JOB
Junior Collections Officer #88965 (Open Competitive)Final Filing Date: 06/26/2024Exam Date: 07/13/2024The Junior Collection Officer performs duties that involve the routine research and review of delinquent accounts. Incumbents assist the Assistant Collection Officer with frequent public contact through correspondence, telephone and walk-in inquiries. S/he utilizes a personal computer for the input/output of data. Incumbents perform duties using defined departmental procedures and within the guidelines of state and local laws. Work is performed under direct supervision of the Collection Officer or a designee. No supervisory duties are exercised.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Assists in the investigation of information on delinquent accounts for residence, employment, earnings, liquid assets, birth dates, property ownership, etc.;Researches delinquent taxes, user fees, water bills, accounts receivables and any other outstanding debts owed to the City of Buffalo;Researches payments for accurate application to accounts and prepares and remits invoices of unpaid balances;-prepares statements and other documentation related to findings;Receives, receipts and deposits all monies remitted for delinquent accounts;Operates personal computer in the entering and retrieval of data;Destroys or purges records in accordance with the New York State Guidelines for Retention of Records;Prepares reports and maintains files on all work performed;Performs related duties as required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
EXPANDED SUBTEST DESCRIPTION: 1.) Name and number checkingThese 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.2.) Operations with Letters and NumbersThese questions test for skills and abilities in operations involving alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting. The questions require you to follow the specific directions given for each question which may involve alphabetizing, comparing, checking and counting given groups of letters and/or numbers.3.) Customer serviceThese questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact with other people, to gather and present information, and to provide assistance, advice and effective customer service in a courteous and professional manner. Questions will cover such topics as understanding and responding to people with diverse needs, perspectives, personalities, and levels of familiarity with agency operations, as well as acting in a way that both serves the public and reflects well on your agency.4.) Arithmetic computation with calculatorThese 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. 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.) Working with office recordsThese 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. 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. Test Guide: 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 ‘General guide to Written Test’ helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available online at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm. This written exam is being prepared and rated by the N.Y.S. Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law, and the provisions of the N.Y.S. Civil service Rules and Regulations dealing with the rating and review of exams apply.(If not attached, expanded subtest descriptions may be obtained from the Civil Service office, Room 1001 City Hall.)============================================================================== (The eligible list resulting from this exam may be used to fill comparable positions.)==============================================================================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 date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXAMS notify each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before test date. You must notify each agency with whom you have filed. For this information, notify the Department of Human Resources, Division of Civil Service, Room 1001 City Hall, Buffalo, New York 14202 or call or come to the office. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING WEATHER CONDITIONS ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION - In the event of severe weather conditions on the day of the examination, please listen to the following tv/radio stations for postponement or delay in the starting time of the administration of the examination: WBEN 550, WGR 930, WWW145.., WWKB 1520 –AM RADIO; WKSE 98.5, WLKK 102.5, WTSS 107.7 FM RADIO OR WIBT-TV (CH. 4). If no such announcement is made, you must presume that the examination will be administered as scheduled. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR USE OF VETERAN’S CREDITSIf you are currently serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, you may apply for veteran’s credits. These veteran’s credits shall be granted on a conditional basis at time of establishment of the eligible list. You will be restricted from certification using these credits until you have received an honorable discharge or release under honorable conditions. YourDD214 must be presented as proof of service during war time, before you can be certified for appointment from the eligible listusing these credits.==============================================================================Special Requirement for Appointment in School Districts and BOCESPer Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving direct contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.==============================================================================NOTICE TO EXAM PARTICIPANTS Additional Points Available to Children of Police Officers and Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty(New Section 85-a, NYS Civil Service Law, effective 9/17/02)On September 17, 2002, Governor Pataki signed into law a bill adding a new section 85-a to the Civil Service Law granting additional credit on civil service examinations for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty. This law is to take effect immediately.“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 points in a competitive examination for original appointment 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 of two months from the 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.”Applicants claiming these points must do so in writing (you may enclose in application), indicating the name, title, relationship and place of employment of the deceased parent.Eligibility for points will be reviewed and applicants may be required to submit additional information to verify the claim.==============================================================================Additional points available to siblings of Firefighters and Police Officers killed in the line of duty as the result of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack (Chapter 500, Laws of New York 2003).For more information, check with the Department of Human Resources, Civil Service office.