Accounting Assistant I - Utility Billing

Salary: $4,727.00 - $5,758.00 Monthly
Location : Tumwater, WA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2023-00034
Department: Finance Department
Opening Date: 01/09/2024
Closing Date: 1/23/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
General Statement of Duties/Supervision
The livable town with open minds, vibrant people and healthy neighborhoods
The City of Tumwater is located at the southern tip of Puget Sound. The rugged Olympic Mountains rise in the distance and Mount Rainier seems close enough to touch on a clear day.
The vibrant mix of community-minded people and prosperous natural resources make Tumwater rich in history, community and opportunity. Tumwater is placed in the ancestral lands of the Coastal Salish peoples and near the homes of the Nisqually and Squaxin tribes. The modern City was settled by founders George and Isabelle Bush and Michael and Elizabeth Simmons.
Our vision is to create a future that is people-oriented and highly livable, with a strong economy, dynamic places, vibrant neighborhoods, a healthy natural environment, diverse and engaged residents, and with a living connection to its history.
Safe neighborhoods, quality schools, and a sense of community pride make Tumwater a great place to live, work, and play.
The Opportunity:
"Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them." - William Arthur Ward
Don't miss this opportunity! Come work for the City of Tumwater, a stable, friendly, and flexible employer. The Finance Department is looking for a positive and motivated Accounting Assistant to join our Utility Billing team. This position is a great opportunity for a candidate to showcase their experience and knowledge to enhance the Finance team in a technology driven fast-paced environment. The desired candidate must have an upbeat, can-do attitude that will help us with a range of accounting functions as they relate to Utility Billing, cash receipting, and excellent customer service. The candidate should be self-motivated, and willing to support team members with additional financial tasks and other miscellaneous projects and duties as assigned by supervisor
General Statement of Duties:
Performs a variety of clerical and moderately complex fiscal record keeping or accounting tasks; maintains accounts payable and receivable records, utility accounts, business and occupation accounts, and prepares moderately complex summary reports from fiscal records.
Essential Job Duties
Essential Job Duties:
This is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, and responsibilities required of the job. Other duties may be assigned and/or performed. The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to:

1. Responsible for the maintenance of detailed and organized accounting records and transactions.
2. Maintains individual utility account records, monitors monthly billings, verifies account payments, and identify discrepancies.
3. Responds quickly and appropriately to citizen or employee inquiries, requests for service, and/or complaints.
4. Work closely with the Water crew to coordinate meter reads, leaks and repairs, monthly water shut offs, etc.
5. Performs all aspects of excellent customer service in person, over the phone, and written communications.
6. Performs all aspects of cash handling, to include processing receivable payments for Utility Billing, permitting, police, grants, taxes, records requests and many other miscellaneous receipts.
7. Assists with business tax reporting forms and other related reports.
8. Depending on position, may coordinate with other departments and several state agencies in authorizing the issuance of City business licenses.
9. Position may also provide backup assistance with tasks related to Tumwater Violations Bureau and other Thurston County Court responsibilities.
10. Assists in the maintenance and monitoring of expenditure usage to ensure proper entry into the financial system for departmental expenses; reports potential problems to appropriate departmental staff and/or management.
11. May process invoices for department purchases to be paid in a timely manner.
12. Prioritizes workload efficiently and effectively and meets deadlines.
13. Reviews own work for accuracy and routinely detects and prevents errors or mistakes that would prove costly or could seriously disrupt a City service or project.
14. Recommends changes in work methods, policies, and procedures to improve levels of service delivery and overall operating efficiencies.
15. Works overtime as necessary to achieve departmental goals and as authorized by supervisor.

Selection Criteria
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Knowledge of governmental accounting and financial record keeping procedures and processes.
2. Ability to use and understand financial management software and other automated systems.
3. Knowledge of Microsoft Office products, including proficiency in the use of Word and Excel.
4. Knowledge of City codes, policies, and procedures as they relate to the position.
5. Knowledge of office professionalism standards relating to behavior, appearance (as appropriate for position) and performance.
6. Ability to analyze, research, and maintain accurate financial records.
7. Ability to maintain sustained attention to detail and demonstrate good time management.
8. Ability to perform mathematical calculations accurately and quickly.
9. Ability to understand moderately complex oral and written instructions.
10. Ability to promptly deal with internal and external customers tactfully and courteously in all communications.
11. Ability to work with angry or difficult customers effectively.
12. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information.
13. Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service when working with residents, other City employees, managers, vendors, and appropriate State agencies.
14. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment, and also independently at times.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. High school diploma or equivalent is required; and
2. One year of related experience is required; or
3. Any demonstrated combination of experience and education which provides a comprehensive knowledge of all functional areas of this position.

