RENSSELAER COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Opportunities in the Public Service
EXAM NUMBER: 70-628
EXAM TITLE: PAYROLL CLERK
EXAM DATE: 5/12/2012
LAST FILING DATE: 4/5/2012
NON-REFUNDABLE $20.00 FILING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY EACH APPLICATION. PAYROLL CLERK, SALARY: (Salary varies according to jurisdiction) RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must have one (1) year of permanent or contingent permanent competitive class status in the position of Senior Account Clerk in a municipality under the jurisdiction of the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission immediately preceding the date of examination. EXAMPLES OF WORK: (Illustrative only) Prepares bi-weekly payroll including gross and net figures, retirement loans, garnishes, tax sheltered annuities, routine deductions, etc. for all employees; Prepares confidential source data related to salaries and fringe benefits to aid administrators in contract negotiations; Makes appropriate payroll changes regarding deductions for data processing unit check preparation; Types checks and transmits reports; Processes a variety of transactions involving deduction changes such as retirement, health insurance, social security, etc.; Prepares a variety of records and reports related to the payroll process; Performs related duties as required. SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: Written test will cover knowledge, skills and/or abilities in such areas as: 1. Arithmetic computation with calculator; 2. Name and number checking; 3. Office record keeping; 4. Understanding and interpreting written material. The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm USE OF CALCULATORS IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EXAMINATION. YOU MAY OBTAIN AN EXPANDED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMINATION SUBTEST BY REQUESTING A COPY FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE OFFICE. If you are filing to take another Civil Service Examination for any other Civil Service agency on the same day, please notify this office at time of filing of exam application. Issued: 2/23/12-ab (OVER) GENERAL INFORMATION 1. Each candidate must complete an application form and file it with the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission, 2. Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for examination. No one will be admitted to the examination without the official admission notice. If an application is rejected, you will be notified in writing. The Civil Service Commission does not make formal acknowledgement of receipt of application. Call the Civil Service Office if you have not received your notice three (3) days prior to the date of examination. NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held solar or battery powered calculators. Cell phone calculators are not permitted. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell-check, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. 3. SENIORITY CREDITS will be added to an eligible score as follows: Using as a basis six (6) months of continuous permanent or contingent permanent service in the jurisdiction for which the eligible list is being established as an equivalent to 0.1. No seniority credit will be allowed for service in excess of twenty (20) years. 4. For purpose of claiming veterans credits on a Civil Service examination, an applicant must have received an honorable discharge and have served in the armed forces of the December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 June 1, 1983 to December 1, 1987* June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983 December 22, 1961 to May 7, 1975 December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990* August 2, 1990 to end of such hostilities *Credit for expeditionary medal or the Marine Corps expeditionary medal. Veterans wishing to claim additional credit on the examination must make claim when filing application. All veterans making application for additional credit on the examination must file a Photostat copy of their discharge papers with applications. A candidate who fails to establish, by appropriate documentary proof, his eligibility to receive additional credit by the time an eligible list is established shall not, thereafter, be granted additional credit on such eligible list. Effective January 1, 1998, the State constitution was amended to permit a candidate currently in the armed forces to apply for and be conditionally granted veterans credit in examination. Any candidate who applies for such credit must provide proof of military status to receive the conditional credit. No credit may be granted after the establishment of the list. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate documentary proof indicating that the service was in time of war, as defined in Section 85 of the Civil Service Law, and that the candidate received an honorable discharge or was released under honorable conditions in order to be certified at a score including veteran’s credits. 5. 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 ten (10) points in a competitive examination for original appointments in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum o f two (2) months from 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. 6. This written examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating and review of examinations will apply. VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS may be investigated and candidates may be called for an interview to determine whether they are qualified for appointment. You may be required to take a medical examination to determine if you are medically and physically capable of performing the duties of the position. Eligible Lists will be established in order of final rating for successful candidates and will be established for a period of four (4) years or until the establishment of an appropriate new list. 7. APPLICATION FEE: A fee of $20.00 is required for each separately numbered examination for which you apply. Certain examinations will require a $30.00 filing fee. The required exam fee must accompany your application. Send check or money order payable to the Rensselaer County Civil Service Commission and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. DO NOT SEND CASH. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for these examinations for which you are clearly qualified. 8. 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 for Medicaid or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance 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, you must 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. You may obtain an Examination Fee Waiver Request and Certification Form from the Rensselaer County Civil Service Office. An application for examination and/or a Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification will not be accepted after the last filing date of examination. 9. Religious Accommodations: 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 appropriate box under “Religious Accommodations” on your application. We will make arrangements for you to take the test on a different date.