Finance Tech III - Billing Lead

Finance Technician

This position supports the City's financial operations by overseeing accounts receivable and cash receipting activities, assisting and training other Finance Technicians, and providing customer service for utility and billing inquiries. Key duties include preparing and reconciling billings, managing delinquent accounts, maintaining financial records and billing systems, safeguarding and processing payments, and assisting with audits. The role also provides backup support for reception and other finance functions while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong coordination across departments.

Essential Duties

• Oversee and support Finance Technicians, including workflow monitoring and training.
• Provide customer service for billing inquiries, account changes, and delinquent account collections.
• Maintain and update accounts receivable records, forms, filing systems, and annual retention requirements.
• Troubleshoot billing and cash receipting software and act as liaison with system vendors.
• Assist auditors, generate routine reports and correspondence, and develop or maintain financial procedures.
• Provide backup support for reception, phones, and other finance functions; attend user group and training meetings as needed.
• Develop accounts receivable and cash receipting procedures, routines and filing systems related to accounts as necessary. Initiate completion of regularly recurring reports and standard form letters.
• Receive, account for and safeguard cash, checks, or other valuables as required in area of assignment and following established procedures; issue receipts, classify and code transactions.
• May be required to develop and conduct departmental training related to cash receipting, billing, or other areas as assigned.
• Process delinquent accounts and oversee turnoffs as necessary. Maintain follow-up system. Contact customers by phone and mail to effect collection of delinquent accounts and inform of turnoff action. Responsible for collection of delinquent accounts per Delinquent Account Collection Policy.
• Periodically reconcile escrow payments and update estimated utility pay-off requests.
• Process and oversee specialty billings, including those related to Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) and Storm Water billings; respond to inquiries and requests for account balances and payoff information; and process liens, foreclosures, and segregation filings.
• Monthly processing of airport, Community Development, Cemetery or other departments accounts receivable deposits and reconciliation.
• Track and verify the accuracy of the calculations for any monthly, quarterly, and annual payments of gambling and utility taxes, court fees, and other fees. Follow-up on delinquent accounts as required. Reconcile payments made to the city for these taxes and fees to other agencies data to ensure the accuracy of the reporting and calculations for the city.
• Maintain, oversee, and reconcile any rate discount programs and the backup documentation related to the eligibility and continued eligibility of the discounted rate.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of internal control, bookkeeping and governmental accounting principles and practices.
• Must be able to work independently while remaining a member of the team.
• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet computer programs and computer operations.
• Arithmetic ability utilizing decimals and percentages and the ability to reconcile numbers.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with co-workers, supervisors, customers and the public in general.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and independently perform work assignments with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work accurately and efficiently under pressure, with frequent interruptions and occasionally under competing requests.
• Ability to coordinate activities with other departments and work groups to provide a comprehensive service while presenting a positive image of the department and City.
• Ability to maintain sustained attention to detail and work under the pressure of strict timelines.
• Ability to explain the City's procedures and requirements in a calm, concise and courteous manner.
• Requires visual and manual dexterity to operate computers and other standard office equipment.
• Requires physical ability to sit for prolonged periods of time.

Requires enough physical ability to occasionally lift up to approximately twenty pounds, bend and reach.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED.
• U.S. Citizen or legally eligible to work in the United States.
• College-level accounting related course work, Associate's Degree preferred.
• Two (2) years of accounting experience, preferably in municipal government.
• Or any combination of education and experience, which would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge and ability, required to perform the job.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License and driving record acceptable to the City.

• Successfully pass background check.

Supplemental Information

This position is represented by the Arlington City Employees, Local 2849 of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2, AFSCME.