FINANCIAL SPECIALIST III - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

County-of-Los-Angeles; California (MO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Los Angeles seeks an Emergency Financial Specialist III to support homelessness response efforts. This open competitive - emergency recruitment may hire for up to 90 days with a path to permanent county employment, based on performance.

The role conducts financial studies, analyzes data, develops manuals, trains staff, and helps design and implement modern financial systems within the Department of Homeless Services and Housing.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years' experience performing financial systems analysis in a County department, one (1) year at the level of Financial Specialist II.
• Graduation from an accredited college with twelve (12) semester units of accounting, nine (9) units in accounting or finance, and six (6) units in computer science including systems analysis and design; three years' experience in a staff/admin/advisory resolving financial problems and implementing accounting systems.
• You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts studies of complex departmental accounting and budgetary operations, fiscal controls and accounting standards in both computerized and manual systems.
• Assembles and verifies financial data, schedules and statistical summaries and compiles them into written reports of study findings.
• Analyzes and evaluates study findings to identify effective and deficient areas in the financial system operations.
• Determines measures to correct deficiencies and designs control mechanisms for revised systems.
• Prepares detailed policy and procedures manuals and forms for new or revised financial systems.
• Orients and trains department personnel before and during conversion to new or modified systems.
• Adapts manual accounting to computerized processing and establishes internal controls.
• Participates with data processing personnel or outside consultants in design, development, testing and installation of computerized financial systems.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Internal controls

Report writing

Education

Accounting degree

Finance coursework

Tools

Excel

Word

Accounting Information Systems

Job description

Type of Recruitment

Open Competitive - Emergency

Filing Dates

Applications will be accepted from Friday, September 18, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (PT). All applications must be received before 5:00 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, to be accepted.

Exam Number

HH0749A-EA

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Homeless Services and Housing is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Financial Specialist III vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to the Financial Specialist III position.

• Conducts studies of complex departmental accounting and budgetary operations, fiscal controls and accounting standards in both computerized and manual systems.
• Assembles and verifies financial data, schedules and statistical summaries and compiles them into clear and concise written reports of study findings.
• Analyzes and evaluates study findings to identify those aspects of the financial system operations which are functioning effectively and those which need to be changed or replaced.
• Determines specific measures necessary to correct identified deficiencies in current departmental financial systems and designs control mechanisms to be incorporated into revised systems.
• Prepares detailed policy and procedures manuals and designs forms relative to the establishment and implementation of new or revised departmental financial systems.
• Orients and trains department personnel before and during conversion to new or modified accounting, budgetary, or other financial systems.
• Adapts manual accounting, budgetary, and other record keeping functions to computerized processing and establishes preventive, detective, and corrective internal controls.
• Participates with departmental data processing personnel or outside consultants in the technical design, development, testing and modification, and installation of computerized financial systems, as required.

For more information about the position, please visit the classification specifications: Financial Specialist III.

Requirements to Qualify

Option I: Two (2) years' experience performing financial systems analysis* in a County department, one (1) year of which must have been at the level of Financial Specialist II**.

Option II: Graduation from an accredited college*** with twelve (12) semester units (or 18 quarter units) of accounting, nine (9) additional semester units (or 13.5 quarter units) in either accounting or finance, and six (6) semester units (or 9 quarter units) in computer science including a course in systems analysis and design**** -AND- Three years' experience in an administrative*****, advisory******, or staff capacity******* resolving accounting budgetary, and other financial problems including accounting systems design and implementation.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

Special Requirement Information

*Financial systems analysis*s* experience is defined as the study and investigation of issues and problems of financial systems development, implementation, administration, or evaluation and the formation of applicable solutions and recommendations.

**Experience at the level of Financial Specialist II is defined as analyzing and making recommendations for the solution of departmental accounting, budgetary, and other financial problems including problems of accounting systems design and implementation.

You may still qualify even if your job title isn’t exactly the same as the ones listed. What matters is that your experience is at a similar level — meaning your job involves similar responsibilities, requires comparable skills and knowledge, and takes place within a similar organizational structure. Please provide a clear explanation of your experience to demonstrate that it is at the appropriate level.

*** To receive credit for your education, include a copy of your official transcript from an accredited institution within seven (7) calendar days of the end of the filing period. Please submit documentation to [e-mail] and indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number. The document should show the date the degree was conferred and be in English; if it is in a foreign language, it must be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards. For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf; We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

**** Classes comparable to systems analysis and design are Introduction to Computer Concepts, Accounting Information Systems, Introduction to Business Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems and Computer Programming, Management Information Systems, or Business Computer Systems.

***** Administrative capacity is defined as performs work typically in an administrative services branch of an organizational unit, including responsibility for the development of procedures and participation in policy formation.

****** Advisory capacity is defined as one who, as an expert in a specialized field, expresses views, provides opinions, and recommends courses of action to be taken on problems presented by others for resolution.

******* Staff capacity is defined as assisting and supporting administration by doing research, analysis, and making recommendations to line managers on matters such as: utilization of personnel; allocation of funds: workload and workload fluctuations; and, programs and procedures for accomplishing work objectives.

License

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class

II - Light: This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Desirable Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Accounting or Finance.
• Experience working with Word Processing and Spreadsheet Programs, including creation of financial reports, financial tables, financial charts, and financial graphs.
• Experience assembling and verifying financial data, schedule, and statistical summaries; directing the compilation into formal reports of study findings.
• Experience identifying deficiencies in financial systems to determine the necessary corrective measure to make recommendation to correct the deficiencies.

Exam Content

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Social Security Number

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries

For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities among race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

Department Contact

Contact Name: Corinna Sasis

Contact Email: [e-mail]

Teletype Phone: [phone]