Customer Service Representative

Port Hueneme; Port Hueneme (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Reimbursement

Deferred Compensation

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Port Hueneme City is seeking a front-line Clerk to handle customer service, payments, and data entry for utility bills, rents, permits and related services. You will process applications, respond to inquiries, and maintain records in a fast-paced municipal environment.

The role requires basic bookkeeping know-how, a year of related experience, and strong communication skills. This position offers standard city benefits and a 9/80 work schedule in a on-site setting.

Qualifications

• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level coursework or vocational training in accounting or bookkeeping.
• One year experience and/or training involving customer service, cash handling, and accounts receivable/payable.

Responsibilities

• Provides a variety of customer service and assistance to the general public, City staff, and outside agencies.
• Collects payments for various City services including utility payments, rents, and business license fees; posts, receipts, and balances revenues received; balances cash drawer daily; receives payments on accounts and issues receipts.
• Posts financial transactions to automated accounting systems.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, requests, and complaints from property owners, vendors, providers, recipients, and others in person or by phone; researches account records; may provide explanation of procedures and processes; solves customers issues and answers customer questions including billing questions.
• Processes the starting and stopping of customer utility service requests.
• Performs a variety of general clerical and administrative tasks in support of work unit operations; operates typewriters, personal computers, copiers and other office equipment; composes routine correspondence and/or prepares notices/forms of action taken; researches forwarding addresses on returned bills, and/or correspondence.
• Utilizes various computer applications and software packages; enters and maintains data; generates reports from a database or network system; creates documents using word processing or spreadsheet software.
• Copies, collates, records, files, enters, and/or stores data and information such as that associated with billings, vouchers, ledgers, general instructions, journals, inventory forms, letters, and reference data.
• Serves as receptionist including screening and directing calls; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Cash handling

Data entry

Billing inquiries

Phone etiquette

Office procedures

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Accounting software

Word processing

Spreadsheet software

Job description

Definition of Position

FIRST ROUND OF CANDIDATE REVIEWS WILL OCCUR ON NOVEMBER 4th

WITH AN INTERVIEW TARGET DATE OF NOVEMBER 9th.

Under general supervision of assigned supervisory or management staff, serves as a front-line position with responsibility for performing a variety of customer service duties involved with the public in accepting and processing payments for utility bills, rents, permits, and all funds received; processes applications for new utility services; provides information and assistance to customers, the general public, and other City staff and departments; performs a wide variety of data entry, billing, and public contact work; maintains files and records; and performs related work as required.

Example of Duties

FIRST ROUND OF CANDIDATE REVIEWS WILL HAPPEN ON NOVEMBER 4th WITH A TARGET INTERVIEW DATE OF NOVEMBER 9th.

This announcement may close at anytime after the first interview date.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Provides a variety of customer service and assistance to the general public, City staff, and outside agencies.
• Collects payments for various types of City services including utility payments, rents, and business license fees; posts, receipts, and balances revenues received; balances cash drawer daily; receives payments on accounts and issues receipts.
• Posts financial transactions to automated accounting systems.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, requests, and complaints from property owners, vendors, providers, recipients, and others in person or by phone; researches account records; may provide explanation of procedures and processes; solves customers issues and answers customer questions including billing questions.
• Processes the starting and stopping of customer utility service requests.
• Performs a variety of general clerical and administrative tasks in support of work unit operations; operates typewriters, personal computers, copiers and other office equipment; composes routine correspondence and/or prepares notices/forms of action taken; researches forwarding addresses on returned bills, and/or correspondence.
• Utilizes various computer applications and software packages; enters and maintains data; generates reports from a database or network system; creates documents using word processing or spreadsheet software.
• Copies, collates, records, files, enters, and/or stores data and information such as that associated with billings, vouchers, ledgers, general instructions, journals, inventory forms, letters, and reference data.
• Serves as receptionist including screening and directing calls; opens, sorts, and distributes mail.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge Of

• Customer service techniques, practices, and principles.
• Bookkeeping principles, practices, and techniques.
• The use of manual and/or automated accounting systems.
• Information storage and retrieval techniques.
• Methods and techniques of cash handling.
• Principles and practices of public relations.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping and filing.
• Data compilation techniques.
• Basic mathematical principles.
• Methods and techniques of proper phone etiquette.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

Ability To

• Perform a variety of customer services and office support duties and activities.
• Handle a diverse set of customer comments, inquiries and complaints in a polite and professional manner.
• Operate office equipment including adding machine by touch, two-way radio, computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Learn City and department policies and procedures related to assigned bookkeeping/statistical-record keeping functions.
• Apply basic bookkeeping and/or routine statistical principles, practices and techniques.
• Use automated information storage and retrieval equipment.
• Collect and compile data to prepare simple reports, maintain accurate records and document actions taken, and proofread and/or edit for errors in input and/or arithmetical computation.
• Apply principles of rational systems, interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form, and exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
• Exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties that are often characterized by frequent change.
• Organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Perform mathematical calculations quickly and accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Recognize and respect limit of authority and responsibility.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Supplemental Information

Education and Experience Guidelines -

Education/Training

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work or vocational training in accounting or bookkeeping.

Experience

One year experience and/or training involving customer service, cash handling, and accounts receivable/payable.

Other Requirements

Bilingual skills are desirable.

SEIU Group

CalPERS Retirement: 2.7% @ 55 for classic CalPERS members; 2% @ 62, highest average 36 consecutive months for new CalPERS members.

Tier II Benefit credits to be used toward health, dental, and vision plans:

• $1,943 per month for employee plus two or more dependents
• $1,634 per month for employee plus one dependent
• $1,311 per month for employee only

-or- Cafeteria Plan if opt out of health insurance - $708 per month. Amount not used will be paid to the employee on a bi-weekly schedule.

LEAVES

172 hours annual leave for less than 5 years of service with progressive accruals

PAID HOLIDAYS

13 + 2 Floating holidays

Other

• Life Insurance - 50,000 life insurance policy, premium paid by City
• STD/LTD - Salary continuation plan – premium paid by City
• Tuition Reimbursement - $3,000 per fiscal year after probationary period is complete
• Work Schedule: 9/80 Alternative Work Schedule
• One year probationary period
• The City participates in Social Security and Medicare
• Deferred Compensation - Employer will match up to 3% of base pay per pay period