Utility Billing Clerk/Accounting Assistant

About the role

This position serves as an initial point of contact for City customers; establishes and maintains utility accounts; processes payments, adjustments, service requests, notices, and work orders; provides information regarding utility billing, business licenses, and related City services; maintains accurate records; and performs other related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Acts as an initial point of contact for City customers at the public counter, by telephone, by email, and through other communication methods; responds to inquiries in a courteous, professional, and timely manner.
• Opens, closes, and updates utility billing accounts; processes service forms; verifies required documentation; updates customer records; and maintains records in accordance with City policies and retention requirements.
• Explains utility billing practices, rates, fees, deposits, penalties, payment options, payment arrangements, and account requirements to customers.
• Reviews account history, consumption data, service orders, and billing records to research and respond to customer inquiries, billing questions, and service concerns.
• Processes payments for utility bills, business licenses, miscellaneous City receivables, and other approved City charges; issues receipts and balances cash drawers as assigned.
• Processes mail, drop box, check, cash, card, money order, and other approved forms of payment in accordance with City cash handling procedures and internal controls.
• Generates, routes, and monitors service orders and work orders for utility service requests, including new service, disconnects, reconnects, leaks, breaks, no-water calls, temporary turn-ons/turn-offs, and other service issues.
• Coordinates with Public Works, Building, Code Enforcement, Fire, and other departments regarding service orders, inspections, emergency calls, account issues, business license matters, and customer concerns.
• Affords assistance, training support, or lead direction to part-time or temporary staff as assigned.
• Assists with daily cash balancing, deposit preparation, receipt filing, payment documentation, and reconciliation of assigned transactions.
• Processes delinquent notices, past-due notices, final notices, and related utility billing correspondence in accordance with City policy and applicable law, including SB 998 requirements as applicable.
• Prepares, reviews, files, scans, and maintains utility billing, business license, accounts receivable, cash receipt, and other Finance Department records.
• Provides basic accounting support tasks, including data entry, account research, journal entry support, account coding review, invoice or receipt documentation, and other assigned Finance Department support functions.
• Uses automated financial systems for utility billing, cashiering, service order, document management, and office systems to process transactions and maintain accurate records.
• Maintains confidentiality of customer, financial, and City records; handles sensitive situations tactfully and professionally.
• Establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships with City staff, customers, vendors, community representatives, and the general public.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

  Requirements

  • Equivalent to completion of high school or GED; and
  • Two years of increasingly responsible clerical, customer service, cashiering, accounting support, utility billing, accounts receivable, or related experience.
  • Experience in municipal government, utility billing, business licensing, Tyler ERP, or another automated financial or billing system is desirable.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish skills are desirable.
  • Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California driver’s license may be required depending on assignment.

  Qualifications

  • Knowledge of principles and procedures used in customer service, cashiering, utility billing, accounts receivable, and basic accounting operations.
  • Basic business mathematics, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, and payment calculations.
  • Municipal utility billing operations, business license processes, and related customer account practices.
  • Cash handling practices, receipt processing, balancing procedures, and internal controls.
  • Modern office procedures, recordkeeping, filing, scanning, and document management practices.
  • Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and related office software.
  • Automated financial, utility billing, cashiering, and service order systems.
  • Business English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and professional correspondence standards.
  • Customer service techniques for handling difficult or sensitive interactions in a public agency setting.

  Skills

  • Provide courteous, accurate, and responsive customer service in person, by telephone, and in writing.
  • Understand, explain, and apply City utility billing, business license, cash handling, and customer service policies and procedures.
  • Research account history, identify discrepancies, and assist with resolving customer account issues.
  • Accurately process payments, receipts, account changes, notices, work orders, and related records.
  • Prepare and maintain clear, concise, and accurate reports, records, correspondence, and documentation.
  • Read, interpret, and apply policies, procedures, rules, regulations, fee schedules, and written instructions.
  • Operate office equipment, including a computer, scanner, copier, calculator, telephone system, and related software.
  • Type and enter data accurately at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
  • Prioritize work, meet deadlines, follow up on pending items, and work effectively in a high-volume public counter and telephone environment.
  • Use sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive or difficult customer situations tactfully.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City officials, other departments, and the public.
  • Communicate clearly and professionally, both orally and in writing.
  • Work independently within established guidelines and as part of a team.

  Benefits

  We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Part-time employees benefits include bi-weekly earned sick leave at a rate of 1 (one) hour for every 30 (thirty) hours worked with a maximum accrual of 48hours. To learn more details, visit our Benefits page.