Training/Licenses/Certifications:
Possession of a valid Washington State Driver's License and an insurable driving record may be required. Must pass a background investigation. Must be bondable.
Supplemental Information
Contacts:
Contacts are primarily with City employees and the public in relating technical information in response to questions or to verify information. Contacts with the general public include answering the telephone to provide information pertaining to the procedures and services of the assigned work unit. Some positions may require contact with individuals under stressful conditions, requiring the ability to explain the City's procedures and requirements in a calm, concise, and courteous manner. May also have contact with vendors of various goods and services.
Supervision:
General supervision is required for completion of established procedures and work activities.
Accountability:
The Accounting Assistant I is accountable for the accurate and timely completion of tasks. Work is performed according to detailed standard operating procedures requiring the use of judgment in the application of procedures to specific cases.
Working Conditions:
Positions in this class work predominantly under normal office working conditions; considerable time working at a computer station is a regular part of the job; and frequent interruptions and noise are present in the work area. No heavy lifting without assistance is required.
Physical Requirements:
Work is often performed in an office setting. Specific physical requirements and typical working conditions for this position are on file in the Administrative Services Department.
The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), committed to a diverse workforce. Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The following is an overview of the benefits available to the regular-status, non-represented employees of the City of Tumwater (benefits for part-time employees will be pro-rated):
Vacation: Regular full-time City employees earn 96 hours of paid annual leave during their first year of employment. This rate is increased to a maximum of 184 hours per year, depending upon length of service.
Sick Leave: Sick leave is accrued by regular full-time City employees at the rate of 8 hours per month. Sick leave may be used only to ensure an employee's health, and for absences caused by death or illness of a member of the employee's immediate family.
Holidays: Most City employees receive 12 paid holidays (at 8 hours each) annually, one of which is a floating holiday.
Retirement:Eligible City employees are mandatory members of the State of Washington Public Employees Retirement System (PERS\LEOFF). Both the City and the employee contribute to the system. The state retirement system provides retirement benefits and also benefits for people who are disabled. Employees leaving City service prior to retirement may withdraw their total contribution with interest.
Deferred Compensation and Roth IRA programs offered through Mission Square: Employees may directly reduce their taxable income and defer this taxation until retirement or withdrawal of funds by participating in a deferred compensation plan. Deferred compensation allows an employee to defer up to $22,500 of their gross annual salary (more if over age 50) in 2023. The employee chooses how to invest their deferred salary.
Employees may put up to $6,500 in a Roth IRA (after-tax program) in 2023.
The City also offers a 401(a) plan and will match employee contributions up to 5%.
Insurance Plans: Each full-time City employee in 2023 will receive a contribution of $2,118.00 per month toward the purchase of medical, vision and dental insurance. (Amount is pro-rated for part-time employees.) This monthly amount pays approximately 85% of the costs of a family of four. Full family medical, dental and vision coverage requires an employee contribution toward the cost of premiums. Employee's whose insurance needs are less than the monthly $2,118.00 contribution can purchase get 60% of the left over contribution money as cash on their paycheck. Employees are required to have City medical insurance. The City also offers medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, subject to eligibility requirements.
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA): The City contributes a flat dollar amount per full-time employee to an HRA VEBA program for current and future health care out of pocket expenses. In 2023 this monthly amount per full-time employee is $225.00.
Group Life Insurance: The City will purchase for each employee $50,000 worth of group term life insurance.*
Liberty Mutual Insurance: City employees are eligible for discounted auto and home insurance.
EMPLOYMENT
Hours of Work: The normal work week is forty (40) hours, Monday through Friday. Customized work schedules may be available at the discretion of the position supervisor. Some positions require weekend, evening, shift or holiday work or overtime.
Career Opportunities: The City encourages career development for its employees and frequently seeks to promote qualified employees from within the City service.
For further information about the position announced on this bulletin, please contact humanresources@ci.tumwater.wa.us.
The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.
The City of Tumwater is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse workforce. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
01
Please describe your customer service experience.
02
Please describe your use and understanding of financial and other software programs.
03
Have you worked in a team environment before? Please explain.
04
What is your level of accounting/financial experience? Do you have any governmental financial experience?
05
What does professionalism in the workplace mean to you?
Required Question