Billing Specialist

Job Title

This is entry-level work distributing all County water and sewer bills and ensuring that bills accurately reflect appropriate charges for service, and are sent out timely in accordance with ordinances, policies and procedures, Through on-the-job training, employees perform progressively responsible work billing water accounts, updating customer accounts by completing meter change outs, and completing daily service orders. Work involves researching and providing information to customers and fellow employees and generating reports to ensure data integrity and accuracy. Work is reviewed by the Billing Supervisor for compliance with policies and procedures, accuracy, and the nature and propriety of the results.

Essential Functions

Generates monthly water bills for various County districts; generates fire hydrant bills and final customer bills.

Processes returned checks and charges back to accounts with added fees; notifies customers of appropriate action; enters disconnection notices into the computer.

Reviews diagnostic reports and prepares service orders for re-reads. Maintains a variety of department financial and account files.

Processes customer refunds and distributes reports to the Finance Department.

Assists department customer service personnel with phone calls as needed and on questions they may have relating to the utility billing system.

Processes daily service orders turned in by meter reading staff. Updates system when re-reads are received before billing.

Generates a variety of reports to ensure system data integrity and accuracy.

Communicates with representatives of the water billing computer system when daily problems arise or to determine more effective ways of updating the system.

Generates bill adjustments due to leaks and swimming pools and enters adjustments into the computer system; enters billing corrections and penalties, and adjustments received from customer service representatives Into the computer system.

Generates adjustment denial letters and mails to customers.

Sets meter taps on water billing computer system which includes entering route account numbers and meter numbers.

Processes system distribution work orders including entering notes and meter change out data into the computer system.

Contact utility maintenance personnel and customers via telephone when obtaining information to complete daily assignments.

May assist with the training of new employees; troubleshoot errors including creating reports from the computer system to locate problems.

Assists the Customer Service Manager with day-to-day activities including communicating with irate customers, maintaining the water and sewer billing computer system database, and assisting on special projects.

Assists customer service by processing customer payments when needed.

Assists with generating reading diagnostics reports for billing and creating re-reads when needed. Processes customer bank draft payments.

Additional Duties

Employees in this classification may be expected to perform any related duties as required by proper authority.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of office theories, practices, and principles. Knowledge of basic accounting theories and principles. Knowledge of departmental policies and procedures.

Skill in the operation of modern office equipment.

Skill in monitoring and tracking the flow of data and information. Skill in addressing and resolving customer problems.

Skill in oral and written communication. Ability to detect and correct erroneous data.

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials. Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Ability to relay information clearly and concisely with particular skill in telephone communications. Ability to deal with the general public in an effective, tactful, and courteous manner.

Ability to handle multiple interruptions and adjustments to priorities throughout the day.

Ability to communicate effectively with diverse and sometimes irate, hostile, and threatening customers. Ability to lift objects weighing in excess of 30 pounds.

Ability to see, talk, and hear.

Working Conditions

Work is typically performed in an office environment. The employee uses office equipment requiring some dexterity.

Minimum Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. One (1) year of billing experience.
3. OR have a combination of education, training and work experience that is equivalent to #1 and #2 above that provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for this job.
4. Valid Georgia Driver's License.