Executive Secretary (Buffalo Sewer Authority) #60017280 (Open Competitive)
Apply NowCompany: City of Buffalo, NY
Location: Buffalo, NY 14221
Description:
Salary : $105,521.00 - $131,007.00 Annually
Location : Buffalo Sewer Authority- City Hall Room 1038, NY
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 60017280
Department: BUFFALO SEWER AUTH
Opening Date: 03/25/2025
Closing Date: 4/14/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Fee: $15.00
RESIDENCE: Residence is a requirement for all positions. In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, an applicant shall be deemed a non-resident if he/she cannot show ninety (90) days of continuous and uninterrupted residence in the City of Buffalo prior to filing application.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO MANDATE CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN THE CITY DURING YOUR EMPLOYMENT, EXCEPT FOR POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT UNDER STATE LAW.
FEE: WHERE INDICATED, A NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION VIA CHECK, CASH OR MONEY ORDER (If using check for payment, your check must clear to complete processing.)
Check with Civil Service office for fee waiver info.
Distinguishing Features of the Class
Executive Secretary (Buffalo Sewer Authority) #60017280 (Open Competitive)
Exam Date: 05/03/2025
Final Filing Date: 4/14/2025
This is a high level administrative and supervisory position involved with handling the management functions within the administrative offices of the Buffalo Sewer Authority. The scope of the incumbent's duties involve the carrying out of established policies and rules set forth by the Board of the Sewer Authority as they relate to fiscal and administrative matters. The duties also involve the responsibility for assisting the General Manager in formulating and implementing effective operational policies and procedures to meet the needs of the central administrative offices. Working under the general direction of the General Manger, an incumbent will exercise a wide degree of latitude for independent judgment in connection with the performance of duties. Supervision is exercised over personnel assigned to the administrative offices.
Examples of work (Illustration Only)
Coordinates and supervises the activities of the administrative offices of the Buffalo Sewer Authority;
-reviews incoming mail, conducts correspondence and routes to proper officials;
Supervises the preparation of the agenda for Sewer Authority Board Meetings;
Supervises all financial record keeping, receipts, disbursements, payrolls and investments;
Supervises the preparation of financial accounting and statistical statements and reports, disbursements of funds and statements for management;
Prepares Authority's Annual Budget;
-prepares and analyzes budget requests, estimates data and maintains budget control;
Supervises the sale of bonds and notes, the levying and collection of Sewer rents and maintenance of insurance coverage for the Sewer Authority;
Supervises the liquidation of indebtedness;
Prepares the Authority's Annual Report;
Submits recommendations for the improvement of departmental procedures and solutions of administrative problems, including financial and accounting procedures;
Acts as the General Manager during his absence;
Acts as a liaison between the Buffalo Sewer Authority and other city departments and divisions performing essential services for the Authority;
Performs related work as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Masters Degree from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education, in Business Administration or Accounting and four years of full time management or supervisory experience in a financial accounting environment;
OR
Bachelors Degree from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, in Business Administration or Accounting and six years of full time management or supervisory experience in a financial accounting environment;
OR
(C) An equivalent combination as defined within the limits of A and B.
MANAGEMENT
Coordinates the activities of people and resources in order to accomplish organizational objectives.
SUPERVISORY
Responsible direction and control of subordinate employees. This involves the assignment of work, approval of work, training evaluation and/or discipline of employees. The supervisory aspects must be an integral part of the job; NOT incidental or occasional.
NOTE:Verifiable part-time experience will be pro-rated to meet full-time experience requirements.
Proof of education must be presented at time of appointment.
SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION - Written Test..........Relative Weight 100%
EXAMINATION WILL TEST FOR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES IN SUCH AREAS AS:
1.) Preparing written material
2.) Understanding and interpreting written material
3.) Office management
4.) Supervision
5.) Working with office records
THE USE OF A CALCULATOR IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EXAMINATION
NOTE: The use a hand-held, battery- or solar- powered calculator is RECOMMENDED for this exam. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries, cell phones or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference material. Cell phones and any other electronic devices are also prohibited.
Additional Information
EXPANDED SUBTEST DESCRIPTION:
1.) 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.
2.) Understanding and interpreting written material
These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.
3.) Office management
These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, organizing and controlling the activities of an office and directing those performing office activities so as to achieve predetermined objectives such as accomplishing office work within reasonable limits of time, effort and cost expenditure. Typical activities may include but will not be restricted to: simplifying and improving procedures, increasing office efficiency, improving the office work environment and controlling office supplies.
4.) 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.
5.) 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. 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 Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at:
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 CREDITS
If 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. Your DD214 must be presented as proof of service during war time, before you can be certified for appointment from the eligible list
using these credits.
Special Requirement for Appointment in School Districts and BOCES
Per 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.
This position is not eligible for benefits.
