​Education Fiscal Services Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

 

Education Fiscal Services Series Specification - Class Titles and Codes

Schem Code	Class Code	Class	​Probation Period
ER50	2897	Education Fiscal Services Assistant	​12 Months
ER51	2898	Education Fiscal Services Consultant	​12 Months
ER52	2899	Education Fiscal Services Administrator	​12 Months

​SALARY INFORMATION​

Description of Series

This series specification describes three classes responsible for the provision of assistance to local K-12 education agencies (LEAs) in the areas of fiscal and budgetary policies, practices and procedures related to the administration of State and Federal education programs. Incumbents in these classifications provide guidance and oversight to LEA governing board members and administrators to help them improve their financial management practices relating to fiscal solvency; provide leadership in the design and modification of budget development policies and processes, expenditure monitoring, accounting, and interim fiscal reporting; provide statewide fiscal data to interested parties; and provide technical assistance to LEAs in all areas of fiscal and business management.​

Incumbents in these classifications are used where knowledge of the wide variety of financial management practices in LEAs is critical to the effective performance of duties and credibility with persons contacted in the field.

Incumbents in these classes review and evaluate fiscal policies and practices and provide assistance and oversight to LEA boards of education, administrators, and other professionals on the various elements of fiscal services such as administrative, legal, budgetary, accounting, and fiscal policies and procedures. Incumbents work directly with LEA governing boards and top-level administrators helping LEAs remain fiscally solvent, and assisting those who either are, or soon will be, fiscally insolvent. Specifically, incumbents in these classes evaluate and approve county office of education and/or single school district budgets; evaluate information on the fiscal status of LEAs throughout the year to determine fiscal solvency; provide consultant services to the administrators and governing boards of financially distressed LEAs to ensure that they remain solvent; provide staff support to State-appointed administrators and trustees for LEAs who have obtained or requested emergency loans; review and analyze LEA financial and fiscal practices to determine needed training, and then design and conduct or contract for training programs to upgrade the fiscal skills of LEA board members, administrators, and business officials; design and implement strategies to collect and evaluate LEA budgets, interim certifications, program cost reports and other financial documents to determine LEA fiscal solvency; identify educational funding issues and make recommendations for resolving issues and problems; evaluate local accounting practices to determine the assistance and training needed by LEAs; advise and assist LEA officials on accounting problems, and on the preparation of LEA budgets, interim financial status certifications, program cost reports, and other financial reports; review financial reports for compliance with State and Federal law; advise LEAs on the use of state-of-the-art computer systems and software related to sound accounting and budget practices; develop meaningful and comparative data for LEA administrative and financial decision-making; review annual audits for school districts and county offices of education and work to ensure the resolution of identified audit findings; review and interpret school finance and education program legislation to recommend changes to facilitate the work of the Department and LEAs; prepare administrative bulletins and reports; maintain liaison with other State and Federal agencies in the area of LEA fiscal management; speak to LEA officials and community groups on phases of education finance and administration; and do other related work.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

The scope and level of responsibilities assigned, the complexity of work, the independence of action, the level and scope of assigned program and policy development and implementation, the impact of decision-making on statewide programs and the degree of supervisory and administrative responsibility.​​

Definition of Levels

Education Fiscal Services Assistant

This is the entry and first journey level in this series. This class is used as a permanent allocation for lesser skilled functions or as a training level for the higher professional levels in the series. Under general supervision, the Assistant provides consultative and technical fiscal review services to department staff and local school officials in less sensitive or complex areas of the program. Incumbents may also work under the guidance of Consultants.

Education Fiscal Services Consultant

This class is the full journey level in this series responsible for the more complex nonsupervisory assignments. Under direction from an administrative position normally at the Administrator or higher level, positions in this class perform the more difficult, sensitive and complex fiscal services assignments with broad impact. Consultants may also provide leadership and training to incumbents in the Assistant class in this series, other professional entry and first journey level staff, or lower level technical and support staff.

Education Fiscal Services Administrator​​

This is the supervisory level in this series. The Administrator normally reports to a higher level administrator in the field of education fiscal services and supervises a group of professionals at the Consultant and Assistant levels. Incumbents may also supervise other professional, technical, and support staff. Under direction, the Administrator plans, organizes and directs the work of a program unit, and may assist in the overall administration of the fiscal services functions of the Department. Nonsupervisory positions may occasionally be allocated to this class to perform the most complex high level administrative, coordinative and consultative responsibilities for programs that are multiunit or multidivisional in scope.​

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels

Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with possession of a master's degree in Public or Business Administration or related field, or possession of a valid license authorizing service as a Certified Public Accountant in California. Applicants who do not meet the education requirement will be admitted to the examination but must meet the requirement before they will be considered eligible for appointment. One year of experience performing professional education duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to that obtained in the class of Education Fiscal Services Assistant, Range B, or higher may be substituted for the education requirement. Experience used in this manner to meet the education requirement must be in addition to that used to meet the general experience requirement.​

Two years of experience in California state service performing fiscal analysis duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to that obtained in the class of Staff Services Manager I or higher may be substituted for the education requirement. Experience used in this manner to meet the education requirement must be in addition to that used to meet the general experience requirement.

Two years of experience as chief business officer or director of accounting, budgeting, data processing, business services, or similar administrative function with major responsibility for the preparation or analysis of budgets, accounts, and records may be substituted for the education requirement. Experience used in this manner to meet the education requirement must be in addition to that used to meet the general experience requirement.​

Education Fiscal Services Ass​istant

One year of experience in accounting, budgeting, data processing, business services, or similar administrative function with major responsibility for the preparation or analysis of budgets, accounts, and records. Experience applied toward this pattern must be at a level of responsibility equivalent to that of an Associate Governmental Program Analyst in state service.​​

Education Fiscal Services Consultant

Either I

 

One year of experience in California state service performing fiscal services duties at a level of responsibility equivalent to an Education Fiscal Services Assistant, Range B; or

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​​II

Two years of experience in California state service performing fiscal analysis duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Staff Services Manager I or higher; or​

III

​

Two years of experience as chief business officer or director of accounting, budgeting, data processing, business services, or similar administrative function with major responsibility for the preparation or analysis of budgets, accounts, and records.​