Accounting Technician II - BU

City-of-Seattle; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 96,622,000 - 112,266,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule opportunities

Family-friendly and multicultural work

Generous benefits package

Free Orca Pass

City pension plan with employer/eggodu

Growth potential and advancement

Job summary

City of Seattle’s Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is hiring an Accounting Technician II in the Customer Accounts & Billing Services area. The role focuses on reviewing meter readings, calculating charges, and processing adjustments in a large online billing system.

Ideal candidates have 2 years of billing/accounting/bookkeeping experience or 1 year as Accounting Technician I, strong Excel/Office skills, and excellent customer service in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Two years of Billing/Accounting/Bookkeeping experience or one year as Accounting Technician I.
• Experience in a large computerized online billing system.
• Strong math and accounting principles understanding.
• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Responsibilities

• Review and correct combined utility account meter reading and billing exceptions using an online billing system.
• Review customer usage history, calculate water, wastewater, and solid waste charges.
• Process adjustments to previous consumption and charges.
• Research account/property history using computer records and maintain customer master data.
• Request meter test, replacement, or repair.
• Prorate charges over season and global rate changes.
• Provide customer support and answer customer billing questions via phone or email.
• Verify and review accounting transactions and make appropriate corrections, entries, and adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Ability to estimate timelines and resources to accomplish a task, effectively monitor progress and make frequent status reports.
• Work collaboratively with cross-division/branch staff to provide billing information and improve processes.

Job description

Seattle Public Utilities’ (SPU) People, Culture & Community Branch has multiple openings for an Accounting Technician II - BUwithin Customer Accounts & Billing Services. SPU is committed to service excellence and is looking for customer service-oriented candidates with a background in accounting or bookkeeping. A successful candidate would provide an exceptional work ethic, a team-oriented mindset, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work with a diverse staff in a dynamic work environment. Employees in this position will make adjustments to customer bills and billing exceptions using an online billing system. This position is represented by the PROTEC17 Administrative Support Bargaining Unit.

About Seattle Public Utilities:

SPU is a community-centered utility that delivers vital services to Seattle residents and businesses including drinking water, drainage and wastewater, and garbage/recycling/compost. SPU also provides drinking water for 1.5 million customers in the region. SPU's work includes system maintenance and improvements and keeping Seattle clean. Over 1,400 SPU employees work with our community to provide affordable and equitable stewardship of our water and waste resources for future generations.

For more information about Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), check out the:

• SPU Website
• SPU Workplace Expectations
• Strategic Business Plan

SPU commits to Our City Values and Race and Social Justice as core principles that guide our work. We actively take steps to dismantle systemic racism and increase service equity. We value diverse life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. We take steps to be inclusive and equitable in our recruiting, hiring and promotional opportunities.

Why Join Our Team?

We know work isn't only about what you do it's also about who you work for and with! SPU provides a fun and family-friendly work environment that supports a work life balance, including:

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment
• Generous benefits package
• Free Orca Pass
• City pension plan with employer/employee contributions
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities

• Review and correct combined utility account meter reading and billing exceptions using an online billing system.
• Review customer usage history, calculate water, wastewater, and solid waste charges.
• Process adjustments to previous consumption and charges.
• Research account/property history using computer records and maintain customer master data.
• Request meter test, replacement, or repair.
• Prorate charges over season and global rate changes.
• Provide customer support and answer customer billing questions via phone or email.
• Verify and review accounting transactions and make appropriate corrections, entries, and adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Ability to estimate timelines and resources to accomplish a task, effectively monitor progress and make frequent status reports.
• Work collaboratively with cross-division/branch staff to provide billing information and improve processes.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

Experience:Two (2) years of Billing/Accounting/Bookkeeping experience OR one (1) year experience as an Accounting Technician I.

Education and Experience Equivalency:Combinations of appropriate education, training, certification, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience working in a large computerized online billing system.
• Knowledge of and ability to understand and apply basic accounting principles, methods, laws and rules.
• Perform intermediate-level mathematical calculations (e.g. proration of rates across seasonal/global rate changes).
• Make independent judgements, work independently as well as part of a team within an organization committed to service excellence.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Excel, Word, and Outlook).
• Excellent customer service and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written), and able to handle difficult conversations with customers and clearly communicate accounting information in non-technical terms.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and takes pride in the accuracy, quality, and completeness of work.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, must be flexible and reliable.
• Ability to function efficiently in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated ability to take on challenges and work to solve them.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and research skills.
• Experience working in a team environment, ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across different departments and workgroups and working effectively within a multi-cultural workforce serving a diverse customer base.

This position allows for the flexibility of a remote/hybrid work schedule. Individual schedules will be agreed upon by the employee and their supervisor.

Who may apply:The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience. This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

The full salary range for this position is:$33.72 - $39.18 hourly.

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits