Utility Billing Specialist — Water & Sewer

City of Apple Valley, MN; Apple Valley (MN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Apple Valley, MN is seeking an Accountant for Utility Billing to manage water, sewer, storm drainage and streetlight billing operations. You will oversee meter reading entry, generate and mail bills, and handle collection and posting of payments while reporting and balancing related accounting functions.

Responsibilities include monitoring metering software, producing accurate bills for residential and commercial accounts, coordinating data transfers between billing and metering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; emphasis on additional education and/or work experience in computer application; or equivalent training and experience.
• 1–3 years of experience in a financial or accounting setting.
• Working knowledge of computers and Microsoft Office Software.
• Strong problem analysis and decision making skills; ability to develop alternatives and make prompt decisions under time constraints.
• Ability to work effectively in a high energy environment with minimal supervision; must set goals and priorities and work efficiently to accomplish critical objectives.
• Strong customer service orientation; ability to create effective working relationships with a variety of people and maintain a positive professional manner while resolving customer issues.
• Excellent public contact skills.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and download meter readings using metering software to obtain accurate meter readings used to generate bills for utility services. Review meter reads and manage exceptions. Work with maintenance and meter vendor to ensure meters are working correctly. Manage the transfer of account information between billing software and metering software.
• Produce accurate and timely generation of water bills for utility service for residential and commercial accounts within the city. Review bills and reporting for accuracy. Upload billing data to payment vendor and metering vendor and mailing vendor. Manage the transfer of data between the billing software and the metering software.
• Apply adjustments to utility accounts, process refunds, calculate sewer winter average annually for residential accounts.
• Set up annual billing rates and monitor for accuracy.
• Produce reporting and monitor billing to ensure accuracy and compliance to governmental standards, supply reports to the Auditors as needed.
• Oversee accurate collection and posting of payments received through the mail and electronically, post to utility accounts.
• Initiate weekly notices on delinquent accounts in accordance with policy, and process certification to property taxes twice annually. Coordinate collection process with Assistant Finance director, City Council and Logis.
• Maintain utility billing account system based on information received. Establish new accounts, updates existing accounts for ownership and other changes. Generate final bills, adjust accounts as required, process water turn ons and offs.
• Handle customer inquiries regarding utility service, establishing service, making payments, signing up for online payments and metering online services.
• Monitor metering software to notify residents of high or constant water use.
• Coordinate with the maintenance personnel on utility matters such as meter reading, water disconnects and reconnects, and meter repairs.
• Primary contact for software conversions, performing cleanup, data entry, training, and setup,
• Coordinates work of the utility accounting technician.

Skills

Customer service

Public contact

Problem solving

Decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The City of Apple Valley, MN is seeking an Accountant for Utility Billing to manage water, sewer, storm drainage and streetlight billing operations. You will oversee meter reading entry, generate and mail bills, and handle collection and posting of payments while reporting and balancing related accounting functions.

Responsibilities include monitoring metering software, producing accurate bills for residential and commercial accounts, coordinating data transfers between billing and metering