Principal Finance Clerk - Open Competitive Exam

This position involves responsibility for the processing, analyzing, reconciling, and maintaining of financial accounts and records.  Work is performed independently under general supervision from a higher level employee.  Related work is performed as required.

• Reconciles and balances operating budget;
• Recommends funding levels for current operating budget preparation based on analysis of prior budget levels;
• Audits claim vouchers and travel authorizations and processes for payment;                            
• Recommends funding sources for unplanned expenses;
• Researches bond ordinances to confirm that purpose is appropriate for planned usage;
• Reviews and reconciles contracts/agreements, close out information using computer software;
• Prepares and routes appropriation transfers, journal entries, claim vouchers, purchasing requests, and professional services agreements;
• Prepares a variety of reports, narratives, and spreadsheets.

High school diploma or G.E.D AND

A. Associate's degree** in Business Administration or a closely related field, plus two (2) years of work experience in account-keeping, bookkeeping, or financial record-keeping.

B. Three (3) years of experience as described in A.

*Candidates must have permanent competitive status or 55a status 

**Candidates who expect to receive this degree or diploma by May, 2027 may participate in the examination. If successful on the examination, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the requirements to the City of Rochester Examination Administration unit. Proof must be submitted no later than 2 (two) months after the completion of your degree or diploma; failure to do so will result in removal of your name from this list.

Scopes / 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.

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.

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.

The Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County along with other branches may have exam-related material.

Salary : $50,670 - $65,037