SUPERVISING MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUDITOR
Career Family: MUNICIPAL FINANCE AUDITOR
In New Jersey, Supervising Municipal Finance Auditor is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
The stated bar is a master's degree, but candidates can swap in added experience for the diploma, and a professional license is required on top of that. The FY2027 range lands between $95,955 and $141,386, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Community Affairs.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Community Affairs posts its own vacancies directly, often before (or instead of) any civil service exam announcement. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $127,826. The agencies employing the most are:
- Community Affairs (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in the Division of Local Government Services, Department of Community Affairs, supervises the activities of local government finance personnel; administers laws and regulations regarding approval of local unit budgets, review and approval of related financial documents, and compliance with related statutes; reviews audits conducted by Registered Municipal Accountants; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Supervises staff responsible for the budget review process Plans, organizes, and assigns the work of the organizational unit and evaluates employee performance and conduct, enabling the effective recommendation of the hiring, firing, promoting, and disciplining of subordinates Assists State operated oversight boards in evaluating applications and activities related to financial condition and compliance with laws and rules; evaluate and assess the compliance, financial and control activities of local government units Provides local government unit officials directive, interpretive and technical information and serve as point of contact to advise officials of statutory and regulatory changes, procedural guidance, and establishment of uniform procedures Examines local government budgets, amendments, and financial statements Conducts operations and financial audits in local governments as assigned Conducts budget reviews of Counties and large or distressed cities Provides technical assistance and advice related to municipal/county accounting, auditing, and budgeting to local officials, auditors, other State officials, and taxpayers Performs single audit review functions Participates in special projects as required and assigned on matters relating to local government finance and budgeting Reviews Transitional Aid applications and Local Finance Board application process Assists in the preparation of local finance notices Reviews Dedication by Rider Resolutions Reviews applications for petty cash from local governments Prepares Regional School Debt computations Conducts seminars and attends meetings with municipal officials Prepares official correspondence Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate, and detailed reports of audits and examinations containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations Maintains essential records, reports, and files Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units
License
Applicants must possess a Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) certificate issued by the Rutgers Center for Government, or a Registered Municipal Accountants (RMA) certification. Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the provisions of the Local Bond Law, Local Budget Law, Local Fiscal Affairs Law, Local Public Contracts Law and Title 40 of New Jersey Annotated Statutes, "Municipalities and Counties" after a period of training. Knowledge of the principles, methods, and procedures used in local government auditing. Knowledge of the proper form and content of financial statements and audits. Knowledge of the financial procedures and methods used to determine, discover, and/or correct errors or discrepancies in financial documents and records. Knowledge of computer processed auditing systems. Ability to organize and assign work to subordinate auditors and clerical workers. Ability to provide guidance and instruction to staff Ability to analyze and interpret applicable laws, rules, and regulations and apply them to specific cases. Ability to compile, review, analyze, and interpret complex municipal, county, and authority financial data. Ability to review and suggest improvements in complex local government accounting and auditing problems and develop effective solutions. Ability to compose correspondence relating to inquiries received from concerned taxpayers. Ability to work harmoniously with associates, subordinates and others Ability to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate and informative audit, budget, financial, and other closely related reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records, reports, and files. Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this class specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester-hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Eight (8) years of professional experience involving local budgeting, fiscal administration and audit procedures, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester-hour credits in accounting. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by twenty-one (21) semester-hour credits in accounting; and four (4) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a Master's degree in Accounting; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "Professional experience refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgement and make accurate and informed decisions.
Study guides for this exam
- Supervisory Test Battery (STB) National Learning Corporation · $56.99
- General Supervisor National Learning Corporation · $49.90 · general prep, not specific to this title
The Civil Service Commission does not publish official study guides or release past tests. These are independent equivalency guides.