Mena Alex, CSC Docket No. 2019-3285

BackgroundMena Alex appeals the determination of the Division of Agency Services (Agency Services) which found that he did not meet the experience requirements for the promotional examination for Assistant Chief Accountant (PC2332W), Hudson County.

The subject examination announcement was issued with a closing date of September 21, 2018, and was open to employees in the competitive division who had an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date in the titles Principal Accountant or Supervising Accountant OR to employees in the competitive division who had an aggregate of one year of continuous permanent service as of the closing date in any competitive title and who met the announced requirements. These requirements included graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree including or supplemented by 21 credit hours in professional accounting subjects, and four years of supervising accounting experience in work involving the installation, operation, and keeping of large scale systems of accounts. Applicants who satisfactorily completed 21 credits of professional accounting courses at an accredited college or university could substitute additional accounting experience as described for the remainder of the educational requirements on the year-for-year basis. As the appellant was the sole applicant, the examination was canceled on May 18, 2019.

The appellant met the educational requirement, and he listed four positions on his application, Assistant Chief Accountant from April 2016 to September 2018, Accounting Supervisor, Senior Accountant, and Accountant. Official records indicate a different employment history. These records indicate that he was a provisional Assistant Chief Accountant from July 2017 to the September 2018 closing date; and an Accountant from the April 2016 to July 2017. The appellant was credited with one year, three months of experience in his provisional position, and one year, five months of experience as an Accounting Supervisor. As his remaining experience was not supervising employees in the operation and keeping of a large scale systems of accounts, he was found to be lacking one year, four months of applicable experience.

On appeal, the appellant simply provides his experience again, listing each position with corresponding duties.

CONCLUSION

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

AnalysisThe appellant was correctly denied admittance to the subject examination since he lacked the required amount of qualifying experience. Specifically, the experience requirements included supervisory accounting experience in work involving the installation, operation and keeping of large-scale systems of accounts. The appellant’s position as a Senior Accountant was with George Youssef Professional Group, a small firm of Tax Consultants offering services to individuals and business clients. These services would not meet the requirement of installation, operation, and keeping of large scale systems of accounts. Additionally, the appellant did not supervise in that position. His experience as an Accountant is also inapplicable. Therefore, the appellant lacks one year, four months of applicable experience by the September 2018 closing date.

The appellant was denied admittance to the subject examination since he lacked the minimum requirements in experience. An independent review of all material presented indicates that the decision of the Agency Services, that the appellant did not meet the announced requirements for eligibility by the closing date, is amply supported by the record. The appellant provides no basis to disturb this decision. Thus, the appellant has failed to support his burden of proof in this matter.

ORDER

Therefore, it is ordered that this appeal be denied, and that the matter of the appellant’s classification be referred to Agency Services for review.

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