Mar 13, 2026
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST II
- State of California Office of the Controller
- Hybrid
- $8,625 - $11,557 monthly
Job Description
Under general direction provided by the Functional Manager (IT Manager I), the Business Lead (IT Specialist II) is responsible for performing a variety of complex analytical and IT support activities for the CSPS IT Project, a project to improve and replace the current personnel, payroll, and travel systems. CSPS is delivering an innovative and modern Human Capital Management (HCM) solution to streamline business processes for Position Control, Personnel Administration, Benefits Administration, Time Management, Travel and Expense Management, and Payroll. The incumbent will perform a wide variety of analytical activities in the areas of business process analysis, system design analysis, problem resolution, and legislative analysis. The IT Specialist II will combine complex analysis for business needs with project management tasks, which includes personnel and payroll systems design planning and implementation activities for a highly complex IT project.
The IT Specialist II has overall responsibility for the design, development, configuration, testing and implementation for the core functionality assigned and will oversee the work of internal and vendor business analyst resources to ensure project standards and business needs are met.
The incumbent must demonstrate the highest level of expertise in business systems analysis techniques and System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) practices, Agile Framework/Scaled Agile Framewrok, the Project Management Lifecycle (PMLC), CA-Project Management Framework (PMF), Change Control principles and practices, and an understanding of customer service concepts, and requirements development methodologies.
Duties Performed:
(Candidates must perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations.)
(Candidates must perform the following functions with or without reasonable accommodations.)
- Guide the development and elaboration of plans and artifacts. Exercise independence and provide leadership in the design, development, configuration, and implementation of the future solution.
- Provide expert advice on system functionality to vendors and make decisions on issues that arise. Act as lead with vendor staff to perform design, system configuration, development, and implementation activities to complete the necessary project documentation utilizing industry standards and methodologies; and maintain project documentation.
- Lead design sessions with various internal and external stakeholders such as project team members, SCO management, and external agencies (department HR staff, control agencies, etc.).
- Conduct fit gap analysis and provide alternative solutions. Conduct analysis to identify any impacts to requirements as a result of legislative change as well as unanticipated business needs exposed during design, development, configuration, testing, and implementation of the future solution. Utilize the project change control process to identify impacts and to obtain the necessary approvals.
- Conduct quality assurance reviews to ensure requirements are met and the future solution functions as expected. Provide recommendations regarding acceptance of contractor deliverables.
- Responsible for collaboration and identification, development, and documentation of test scenarios and test scripts with expected outcomes using the projects IBM Engineering Workflow Management tool. Participate in all test phases and identify and document defects found and work with the system integrator to resolve and re-test until the solution is working as required. Provide updates to management on the status of testing and system acceptance.
- Recommend, plan and assist in the development of statewide policies (for approval by control agencies), procedures and processes for the future solution.
- Work with other work streams, technical and non-technical team members (state and vendor) in interface specification development and testing; report specification development and testing; assist the Organizational Change Management (OCM) Team in garnering stakeholder acceptance; conversion mapping and testing; and provide input into development of training materials.
- Execute activities and tasks to ensure adherence to the project plans.
- Meet regularly with the project management office to provide status reports and to provide input on, or recommendations for, project plans, direction, staffing, priorities and sensitive policy and legal issues.
- Represent the SCO on various functional and technical focus groups, task forces comprised of departmental, control agency, and labor union representatives, to facilitate change and business improvements to support the state’s personnel and payroll project goals and objectives using information technology methods; and engage in business relationships requiring tact and perspective.
About State of California Office of the Controller
As the chief fiscal officer of California, the fourth largest economy in the world, the Controller’s office is responsible for the accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller independently audits government agencies that spend state funds and administers the payroll system for state government employees and California State University employees. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners. The Controller serves on 70 boards and commissions with authority affecting policies ranging from land management, affordable housing, and alternative transportation to crime victim compensation and health and educational facilities. They are a member of numerous financing authorities, fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board and Board of Equalization. They also serve on the boards of the nation's two largest public pension funds. The Controller is one of eight statewide constitutional officials who are elected every four years in California.