Customer Service Representative

City of Port Hueneme•Port Hueneme, CA

About The Position

Under general supervision of assigned supervisory or management staff, the Customer Service Representative serves in a front-line role providing customer service to the public. The position accepts and processes payments for utility bills, rents, permits, and other funds; processes applications for new utility services; assists customers, the general public, City staff, and departments; performs data entry, billing, and public-contact work; and maintains files and records. The position also performs related work as required. The role collects and records payments for City services, posts financial transactions to automated accounting systems, balances a cash drawer daily, and issues receipts. It responds to customer inquiries and complaints in person or by phone, researches account records, explains procedures, answers billing questions, and processes requests to start or stop utility service. Other work includes clerical and administrative support, preparing routine correspondence and notices, maintaining and retrieving records, generating reports, handling mail and calls, and using office equipment and computer applications. The stated selection schedule is for first-round candidate reviews on November 4 and a target interview date of November 9. The announcement may close at any time after the first interview date.

Requirements

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade, supplemented by college-level coursework or vocational training in accounting or bookkeeping.
One year of experience and/or training involving customer service, cash handling, and accounts receivable/payable.
Knowledge of customer service techniques, practices, and principles.
Knowledge of bookkeeping principles, practices, and techniques, and manual and/or automated accounting systems.
Knowledge of information storage and retrieval, cash handling, public relations, record keeping and filing, data compilation, basic mathematics, phone etiquette, office procedures, equipment, and applicable computer software.
Ability to perform customer service and office support duties and handle customer comments, inquiries, and complaints politely and professionally.
Ability to operate office equipment, including an adding machine by touch, two-way radio, computers, and word-processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
Ability to learn City and department policies and procedures related to bookkeeping and statistical record keeping.
Ability to apply bookkeeping and routine statistical principles and use automated information storage and retrieval equipment.
Ability to compile data, prepare simple reports, maintain accurate records, document actions, and proofread or edit for input and calculation errors.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-form instructions and exercise independent judgment.
Ability to adapt methods and standards to changing assigned objectives and organize and prioritize work.
Ability to perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately, maintain confidentiality, and recognize limits of authority and responsibility.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, and maintain effective working relationships.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

Provide customer service and assistance to the general public, City staff, and outside agencies.
Collect payments for City services, including utility payments, rents, and business license fees; post, receipt, and balance revenues; balance the cash drawer daily; and issue receipts.
Post financial transactions to automated accounting systems.
Respond to inquiries, requests, and complaints in person or by phone; research account records; explain procedures and processes; resolve customer issues; and answer billing questions.
Process requests to start and stop customer utility service.
Perform general clerical and administrative tasks, including composing routine correspondence and preparing notices or forms.
Research forwarding addresses for returned bills and correspondence.
Use computer applications and software to enter and maintain data and generate reports.
Copy, compile, collate, record, file, enter, and store billing, financial, and other records and information.
Serve as receptionist by screening and directing calls and opening, sorting, and distributing mail.
Perform related duties as assigned.