Utility Billing Technician

Job Description:

Utility Billing Technician

Description

Summary

If you want to join a hardworking team that shares a commitment to provide top-quality municipal services in a prime North County location , consider a career with the City of Escondido. We have an opening for the position of Utility Billing Technician in Finance/Utility Billing. For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's website.

Under general supervision, participates in a variety of complex and difficult customer service and technical billing duties including those in support of the City’s utility service and billing functions; performs a wide variety of accounts receivable, account maintenance, data entry, billing, and public contact work in support of the assigned customer service function; assumes responsibility for specialized functions such as maintaining the utility billing system; and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Performs a variety of specialized functions related to maintaining the City’s utility billing system; troubleshoots problems; coordinates with information systems staff to implement upgrades; assists in testing patches; audits queries developed by others; applies rate changes to the system including to create, structure, and test utility rates in the system.

Responds to the more sensitive and difficult public inquiries in a courteous manner; researches, resolves, and responds to customer problems and complaints in an efficient and timely manner; explains departmental billing and collection policies and procedures to the public.

Receives and processes payments for water utility bills; processes checks and money orders received; researches and resolves billing problems; enters payment into computer; reconciles and adjusts customer accounts; generates notice of balance due or past due, as required; receives and processes requests for water service including new service, restoration and termination; prepares and maintains a variety of files, logs, records, and reports; prints and distributes reports; receives and processes incoming mail and returned mail; monitors and maintains adequate quantities of supplies and forms.

Participates in the development of goals and objectives as well as policies and procedures; makes recommendations for changes and improvements and participates in the implementation to existing standards, policies, and procedures; monitors work activities to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures; may provide training to new employees.

Assists in establishing schedules and methods for providing adequate coverage for telephones and counter in the Utility Billing area; identifies resource needs; reviews needs with appropriate managing staff; allocates resources as needed.

Provides vacation and temporary relief as needed.

Performs related duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

Operations, services, and activities of a water utility customer service program.
Principles of training.
Bookkeeping and clerical accounting principles, practices, and terminology.
Methods, procedures, practices, and terminology used in billing and financial record keeping work.
Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers.
Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
Principles and practices of fiscal, statistical, and administrative record keeping and reporting.
Principles of business letter writing and basic report preparation.
Methods and techniques used in customer service and public relations.
Receptionist and telephone techniques.
Programs and services of the organization relating to service fees, billing, and account maintenance.
English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Mathematical principles.
Ability to:
Ability to work in a fast paced, often hectic work environment.
Independently perform the most difficult bookkeeping, clerical accounting, and customer service duties involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures.
Exercise tact and judgment in responding to inquiries and resolving complaints and problems.
Make mathematical computations rapidly and accurately.
Find and reconcile discrepancies in balancing accounts.
Implement and maintain standard filing systems.
Maintain records and reports.
Operate and use modern office equipment including a computer and various software packages.
Operate 10-key calculator by touch.
Type and enter data at a speed necessary for successful job performance.
Work under steady pressure with frequent interruptions and a high degree of public contact by phone or in person.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Education and Experience Guidelines

Minimum Requirements

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Additional specialized training in bookkeeping, accounting, customer service, or a related field is desirable.

Experience:
Two years (full-time equivalent) of increasingly responsible experience performing clerical accounting duties involving considerable public contact including one year (full-time equivalent) of technical experience operating a billing software program.

One year (full-time equivalent) of experience performing customer service or billing work for a water utility agency can be substituted for technical experience operating a billing software program.

Supplemental Information

NOTE: For a complete listing of job duties and qualifications, please refer to the corresponding job description, which can be obtained from the Human Resources Department or downloaded from the City's web site. The City of Escondido is committed to a drug and alcohol free workplace. All applicants will be subject to fingerprint investigation before a conditional offer of employment is extended. A pre-employment medical examination will be conducted following a conditional offer of employment for all positions. Safety sensitive positions will include a pre-employment drug screen. Positions subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations will be subject to DOT pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applications will be screened and the most qualified candidates will be invited to appear for testing. All positions require the ability to read, write and speak English. Types of tests may include written and/or oral examination, physical agility, practical exam or other appropriate job-related selection process. When testing is completed, candidates will be ranked on an eligibility list in the order of their test score. Selection for appointments is made from names certified on the eligibility list.

All appointments are subject to the successful completion of background investigation including LIVESCAN fingerprinting, and will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. Qualification by a medical examination will be required at the time of appointment. After appointment, classified employees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period to be eligible for regular status. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all new employees must produce proof of eligibility to work in the United States within the first three days of their employment. The City of Escondido participates in E-Verify®.

The Loyalty Oath will be administered to all new employees on their first day of hire. New employees hired into positions that require a driver's license must provide proof of a valid California Driver's License of the appropriate class level on their first day of employment.

Additional information regarding the essential functions and physical, environmental and communication demands of the position may be obtained from the Human Resources Department. If you require reasonable accommodation in the testing process, such as an alternate means of testing, you must contact the Human Resources Department by the final filing date to complete a Request for Reasonable Accommodation form. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

Note: Pursuant to California Civil Code section 1786.53, the City of Escondido shall provide to all job candidates a copy of any records of arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien or outstanding judgment which was obtained in the course of conducting an evaluation for employment, assignment, and/or promotion. A copy of this information, if received by the City, will be given to candidates within seven days of the City's receipt.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE

Eligible individuals are those who meet the following criteria:

• Served in the U.S. armed forces
• Received an honorable discharge
• Did not retire from military service
• Seeking employment with the City of Escondido for the first time.

Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify for veterans' preference. Proof of eligibility (copy of DD-214) must be submitted at time of application, or later if the promulgation of the eligibility list will not be delayed. Veterans' preference credit will only be applied to eligible applicants who attained a passing grade (total score exclusive of credit) on the final open examination.

ABOUT OUR CITY

The City of Escondido is a prominent agricultural, commercial hub and residential center of North San Diego County. Located a short 30-minute drive from the beach, the mountains or downtown San Diego, Escondido residents enjoy the pleasure of a rural lifestyle with all the benefits of suburban living. Escondido is a diverse, vibrant community with many amenities. The city offers attractive homes in a wide range of prices, two lakes, several parks, a sports center, golf courses, restaurants, wineries, shopping centers, a variety of art galleries, entertainment venues, and a state of the art hospital. Established in 1888, the city's rich past brings charm and stability to the community; yet integrated with Escondido's treasured heritage is a progressive future, bright and brimming with promise.

EOE The City of Escondido does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, sex, age, national origin, or sexual orientation. We will attempt to reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities upon request.

The City of Escondido offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.

The Benefits of Choice program offers you a range of benefits. You choose the coverage that is right for you, your family and your budget. Read this e-Guide for an overview of your options, with links to additional details and forms.

For a more detailed overview of this benefits package, please visit the Administrative / Clerical / Engineering Benefit Summary and the Memorandum of Understanding .

Closing Date/Time: 3/9/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$61,730.40 - $82,724.64 Annually