Utility Billing Clerk

City of Johnston•Johnston, IA

11d•$26 - $34

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Utility Billing Clerk performs utility billing tasks, including maintaining and updating the utility billing system and reconciling meter readings, as well as general clerical and administrative support duties. The role provides instructions to customers, assigns and creates new accounts, answers and directs calls, greets visitors, and responds courteously and promptly to information requests from city officials, employees, and the public. The position processes mail and payments, prepares or assists with monthly utility bills and notices, reconciles end-of-day transactions, and maintains customer applications, work orders, meter and sewer applications, billing reports, account records, and related spreadsheets. It also supports ACH deposits, sales tax payments, records retention and disposal, office equipment and supply procurement, notary services, and other administrative and accounting tasks as needed. Regular work attendance is required. Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions. The employee must be able to communicate effectively, review written materials, operate a computer and related equipment, and access work sites throughout the City and outside the area. The position routinely involves lifting objects weighing 10 pounds and occasionally lifting objects up to 25 pounds.

Requirements

High school graduation or GED equivalency.
Five years of professional experience in general office operations, including public contact in an office environment, or an equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Obtain a Notary commission within six months of hire.
Possess a valid Iowa driver’s license or evidence of equivalent mobility.
Successfully pass a DCI background check.
Complete a pre-employment offer screening.
Knowledge of financial office procedures and practices.
Knowledge of municipal government functions.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.
Ability to perform a wide variety of duties accurately and quickly under sensitive deadlines.
Excellent customer service skills.
Ability to handle confidential information sensitively.
Ability and willingness to learn new skills quickly and adapt to changing information and technology.
Ability to work efficiently with very little direct supervision.
Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and ability to take initiative.
Problem-solving ability and sound judgment and decision-making skills.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers.
Ability to concentrate in a diverse work setting.
Ability to operate general office equipment, including a telephone, copier, printer, and facsimile.
Sufficient speech and hearing or other communication capabilities to communicate effectively, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Sufficient vision or other powers of observation to review written material in electronic or hard-copy form, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Sufficient manual dexterity to operate a personal computer and related equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes to access work sites throughout the City and outside the area, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to routinely lift objects weighing 10 pounds and occasionally lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

Maintain and update the utility billing system and reconcile meter readings.
Provide instructions to customers and assign or create new utility accounts.
Answer incoming calls and retrieve voicemail on a multi-line telephone system; direct calls to the appropriate person or department.
Greet clients and visitors and provide appropriate information or materials.
Respond to information requests from city officials, employees, and the public by telephone, in writing, and in person.
Process incoming and outgoing mail, including postage metering, and distribute it to the appropriate department.
Input meter readings and adjust customer accounts as needed.
Prepare or assist in preparing monthly utility bills, reminders, and utility shut-off notices.
Collect departmental receipts, water payments, irrigation meter purchases, deposits, connection fees, and meter fees.
Perform end-of-day reconciliation.
File new customer applications, work orders, and meter and sewer applications.
Perform monthly automated clearing house (ACH) deposit transactions.
Verify final meter readings and enter information into the utility billing system, including meter change-outs, new meters, MTU work orders, and miscellaneous work.
Update new plat information and maintain and assist with monthly billing and reconciliation reports.
Enter new accounts into the system and Excel spreadsheets; schedule work orders.
Calculate and pay semi-monthly and quarterly sales tax payable.
Oversee office equipment maintenance, including service calls, and act as the primary alternate for procurement and purchasing office supplies.
Assist with coordination of the City’s records management program and coordinate records retention and disposal for city departments, including work with MDS, the City's off-site storage vendor.
Perform notary work.
Assist with other duties as assigned or needed, including monthly accounting reports, building payments, backup phone coverage for the building administrative assistant, mail sorting and processing, and public works invoices.
Maintain regular work attendance.