Memo Personnel Services
Administration
To: Program Managers
Facility Directors
Local Health Officers
Personnel Officers
Local Health Personnel Liaisons
From: J. Alan Baker, Director
Personnel Services Administration
Date: March 27, 2002
Re: Professional Fiscal Classifications New Online Applicant Examination/
Assessment Process
On or about mid-April, the Office of Personnel Services and Benefits (OPSB) will
initiate a new online application/examination process for applicants for the following job series:
Accountant, Grants Specialist, Budget Specialist, Internal Auditor, Financial Compliance
Auditor, Fiscal Services Chief, and Fiscal Services Officer. The impetus behind this initiative
is the need to provide hiring managers with an eligible list that incorporates any job specific
(selective) qualification requirements, and the need to shorten the timeframe for the eligible list/
selection process for these job classes.
The application and assessment process for Professional Fiscal Careers (PFC) is located
entirely online and is “open and continuous” which means no closing date for applications, and
that eligibles may be continuously added to ongoing lists of eligibles for each title/level. The
applicant self-certifies as to required education, experience, certification per job spec minimum
qualification requirements. Through a series of screens appropriate for job classes of interest to
applicant, he/she undergoes a self-rating of job related training, experience, certification, and
special skills to determine eligible list placement/ranking as to Best Qualified, Better Qualified,
Qualified. To view the online application and assessment process, visit
www.workformaryland.com. Be sure you do not save your information when exiting the site to
avoid formal evaluation and placement on an eligible list. On an optional, voluntary basis,
applicants are given the opportunity to self-certify as to up to 23 special skill areas for all PFC
classes online, and do a self-rating as to their highest level or education and/or experience for
each special skill presented. Special skill codes will then appear on the eligible list for each
applicant claiming a particular skill(s) e.g. budget analysis, cost accounting, procurement,
ADPICS, R*STARS, supervision, etc.
Collaboration between the hiring manager and the field or unit Personnel Officer is
necessary to determine what, if any, mandatory special skills (selective qualifications) are
applicable to each recruitment/vacancy. Hiring managers may view and download specific
forms regarding PFC Special Skills for each class (other than the trainee level) as well as other
PFC process elements from http://www.opsb.state.md.us/pfc/pfc.htm. Downloadable
information and forms also includes general PFC guidelines for hiring managers, structured
interview guidelines for hiring managers, and a PFC feedback form for hiring managers who
utilize the new process. Any agreed-upon mandatory selective Special Skills must also be
reflected on the PIN Position Selection Plan (PSP) prior to initiating recruitment. Interviews
may be restricted to only those on an eligible list who meet any special skills requirements of the
PIN.
The onus is on the hiring agency to verify applicant claims regarding minimum
qualifications per the specs, and selective skills per the PSP of the vacant PIN. Again,
collaboration between the field or unit Personnel Officer and the hiring manager is needed to
verify claims and report exaggerated or false claims. The PFC process does provide for a formal
OPSB reporting and review procedure regarding removal from the eligible list where
appropriate. The DHMH Personnel Services Administration’s Employment Unit will verify
applicant credentials i.e. minimum qualification requirements on a post-selection basis. Field
Personnel Officers may elect another available option per PFC guidelines as to the timing and
process of verifications. Attached are the OPSB suggested options. Also attached are the
referenced “Structured Interview Guidelines For Hiring Managers”, as they provide important
guidance applicable to hiring for all positions, and should help minimize charges or complaints
of discrimination by job applicants.
It is expected that eligible lists will be available approximately one week from the time of
initiation of the online application/assessment PFC process in mid-April.
Please file this memo and attachments in the DHMH Personnel Guidance Handbook
under the Recruitment and Examination section.
Attachment (see pages 8-9, 116-125 of the Professional Fiscal Careers on-line manual.)