David Mauro, CSC Docket No. 2019-3117

BackgroundDavid Mauro appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services which found that he did not meet the minimum educational and experience requirements for the promotional examination for Fiscal Officer (PC2218W), Burlington County Board of Social Services.

The subject examination announcement was issued with a closing date of August 21, 2018. The examination was open to employees in the competitive division who have an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date and are currently serving as Assistant Fiscal Officer, OR to employees in the competitive division who have an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date in any competitive title and who met the open - competitive requirements. Those requirements included graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree and twenty-one semester hour credits in Accounting, and five years of supervisory financial management experience involving accounting, budgeting, auditing, and financial analyses and reporting. Applicants who satisfactorily completed twenty-one semester hour credits in professional accounting courses at an accredited college or university could substitute additional experience as described for the remainder of the above educational requirement. Also, possession of a current, valid certificate as a Registered Municipal Accountant or Certified Public Accountant issued by the New Jersey State Board of Accountants or as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Local Government Services could be substituted for the above educational requirement. Further, graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or Business Administration could well have to be substituted for one year of experience. It is noted that as there were no admitted candidates, the examination was cancelled on May 10, 2019.

On his application, the appellant indicated possession of a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and he possesses 148 college credits. He listed six positions on his application, provisional Fiscal Analyst from December 2016 to the August 2018 closing date, Supervisor of System Analytics with PHH Mortgage, Senior Financial Analyst with TD Bank, Senior Financial Analyst with Comcast Cable Company, Operations Manager Senior Underwriter with CSSB Funding DBA ICG Mortgage, and Regional Loan Coordinator with Ameriquest Mortgage Company. He was found to have met the experience requirement. As to education, he was credited with possession of a Bachelor’s degree, and 18 of 21 college credits in Accounting. Although the appellant was told that he was below minimum requirements in education and experience, in fact, he was found to be ineligible as he lacked three credits in Accounting.

Appellant's argumentOn appeal, the appellant reiterates his experience and states that he has 21 college credits. His personnel officer supports this appeal.

CONCLUSION

RuleN.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a)2 provides that an applicant shall meet all the requirements specified in the promotional examination announcement by the closing date.

AnalysisThe appellant was denied admittance to the subject examination since he lacked three credits in Accounting. Nevertheless, it is noted that the appellant possesses 21 college credits. Three of these credits were not accepted. From Rowan College at Burlington County, he took a course entitled Managerial Accounting/Spreadsheet (Acc 115). At the University of Central Florida, the appellant took a course entitled Principles of Managerial Accounting (Acg 2071). The appellant was not credited with one of these classes as the focus of the courses were the same. Nonetheless, the appellant has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, and possesses 148 college credits, which is 28 more than required for a Bachelor’s degree. Although two accounting classes are very similar, he possesses 21 college credits, and the totality and variety of his education warrants his admission to the subject examination. The examination was cancelled, and the appellant is still serving as a provisional appointee. Based on the particular circumstances presented, good cause has been established to relax the provisions of N.J.A.C. 4A:4-2.6(a)2 to accept the appellant’s totality of education and admit him to the examination

.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be granted, and the appellant’s application be processed.

ClosingThis is the final administrative determination in this matter. Any further review should be pursued in a judicial forum.