Location : Buffalo Sewer Authority- City Hall Room 1038, NY
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 60017280
Department: BUFFALO SEWER AUTH
Opening Date: 03/25/2025
Closing Date: 4/14/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Fee: $15.00
RESIDENCE: Residence is a requirement for all positions. In the absence of clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, an applicant shall be deemed a non-resident if he/she cannot show ninety (90) days of continuous and uninterrupted residence in the City of Buffalo prior to filing application.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO MANDATE CONTINUOUS RESIDENCY IN THE CITY DURING YOUR EMPLOYMENT, EXCEPT FOR POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT UNDER STATE LAW.
FEE: WHERE INDICATED, A NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION VIA CHECK, CASH OR MONEY ORDER (If using check for payment, your check must clear to complete processing.)
Check with Civil Service office for fee waiver info.
Distinguishing Features of the Class
Executive Secretary (Buffalo Sewer Authority) #60017280 (Open Competitive)
Exam Date: 05/03/2025
Final Filing Date: 4/14/2025
This is a high level administrative and supervisory position involved with handling the management functions within the administrative offices of the Buffalo Sewer Authority. The scope of the incumbent's duties involve the carrying out of established policies and rules set forth by the Board of the Sewer Authority as they relate to fiscal and administrative matters. The duties also involve the responsibility for assisting the General Manager in formulating and implementing effective operational policies and procedures to meet the needs of the central administrative offices. Working under the general direction of the General Manger, an incumbent will exercise a wide degree of latitude for independent judgment in connection with the performance of duties. Supervision is exercised over personnel assigned to the administrative offices.
Examples of work (Illustration Only)
Coordinates and supervises the activities of the administrative offices of the Buffalo Sewer Authority;
-reviews incoming mail, conducts correspondence and routes to proper officials;
Supervises the preparation of the agenda for Sewer Authority Board Meetings;
Supervises all financial record keeping, receipts, disbursements, payrolls and investments;
Supervises the preparation of financial accounting and statistical statements and reports, disbursements of funds and statements for management;
Prepares Authority's Annual Budget;
-prepares and analyzes budget requests, estimates data and maintains budget control;
Supervises the sale of bonds and notes, the levying and collection of Sewer rents and maintenance of insurance coverage for the Sewer Authority;
Supervises the liquidation of indebtedness;
Prepares the Authority's Annual Report;
Submits recommendations for the improvement of departmental procedures and solutions of administrative problems, including financial and accounting procedures;
Acts as the General Manager during his absence;
Acts as a liaison between the Buffalo Sewer Authority and other city departments and divisions performing essential services for the Authority;
Performs related work as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Masters Degree from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education, in Business Administration or Accounting and four years of full time management or supervisory experience in a financial accounting environment;
OR
Bachelors Degree from a college or university accredited by a regional, national, in Business Administration or Accounting and six years of full time management or supervisory experience in a financial accounting environment;
OR
(C) An equivalent combination as defined within the limits of A and B.
MANAGEMENT
Coordinates the activities of people and resources in order to accomplish organizational objectives.
SUPERVISORY
Responsible direction and control of subordinate employees. This involves the assignment of work, approval of work, training evaluation and/or discipline of employees. The supervisory aspects must be an integral part of the job; NOT incidental or occasional.
NOTE:Verifiable part-time experience will be pro-rated to meet full-time experience requirements.
Proof of education must be presented at time of appointment.
SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION - Written Test..........Relative Weight 100%
EXAMINATION WILL TEST FOR KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND/OR ABILITIES IN SUCH AREAS AS:
1.) Preparing written material
2.) Understanding and interpreting written material
3.) Office management
4.) Supervision
5.) Working with office records
THE USE OF A CALCULATOR IS RECOMMENDED FOR THIS EXAMINATION
NOTE: The use a hand-held, battery- or solar- powered calculator is RECOMMENDED for this exam. Devices with typewriter keyboards, spell checkers, personal digital assistants, address books, language translators, dictionaries, cell phones or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference material. Cell phones and any other electronic devices are also prohibited.
Additional Information
EXPANDED SUBTEST DESCRIPTION:
1.) 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.
2.) Understanding and interpreting written material
These questions test for the ability to understand and interpret written material. You will be presented with brief reading passages and will be asked questions about the passages. You should base your answers to the questions only on what is presented in the passages and not on what you may happen to know about the topic.
3.) Office management
These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices of planning, organizing and controlling the activities of an office and directing those performing office activities so as to achieve predetermined objectives such as accomplishing office work within reasonable limits of time, effort and cost expenditure. Typical activities may include but will not be restricted to: simplifying and improving procedures, increasing office efficiency, improving the office work environment and controlling office supplies.
4.) 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.
5.) 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. 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 Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at:
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 CREDITS
If 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. Your DD214 must be presented as proof of service during war time, before you can be certified for appointment from the eligible list
using these credits.
Special Requirement for Appointment in School Districts and BOCES
Per 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.
This position is not eligible for benefits.