Finance and Utility Billing Specialist

City-of-Crystal,-M; Crystal (MN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Crystal is seeking a general accounting professional focused on utility billing processing to support payroll and accounts payable, maintain records, and prepare financial reports. You will handle customer inquiries, update accounts, post receipts, and assist with audits and city operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with policies.

Strong Excel and Word skills, data entry at 30 WPM, and experience with accounting software are required.

Qualifications

• Two years formal education.
• Two years of work experience directly related to accounting or finance.
• Two years customer service experience.
• Two years experience with Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheet software.
• Proficient data entry skills – must be able to type 30 WPM and have six months experience in 10-key operation.
• Four year bachelor degree in accounting/finance/business or related field.
• More than two years of experience in accounting or related field.
• Experience working with Sensus Meter Data Manager (MDM) system.
• JD Edwards and/or CIS Infinity software experience.
• Municipal accounting experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word software.

Responsibilities

• Process online and electronic utility payments daily.
• Assists customers with questions over the phone and in person and prepares correspondence relating to customer inquiries.
• Ensures customer accounts are updated with all meter readings, payments, and adjustments prior to billing.
• Scans remittance advices into accounts receivable, balances to payments, and posts cash receipts.
• Adjust misapplied payments and apply late-payment penalties.
• Process returned checks and online payments.
• Imports/exports routes and meter readings to/from Sensus MDM system.
• Processes changes in property ownership, updates records, and generates final bills.
• Prepares journal entries for city utility charges and annual delinquent-roll assessment.
• Assist with annual audits, elections, and cross-training in payroll and accounts payable.

Job description

To perform general accounting functions with primary focus on utility billing processing and support other financial functions (payroll and accounts payable). To maintain necessary records, prepare financial and government reports, and to ensure effective processing in accordance with department policies and standard accounting practices. To provide excellent customer service and support other financial functions.

• Process online and electronic utility payments daily.
• Assists customers with a variety of questions over the phone and in person and prepares correspondence relating to customer inquiries. Responds to requests from other departments, realtors and title companies.
• Ensures customer accounts are updated with all meter readings, payments, meter inventory changes, miscellaneous adjustments, and addresses etc. prior to generating bills to customers.
• Scans utility remittance advices into accounts receiveable system, balances to payments, and posts a cash receipts batch.
• Adjust misapplied payments to the appropriate account.
• Applies late-payment penalties to accounts.
• Processes returned (or non-sufficient funds) checks and Invoice Cloud payments.
• Imports/exports routes and meter readings to/from Sensus Meter Data Manager (MDM) system.
• Processes changes in property ownership, including opening and closing accounts, updating applicable records, and generating notices and final bills.
• Processes refunds to customers who have closed accounts and credit balances.
• Maintains records on customers who have filed for bankruptcy.
• Coordinates the mailing of monthly bills with an outside vendor.
• Reviews month-end edit reports and follows up on questionable meter readings and shut-offs with utility division.
• Maintains meter replacement and repair history.
• Responsible for updating and testing system rate changes and updated versions of utility billing software.
• Prepares journal entries to record city utility charges.
• Prepares an annual assessment roll for delinquent utility accounts, generates certification letters to customers, and certifies delinquent accounts to the county for collection.
• Acts as a backup to other personnel in the department and is expected to be cross-trained in their duties and responsibilities (payroll and accounts payable) including processing payroll and accounts payable periodically to remain fully cross-trained.
• Prepares financial reports and develops and maintains spreadsheets, as necessary.
• Prepares reports for the Joint Water Commission.
• Assists with annual audit.
• Assists with election activities.
• Documents and periodically updates department procedures.
• Maintain accounting records and assists with archiving of department records in accordance with the Data Practices Act.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Two years formal education.
• Two years of work experience directly related to accounting or finance.
• Two years customer service experience.
• Two years experience with Microsoft Word and Excel spreadsheet software.
• Proficient data entry skills – must be able to type 30 WPM and have six months experience in 10-key operation.

DESIRABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Four year bachelor degree in accounting/finance/business or related feild.
• More than two years of experience in accounting or related field.
• Experience working with SENSUS Meter Data Manager (MDM) system.
• JD Edwards and/or CIS Infinity software experience.
• Municipal accounting experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word software.

Communications: Must have the ability to actively listen to others for understanding of their needs and situations. Ability to speak and write English clearly. Ability to read and understand instructions and directives. Must have the ability to record names, facts, numbers, and information accurately. Must be able to assertively control conversations in order to quickly and accurately gather pertinent information and be able to communicate this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient. Must be able to effectively represent the organization, department, and its operation, to the management and public. Competency in verbal and written communications.

Decision Making: Must act in a decisive manner using good judgment. Must be able to assess problems and situations, anticipate needs, and evaluate alternatives.

Interpersonal Relationships: Must be consistent in dealing with people. Must exclude personal biases from work performance. Must have the ability to accept criticism and/or discipline. Must have tact and diplomacy. Must strive to promote a cooperative atmosphere in the department. Must be willing to assist others and share information as needed.

Professional Attitude: Must have commitment to the organization. Willingness to take initiative and show dependability. Must exhibit maturity in relationships with others. Must exhibit a willingness to be trained in functions of the job. Must represent the organization to other agencies, staff, and citizens with a courteous, helpful, accurate and business-like attitude in all telephone and personal contact.

Quality of Work:Must be able to produce quality, accurate work as set forth in job standards/expectations. Must be able to detect and correct errors. Must be able to work independently and utilize work time properly and productively and handle multiple tasks confidently and with minimum error. Must be able to creatively adjust time use and structure to accommodate a changing workload or deadline. Ability to provide customers with accurate and timely information and telephone service.

Technical Knowledge:Must have accurate accounting and math skills. Must have a working knowledge of computers using Windows operating system, as well as basic office equipment (adding machine, copiers, fax, postage meter, etc.). Must be proficient with MS Word, Excel, and accounting software. Must have knowledge of Data Practices Act.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).