Interdepartmental Promotion Examination Open to All Qualified Employees of New York State

Payroll Analyst 2

* Due to the size of the candidate population for this test date, you may be assigned to either Saturday, January 24, 2015, or Sunday, January 25, 2015, to take your test. Your admission notice will tell you where and when you are scheduled to appear. You cannot request a day or time in advance or change your scheduled day or time.

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 January 24, 2015, 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 a:

Business Systems Analyst 1
Business Systems Analyst Trainee 1
Business Systems Analyst Trainee 2
Payroll Analyst 1
Payroll Analyst Trainee 1
Payroll Analyst Trainee 2
Payroll Specialist 3
Payroll Examiner 3
Senior Administrative Analyst
Administrative Analyst Trainee 1
Administrative Analyst Trainee 2

NOTE: Only the titles listed are qualifying for this examination.

If you were permanently appointed to a qualifying title on or before October 24, 2014, 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 service as a Business Systems Analyst 1, Payroll Analyst 1, Payroll Specialist 3, Payroll Examiner 3, or Senior Administrative Analyst, successful candidates will be qualified for appointment from the eligible list.

Important: As the processing fee is non-refundable, 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.

Order of Certification

The order of certification of this eligible list will be:

1. Department "A" eligibles
2. Department "All" eligibles
3. Interdepartmental "A" eligibles
4. Interdepartmental "All" eligibles

The Positions

Payroll Analyst 2 positions exist only at the New York State Office of the State Comptroller in Albany. Currently, there are seven vacancies.

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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:

1. 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 administration and 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.
2. Preparing written material - These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Understanding and interpreting written material - These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

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

As a Payroll Analyst 2, you would analyze and evaluate specific aspects of the administration and implementation of a weekly state payroll through a centralized payroll system for New York State agencies of the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches of government, including the State University and the City University of New York. Incumbents in these positions review and issue determinations on specific types of payroll matters (e.g., salaries, payments, taxes, retirement programs, deductions, and garnishments) consistent with changing state and federal laws, regulations, business rules, collective bargaining agreements and policies/procedures governing state payroll. Incumbents make determinations affecting payroll actions that impact employee payroll records and paychecks. Payroll Analysts 2 typically supervise a payroll unit and related business processes, and develop, modify, or lead payroll projects. Incumbents make determinations affecting payroll actions that impact employee payroll records and paychecks and they communicate these determinations to stakeholders and business partners.

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How To Apply

If you do not receive a confirmation 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 [press 2, then press 2]. Outside of the Albany area, call toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2]. 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 [press 2, then press 1].

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 eligible to compete in this examination, you must be employed in 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.

S2/TA1 DMG-vla
Issued: 11/7/14

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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