Billing/Account Clerk
Job Title: Billing/Account Clerk
Department: Finance-Utility Billing
Reports To: Lead Account Clerk
Open Date: November 10, 2017
Close Date: November 24, 2017
Hiring Salary: $13.77 - $17.51 per hour, DOE
Salary Range: $13.77 - $20.56 per hour, DOE
Job Summary:
Performs a variety of financial functions to support the Utility Billing operation. The principal function of an employee in this class is financial data entry, verification and reconciliation of account balances, and handling customer transactions and inquiries. Incumbents may be required to research accounts, prepare work sheets or spreadsheets, and apply bookkeeping methods and procedures to reconcile and balance accounts. The work is performed under the direct supervision of the Lead Account Clerk, but some leeway is given to exercise independent judgement.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
· Assists customers in person, on the phone, and in writing with payments, policy and procedure questions, research, and a variety of inquiries about both the City in general and the City Water and Sewer Departments;
· Deal with difficult customer service problems resulting from Utility service termination due to non-payment;
· Use computer skills to enter, retrieve, and edit financial data and prepare work/spread sheets and other documents;
· Responds to all internal and external customers, (City employees, other governmental representatives, business organizations, community groups and/or the public), with respect and in a courteous and friendly manner to promote a service orientation;
· Communicates with others to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of interdepartmental operations;
· Keeps supervisor and billing manager and designated others fully and accurately informed concerning work progress, including present and potential work problems;
· Researches problems on accounts, determines source and gathers information.
Front Desk Cashiering/Data Entry
· Sits in reception area at front desk assisting customers, enters utility payments received at counter and in the mail into the Utility Billing system and retains all documentation for voids for all cash receipt entries;
· Receives, opens, sorts, separates checks from invoices, runs check tapes and distributes incoming mail;
· Maintains and balances a cash drawer;
· Scans checks and cash receipts for digital storage;
· Maintains customer files including any required changes.
Assessments
· Receives assessments requests from title companies and reviews monthly to settle any unpaid/non refunded assessments;
· Prepares, maintains, and reconciles subsidiary computerized ledgers and/or manual files for Escrow utility account assessments and terminated accounts;
· Inputs service orders into billing system for meter reading and files service orders and assessments;
· Prints and files termination orders and sends terminations orders to title companies;
· Acts as back up for entering checks and cash into the billing system, opening and sorting mail, running check tapes and answering phone.
· Makes payment arrangements and runs month end reports for accounting.
· Provides immediate backup at the front counter assisting customers, enters utility payments received at counter and retains all documentation for voids for all cash receipt entries;
· Maintains and balances a shared cash drawer.
Rental Property Processes
· Process rental billing directive forms and management contracts;
· Creates and maintain documentation for necessary billing, billing adjustments, payment adjustments with regards to rentals;
· Prepares entries for manually billed renter’s administrative fees and sets up new customers as needed;
· Communicates with property managers and owners to ensure that billing is to the correct customer;
· Inputs service orders into the billing system for meter reading and files service orders and renter directive forms;
· Acts as back up for entering checks and cash into the billing system, opening and sorting mail, running checks tapes and answering phone;
· Makes payment arrangements and runs month end reports for accounting;
· Provides immediate backup at the front counter assisting customers, enters utility payments received at counter and retains all documentation for voids for all cash receipt entries;
· Maintains and balances a shared cash drawer;
· Backs up other clerks as needed or required;
· Performs other duties as assigned or needed.
Job Specifications:
· High School Graduate with at least two years’ experience in customer service in a computerized billing department; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work;
· Preferable one year post high school, college or trade school booking or accounting;
· Good knowledge of general office practices/procedures and financial record keeping methods;
· Experience using personal computers to enter, retrieve, and edit financial data;
· Should be able to perform 10 key by touch.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
· Must display an attitude of cooperation and the ability to work well with others;
· Must have knowledge and skill in MS office software- Word, Excel, Outlook, billing systems, and basic accounting;
· Must have proven skills in conflict resolution, problem solving, organizational/time management, customer service and collaboration;
· Ability to adapt to changes and be open to new ideas or new ways of doing things;
· Ability to operate office equipment, i.e., calculator, check scanning machine, letter opener, copier and fax machine;
· Ability to communicate orally and in writing; and to understand and follow oral and/or written policies, procedure and instructions;
· Ability to handle situations with customers skillfully and respectfully;
· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and the general public;
· Ability to perform a variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed to meet deadlines.
· Ability to establish priorities and organize workload;
· Ability to work effectively with frequent interruptions in a team environment as a team player;
· Must have Integrity in the performance of assigned tasks.
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
· Work is performed primarily in an office environment with moderate noise level. The employee in this class is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes, and is occasionally subject to outside environmental conditions;
· Constantly requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time, up to 8 hours and ability to lift up to 20 lbs.;
· Constantly requires clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively;
· Constantly requires clear vision to read printed materials and computer screen to accomplish work;
· Constantly requires repetitive movement of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers;
· Constantly requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment to accomplish tasks.
Travel Requirements:
· Local travel is occasionally required via City vehicle.