Billing Specialist (Public Utilities)

Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County•Athens, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The purpose of this job is to perform administrative/clerical functions associated with auditing and authorizing the issuance of bills for all active water business accounts. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, preparing, reviewing, and auditing consumption reports; identifying accounts requiring meter verification and issuing work order requests; correcting and rerunning reports; processing monthly bills and delinquency reminders; assessing penalties on delinquent accounts; maintaining records; and performing additional tasks as assigned.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent with one year of computerized water billing, auditing, or related experience required; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a computer, printer, mailing machine, calculator, copier, burster, two-way radio, and telephone.
Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally.
Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.
Requires the ability to hear, speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving/receiving assignments and/or directions to/from co-workers, assistants or supervisors.
Requires the ability to read a variety of informational documentation, directions, instructions, methods and procedures.
Requires the ability to prepare letters, reports, forms, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Requires the ability to speak to individuals with poise, voice control, and confidence.
Requires the ability to learn and understand relatively complex principles and techniques; to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation; and to make independent judgment in the absence of management.
Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of administrative, technical or professional languages including terminology related to public utilities, bookkeeping, and radio dispatching.
Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; determine percentages; compute discount/interest; perform calculations involving variables, formulas, square roots, and polynomials.
Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with a variety of machinery and equipment including a computer, printer, calculator, copier, burster, mailing machine, two-way radio, and telephone.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands, fingers, and eyes accurately in using office equipment.
Requires the ability to use the keyboard, lift, bend, push, and pull objects or materials using body parts as the position necessitates.
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as automated office equipment, office/billing supplies, and computer supplies.
Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities.
Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
May require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.
Must be able to communicate via telephone and two-way radio.

Nice To Haves

May be required to work on religious holidays.

Responsibilities

Prepares the "Exceptional Listing" (high/low consumption report) before each billing cycle to ensure data accuracy.
Audits Exceptional Listing for unusually high or low water consumption.
Initiates meter reading verification as needed and notifies customers once usage is confirmed.
Creates and processes work orders for meter reading verifications and meter adjustments.
Reviews completed work orders for replaced meters or registers and prepares adjustment request forms to ensure accurate billing.
Updates and reruns the Exceptional Listing after work orders are completed; enters corrected consumption data into the billing system.
Transfers billing files electronically to the third-party vendor each billing cycle for statement printing and mailing.
Runs the monthly "No Bill" report after each cycle.
Generates the postal code and address cleanse report to maintain accurate billing addresses
Contact the customer by phone or email to verify information
Update information in the CIS system
Runs various other reports as needed, including: Zero Consumption Reports to identify inactive or potentially faulty meters. Penalty Exception Reports to review waived or pending late fees. Meter Read Exception Reports to flag estimated or unread meters. Final Bill Audit Reports to verify the accuracy of final account charges. Revenue Comparison Reports to track billing trends across billing cycles.
Calculates monthly industrial surcharges based on data from the Water Reclamation Facility.
Bill monthly septic tank charges based on Water Reclamation Facility reports.
Processes billing charges for final accounts.
Bills industrial cost recovery and fire service accounts monthly.
Assesses penalties on past due accounts and runs reminder notices for delinquent customers.
Maintains monthly records of meter reader errors.
Keeps a daily log of billing activities and transactions.
Assists Customer Service Representatives with processing final account billings as needed.
Responds to customer emails, providing accurate and timely information or directing inquiries to appropriate personnel.
Answers phone calls, provides general information, directs calls, and returns messages.
Responds to routine requests from staff, officials, and the public.
Performs other related duties as assigned to support departmental operations.