize, and direct the work of others; coordinate examinations with related agencies; conduct special studies and investigations relating to the practices of the licensee; appraise the most difficult and complex types of reports and information; analyze data and adopt an effective course of action; communicate effectively so instructions can be clearly understood; effectively apply the required technical knowledge; conduct in-service training programs.

Financial Institutions Supervisor

Knowledge of: All of the above, and techniques of good personnel management and principles of effective supervision, including individual development practices; supervisory responsibilities under the Ralph C. Dills Act; a supervisor's role in promoting equal opportunity in hiring, developing, and promoting employees and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; training methods and planning; budget process and procedures.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of employees; assess training needs of employees; develop staff; prepare individual development plans; respond to emergency situations; understand and fulfill supervisory responsibilities under the Ralph C. Dills Act; effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; make recommendations on personnel and equipment needs; provide budget data.

Financial Institutions Manager

Knowledge of: All of the above, and department administrative practices and procedures.

 

Ability to: All of the above, and individual performance appraisals; supervise, train, and motivate staff to achieve maximum effectiveness; apply effective principles of budget preparation and control, personnel management, business management, public administration, and regulatory administration; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with officials and staff members, public agencies, and interested community and professional groups; establish procedures and plan program activities; direct and supervise the work of technical, professional, and clerical staff.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Ability to qualify for a fidelity bond; willingness to travel and work away from the headquarters office; willingness to work in a variety of settings; capacity for assuming progressively greater responsibility; tact; and good interpersonal skills.

Senior Financial Institutions Examiner

Financial Institutions Supervisor

Financial Institutions Manager

Demonstrated leadership and program planning ability; emotional maturity and stability; objective understanding of the mission of the Department.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

All Levels:

In appraising the relative qualifications of candidates, consideration will be given to the extent and type of pertinent education beyond that required under �Minimum Qualifications.�

Class History

Financial Institutions Examiner Series History - Dates Established, Revised, and Title Changed
ClassDate EstablishedDate RevisedTitle Changed
Financial Institutions Examiner09/02/1998----
Senior Financial Institutions Examiner09/02/199802/02/1999--
Financial Institutions Supervisor (abolished 09/06/2017 per Pay Letter 17-29)09/02/199802/02/1999--
Financial Institutions Manager09/02/199802/02/1999--
  Updated: 12/13/2017
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