Principal Clerk

Somerville; Somerville (MA); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision care

Life insurance

Deferred compensation options

MBTA pass program

Free Blue Bikes membership

Job summary

The City of Somerville is seeking a detail-oriented municipal clerk/clerical specialist to perform complex administrative tasks under supervision. You will process payments, refunds, liens, and account adjustments, manage receipts, and assist constituents with online payments and inquiries.

Requirements include a high school diploma or GED, two years of computerized office experience, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. Strong writing and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with business courses.
• Two years experience in a computerized office.
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word and Excel).
• Excellent writing, oral, computer and communications skills.
• Able to manage multiple tasks and follow complex instructions.

Responsibilities

• Process returned checks, small balance write-offs and invoice payments.
• Operate a customer service window handling a large amount of money.
• Balance warrants, post payments and assist with online payments.
• Answer inquiries and provide routine information on department services.
• Maintain and retrieve files, answer phones and prepare outgoing correspondence.

Skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Attention to detail

Independent judgment

Education

High school diploma or GED

Business courses

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of management, completes a variety of complex clerical duties requiring a considerable degree of decision making and a thorough knowledge of the function of the position. Duties can include processing returned checks, small balance write-offs, payment redistributions, forwarding batches, assisting with tailings, invoice payment, generation of Municipal Lien Certificates, processing refunds, Certificate of Good Standing, and account adjustments. Operate a customer service window handling a large volume of money, balance warrants and process checks. Maintain and retrieve files and records; answer telephones; prepares and mails outgoing correspondence; answers inquiries and provide routine information on department services; fills out forms; retrieves records from electronic database; operates standard office machines and equipment. Acts as a backup in the posting of receipts to accounts receivable including lockbox. Acts as backup to accepting departmental cash receipts and balancing at the end of the day. Assist constituents with online payments and questions. Via computer, access accounts, post payments and checks total of receipts of current balances; performs other duties as assigned by the Treasurer.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduate or GED with business courses.
• Two years experience and efficiency in a computerized office.
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word and Excel).
• Must possess excellent writing, oral, computer and communications skills.
• Must be alert, calm, and able to cope with emergencies, be detail oriented and maintain a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to understand and follow complex instructions and manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, the ability to interact professionally with others in a pleasant and efficient manner.
• Ability to learn MUNIS system, experience preferred.
• Bi-lingual/bi-cultural experience helpful.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Typically, little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with some reaching, bending and stooping to perform duties. Must be able to remain in a stationary position at the customer service window. There is also some moving of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs).

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job requires minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $1,115.31 weekly, plus benefits
Union: SMEA B
FMLA: Not Exempt
Date Posted: September 4th, 2026

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.