Part Time-Accountant Utility Billing

Definition

Under direction of the Assistant Finance Director, performs a wide range of highly skilled technical accounting duties including utility billing, payment arrangements, bank deposits, and daily reports.

This position is expected to exercise considerable initiative and judgement in planning and organizing own work, as well as assisting the accounting assistants with their daily tasks such as accounts receivable and receiving payments and inquiries from utility billing customers. It also assists, as needed, with business license applications and questions.

• Responsible for the City’s utility billing including customer service, collections, and adjustments.
• Prepares monthly utility billing statements; ensures accuracy of statements. Works with Accounting Assistants in explaining utility bills. Oversees collections and reviews adjustments for utility billing customers. Assists with customer inquiries and complaints both verbally and in writing.
• Provides day‑to‑day direction, coordination, and support to Accounting Assistants assigned to utility billing, accounts receivable, payment processing, customer service, and related accounting functions; assists in coordinating workflow, prioritizing assignments, ensuring adequate coverage, and reviewing work for accuracy, completeness, and timely processing.
• Processes and audits payments such as and not limited to Franchise Fees, Utility User Taxes, Transient Hotel Taxes, and third‑party services provided by the City to others.
• Prepares and reviews computer input data for monthly expenditure and encumbrance reports, establishes control figures, and reconciles monthly computer detail reports with general ledger expenditure and encumbrance control accounts.
• Verifies, reconciles, and prepares various invoices for payment by the City.
• Reconciles citywide daily cash and prepares deposits.
• Assists with the performance and/or management of internal and external audits to ensure compliance with all processing procedures as required by Federal/State/Local Financial Assistance and related programs.
• Reviews and recommends improved financial procedures and implements appropriate procedures to minimize vulnerability to fraud, waste, or abuse.
• Serves as a liaison, establishes, and maintains positive working relationships with internal department heads, internal staff, outside agencies, and the public to answer inquiries and ensure understanding of the City’s utility billing transactions.
• Coordinates work activities of the department to ensure proper and timely interface and posting of accounting transactions and adjustments.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Responsible for the annual Business License Renewal process.

• Considerable knowledge of the principles, methods, procedures, and practices of municipal accounting, governmental accounting, auditing, and financial reporting.
• Perform accurate mathematical calculations.
• Follow methods and techniques for accurate record keeping.
• Utility billing procedures and accounting.
• Proper cash handling practices.
• Data processing procedures relating to accounting; use and management of Excel spreadsheets.
• Research methods and techniques.
• Prepare and submit clear, concise, and accurate reports orally or in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City officials, and the general public.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to explain policy and procedures to the general public.
• Work with internal and external auditors in the preparation of annual financial reports and statements.
• Regularly and predictably attend work; follow directions from a supervisor; understand and follow posted work rules and procedures; observe safety principles and work in a safe manner; accept constructive criticism.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Associate’s degree in business or public administration, with concentration in accounting, as well as two to four years…