Customer Accounts Associate (2 Openings)

The City of Kirkland is currently hiring for 2 Customer Accounts Associates. All applicants will be considered for both roles.

Why Kirkland?

Job Summary

Incumbent is responsible for performing central cash receipting, utility billing support, sales and collection service activities, and providing general information to the public.

Principal Accountabilities

• Performing cashiering duties.
• Performing utility billing duties.
• Serving as the receptionist for the Finance Department.
• Reconcile, report and process receipts/payment requests for various programs based on receipts.
• Providing backup support for other Customer Accounts positions.

Essential Duties

• Prepares computer-generated receipts for customers and other City departments for revenues received.
• Reconciles daily cash receipts against computer reports to include identifying and correcting errors.
• Prepares daily bank deposits.
• Serves as the receptionist for the Finance Department to include answering calls, taking messages, directing visitors, receiving bid documents, selling and reconciling animal licenses, maintaining databases and answering customer inquiries.
• Serves as the petty cash custodian by dispersing funds, accounting for petty cash slips and receipts, balancing the petty cash fund, ensuring cash requests meet established criteria, and determining when to replenish the fund.
• Performs data entry for utility billing system. Enters and balances payments through batch data entry. Generates payments to accounts receivable.
• Administer the senior discount program and bankruptcies for utility billing.
• Maintains files, documents and reports according to audit and legal retention requirements.
• Provides backup support for other customer accounts positions to include assisting with utility billing, and assisting with the cemetery, business licensing and false alarm program
• Trains and sets up forms and procedures related to cash handling and deposits for other departmental and off-site cashiers.
• Performs annual audits on imprest funds at cashier sites.

Peripheral Responsibilities

• Prepares and reviews route and meter information to include processing consumption data, reviewing raw data, auditing meter reading edit reports and preparing service requests for verifying questionable data.
• Performs other duties as required to ensure efficient office operations.
• Providing backup support for other Customer Accounts positions including Cemetery, Business Licensing and False Alarm Program.
• Perform notary services for the division as needed.

• Knowledge of basic mathematical computations.
• Experience in providing accounting support.
• Skill in using office equipment such as phones, copiers, fax machines, and adding machines.
• Skill in receiving and receipting moneys.
• Skill in applying customer service techniques.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications such as word processing, graphics, spreadsheets, electronic mail, and an automated financial system.
• Skill in effectively dealing with angry customers and/or grieving families.
• Skill in communicating and establishing interpersonal relationships to interact effectively with co-workers, supervisor, staff in other work units, and others, and exchange or convey information and receive work direction.
• Ability to read, interpret, apply and explain codes, ordinances, policies and procedures applicable to area of responsibility.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate computer generated reports.
• Ability to work independently.
• Good listening skills.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and two years post high school training or experience in accounting support, customer service and cash handling, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above. Requires intermediate computer and spreadsheet skills and accurate 10-key calculator skills. Must have excellent math skills and experience with general office equipment and procedures. Must have strong oral and written communication skills and the ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and manage multiple tasks.

Working Conditions

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, mobility, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Work is typically sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.