Accountant - Utilities Billing

Summary of Position

Responsible for the City's Utility Billing operations with respect to water, sewer, storm drainage, and streetlight billings. Oversee entry of meter readings for billing accounts, generation of utility bills, mailing of bills, collection and posting of payments, reporting and balancing of accounting functions. Some public contact which includes answering telephone calls, emails and responding to walk‑in inquiries regarding utility bills and service.

• 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, and 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, metering vendor, and mailing vendor, and manage the transfer of data between the billing software and the metering software.
• Apply adjustments to utility accounts, process refunds, and 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 with governmental standards, supplying reports to the Auditors as needed.
• Oversee accurate collection and posting of payments received through 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 the utility billing account system based on information received; establish new accounts, update existing accounts for ownership and other changes, generate final bills, adjust accounts as required, and process water turn‑ons and turn‑offs.
• Handle customer inquiries regarding utility service, establishing service, making payments, and signing up for online payments and metering online services.
• Monitor metering software to notify residents of high or constant water use.
• Coordinate with 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.
• Coordinate work of the utility accounting technician.
• Performs other duties consistent with the responsibilities of the position as assigned by the City.

• 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.
• One to three 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 and conditions of uncertainty.
• 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.

The City of Apple Valley awards veterans' preference points to qualified veterans and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans in accordance with Minnesota State Statute 197.447. Veterans may require documentation such as a DD‑214 or proof of service‑connected disability rating as defined in state statute to be considered for preference.

City of Apple Valley
th St. W.
Apple Valley, MN 55124
Phone: 952‑953‑2500