Utility Billing/Collections Specialist

Recruitment Announcement City of Port Townsend

Utility Billing/Collections Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

Provides internal and external customer support in person, on the phone or in writing to assist with city business related to assigned area of responsibilities. Performs administrative and clerical duties to include handling information requests, resolving customer problems and inquiries, filing, basic bookkeeping, cash management and financial calculations. Act as a support to all finance tasks that are key to the department operations to ensure accurate financial records by cross training in department duties and providing back up to support other staff of clearly defined and delegated administrative or technical detail.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepares customer utility bills; completes and maintains various billing records and documents necessary to the checks and balances within the utility system.
• Provide customer service to utility billing customers regarding their accounts to include processing low-income applications, service requests, account adjustments, payment arrangements and responding to account questions/concerns.
• Calculates fees, charges, and account adjustments.
• Updates utility billing system with approved fee schedule changes.
• Performs clerical procedures in order to issue accurate utility invoices.
• Uploads monthly meter readings for residential, commercial and industrial customers.
• Analyze various financial billing summaries and reports. Notify customer of possible leak in the case of an unusually high meter reading.
• Maintain utility billing forms (authorizations, billing, adjustments, pay off estimates, low income, etc.)
• Analyze & reconcile account payments for proper posting and accuracy. Produces monthly reports to track payment history.
• Prepare account information, coordinate delinquent account collection procedures according to established policies to include utility shut off and non-sufficient fund return administration and contact customers to resolve past due account balances.
• Generate, receive, complete, and maintain files for customer account maintenance, and inspection work orders necessary to update and correct the mainframe database for utility customer billing.
• Execute lien procedures according to Ordinances & established procedures.
• Process payoff estimates for property escrow.
• Processes paperwork and computer work necessary to close and open customer utility accounts, correct bills, apply adjustments, and generate final bills and customer refunds.
• Perform file maintenance of all utility billing financial documents and record retention.
• Research, gather and post monthly reports for management related to utility billing information.
• Maintain water meter database.
• Work closely with Public Works staff to update and maintain customer accounts.
• Acts as the alternate Public Experience Liaison including active responsibility for front counter coverage, general knowledge and provides the primary back up and customer service support to the front counter.
• Work as an active team member of the Finance/PEL department, providing support, information sharing, collaboration and collective problem solving with all teammates.
• Temporarily assume duties of others when co-worker must be absent.
• Primary liaison for utility billing vendors.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Basic bookkeeping principles and practices.
• Standard office equipment - computer, ten-key adding machine, copier, multi-line phone system, cash register, etc.
• Business and personal computers, spreadsheet and financial software programs.
• Municipal codes, or the ability to learn the same within a relative brief period of time, as it pertains to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Customer service and performance excellence.
• Developing and maintaining collaborative and respectful working relationships with co-workers, other City staff, customers, and management.
• Managing conflict and communicating effectively with City personnel and customers in a professional manner.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Compose moderate to complex correspondence demonstrating excellent command of grammar and an ability to handle sensitive situations with limited assistance.
• Perform simple to intermediate math calculations.
• Utilizing sound judgment when making decisions. Appropriately uses resources (applicable laws, ordinances, policies and procedures) to support decisions.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Any combination of experience and training equivalent to two years in an office setting with customer service, automated systems, cashiering, billing, and basic bookkeeping experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer operating systems.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite products.
• Must be bondable

Preferred

• An associate degree in a business-related field is desired. An equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the desired knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.
• Familiarity with Springbrook software.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for extended periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. May be required to deal with upset customers. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Exerting up to twenty pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

BENEFITS

• WA State PERS retirement and optional 457 Deferred Comp
• Teamsters pension *
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance through WA Teamsters Welfare Trust Fund *
• Time loss/short-term disability insurance
• Life & AD&D insurance
• Sick leave (earns 1 day per month)
• May be eligible for sick leave conversion annually
• Vacation (graduated accrual schedule starts at 8 hours per month)
• 12 paid holidays
• Eligible for up to 3 floating holidays based on years of service starting in second year
• Up to 5 days of bereavement leave, if applicable
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

COMPENSATION

Base pay range: $26.98-30.54

Total pay range: $26.98-34.21 (including maximum potential longevity pay)

This position may be eligible for the additional compensation listed below. Details can be found in the Collective Bargaining Agreement:

• Longevity pay on a graduated schedule starting at 2% after 5 years up to 12% after 25 years
• Overtime pay or compensatory time
• Jury duty pay at regular rate during service

* Teamsters initiation fee is $100 and monthly dues are 2.25 of hourly wage x the base hourly rate rounded to the nearest dollar.

The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.