Accounting Technician II - BU

About Seattle Public Utilities

SPU is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations. SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Why Join Our Team

SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

Job Responsibilities

• Review and correct combined utility account meter reading and billing exceptions using an online billing system.
• Review customer usage history, calculate water, wastewater, and solid waste charges.
• Process adjustments to previous consumption and charges.
• Research account/property history using computer records and maintain customer master data.
• Request meter test, replacement, or repair.
• Prorate charges over season and global rate changes.
• Provide customer support and answer customer billing questions via phone or email.
• Verify and review accounting transactions and make appropriate corrections, entries, and adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Ability to estimate timelines and resources to accomplish a task, effectively monitor progress and make frequent status reports.
• Work collaboratively with cross-division/branch staff to provide billing information and improve processes.

Qualifications

Experience: Two (2) years of Billing/Accounting/Bookkeeping experience OR one (1) year experience as an Accounting Technician I.

Education and Experience Equivalency: Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working in a large computerized online billing system.
• Knowledge of and ability to understand and apply basic accounting principles, methods, laws and rules.
• Perform intermediate-level mathematical calculations (e.g. proration of rates across seasonal/global rate changes).
• Make independent judgements, work independently as well as part of a team within an organization committed to service excellence.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Excel, Word, and Outlook).
• Excellent customer service and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written), and able to handle difficult conversations with customers and clearly communicate accounting information in non-technical terms.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and takes pride in the accuracy, quality, and completeness of work.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, must be flexible and reliable.
• Ability to function efficiently in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated ability to take on challenges and work to solve them.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and research skills.
• Experience working in a team environment, ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across different departments and workgroups and working effectively within a multi-cultural workforce serving a diverse customer base.

Pay

The full salary range for this position is $33.72 - $39.18 hourly.

Schedule

This position allows for the flexibility of a remote/hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Benefits

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.