Utility Billing Supervisor

City of Inver Grove Heights•IGH City Hall, MN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Finance Director, the Utility Billing Supervisor is responsible for leading and managing the City’s utility billing operations, which includes water, sewer, stormwater, and streetlight billing. This position also manages and oversees customer service at the front counter within City Hall and has significant project management and process improvement responsibilities.

Requirements

Requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or closely related field
At least 3 years of progressively responsible public accounting experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting practices and principles and governmental accounting.
Understanding of fundamentals of financial analysis, reporting, and accounting functions.
Knowledge of accounting systems, programs, and applications and use in maintaining financial records, statements, and reports.
Excellent computer skills, including the ability to use, maintain, enhance, and implement financial software applications, databases, and spreadsheets.
Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, rules and regulations pertaining to financial accounting, tax and fee collections, reporting, and compliance issues of public jurisdictions.
Understanding of City codes, ordinances, policies and procedures and the ability to accurately apply them to assigned work tasks.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate financial information and basic accounting practices to other City staff and the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain positive and professional working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, department heads, vendors, outside agencies, auditors, and the public.
Excellent time management skills and the ability to appropriately prioritize tasks and assignments.
Ability to problem solve independently and anticipate and plan for operational needs and challenges.
Keyboarding and ten key skills.

Nice To Haves

Previous work experience in cyclical billing processes.
General knowledge of utility operations.
Additional years of experience.
Experience working in the Finance Department of a Minnesota city or county.
Supervisory experience, particularly in a public-sector, union environment.

Responsibilities

Supervise the day-to-day operations of the Utility Billing Division within the Finance Department, prioritizing work and ensuring adequate customer service support.
Participate in the recruitment and selection of department staff. Assigns work, provides training and support, resolves issues and evaluates performance of assigned staff. Recognizes and rewards quality performance and takes appropriate steps to correct poor performance. Holds employees accountable for quantity, quality and timeliness of work as well as appropriate workplace conduct.
Work with the Finance Director to develop and then lead implementation and maintenance of accounting controls, procedures, and audit processes associated with the maintenance of the utility billing system.
Coordinate and lead ongoing discussions with Finance Department utility workgroup.
Oversee the full cycle of utility billing tasks, including customer billing, receipt and posting of payments, the opening, closing and updating of customer accounts, proper record keeping and related reporting.
Effectively manage utility customer experiences, including customer’s online payment portal, responding as needed to email and voice mail inquiries and complaints, appropriate outreach to customers regarding ownership changes, appropriately address customer disputes and disagreements as needed, etc.
Monitors delinquent utility accounts, including the preparation of materials necessary for the annual certification process.
Oversee and manage JPA utility agreements with Eagan and South St. Paul, including collections, posting of payments, generating usage reports, analyzing potential rate impacts.
Perform utility billing year end accruals and assist in workpaper preparation for annual audit, including unbilled accounts receivable.
Oversee collections and payments of State’s Community Water Supply Surcharge.
Reconcile various utility-related accounts, recommending adjustments as needed such as hydrant permit deposits, and sales tax.
Oversees special projects related to utility services and rate forecasts such as: Maintain and analyze utility fund modeling and cash forecasts.
Provide finance support to utility rate efforts, including oversight and support for ongoing rate monitoring and future rate studies.
Assist in development of annual fee recommendations for utility rates and connection fees.
Coordinate street light billing efforts with Engineering Department. Review and monitor street light activities and provide recommendations as needed regarding billing rates.
Research, recommend and coordinate implementation of new technology and processes to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the City’s utility billing functions.
Oversees and performs other utility and/or finance-related tasks: Assist in the development of finance policies and procedures, specifically as they relate to accounts receivable and utility processes, such as the development of write-off guidelines.
Review and provide recommendations on renewals to existing contracts for services related to utility practices (such as outsourced mailing of utility bills and notices).
Assist in the review and reconciliation of the City’s utility assets and preparation of the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan, provide support to ensure projects are included in annual capital budgets, and annual capitalization of assets.
Assist in oversight, accounting, and administration of utility-related debt such as revenue bonds, special assessment bonds, and state loan programs.
Coordinate, review, and calculate annual administrative allocations for the City’s utility enterprise funds.
Assist in reconciliation of outstanding utility special assessments.
Review and track any outstanding utility developer credits.
Keep supervisor informed of significant issues or challenges impacting areas of responsibility.
Attend relevant seminars and conferences and participate in professional associations to stay up to date in the field of municipal finance and utility billing.
Perform other related duties as apparent or assigned.