Billing Specialist

ABOUT US

The City of Spruce Grove is a fast growing, dynamic city committed to building and maintaining a fiscally responsible community that serves our residents, attracts visitors, and promotes future growth.

The “Values, We Live By” are accountability, communication, leadership, integrity, and respect while we work towards maintaining a work/play balance.

We are an organization that cares, an organization that is committed to our city and committed to you. The City of Spruce Grove is committed to public service, where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best work. We believe that by working together in a spirit of collaboration and respect, we can achieve great things.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Billing Specialist is responsible for managing billing & administration of utility and general trade receivables. The incumbent will respond to escalated inquiries; administer service disconnections, over-due and final account collections and reporting. This position will also answer calls received on a multi-line switchboard and perform daily tasks including both basic and complex day to day duties, operations and projects. The incumbent has shared accountability with other Billing Specialists in the same role and works closely with others in the Treasury section. This position reports to the Supervisor of Revenue Services.

This is a permanent full-time position (35) hours per week. The salary range for this position is: $60,951.80 - $72,454.20.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Utility Receivable Administration
- Work in cooperation with other Billing Specialists, be accountable for timely monthly and final billing, adjustments, penalties, refunds and interactions with end users and stakeholders.
- Provide support to Customer Account Representatives to ensure routine processing and customer response is performed in an effective and efficient manner.
- Provide resolution for complex billing issues; disseminate information and work closely with others to resolve customer requests.
- Work collaboratively to support effective and efficient response to high consumption inquiries and reading acquisitions.
- Ensure integrity of data and quality of service through effective and efficient process development.
- Log customer contact and other communication which may be useful as historical reference data into customer accounts as they occur.
- Reconcile penalties prior to posting and reconcile receivable and deposit sub-ledgers to general ledgers monthly.
- Embrace visionary thought; when recognizing a need for change, acquire supporting evidence and report results to supervisor.
- Promote positive public relations by consistently providing exceptional customer service with a friendly demeanor, can-do attitude, and willingness to help at all times.
- Maintain records on tenant billing, security deposits and shut offs.
- Liaise with Operators and Meter Technician regarding service delivery and field investigations.
- Maintain confidentiality regarding customer and account information.
- Test software for upgrade impacts.
- Perform regular review of data to validate accuracy and identify anomalies.
- Act as liaison with digital print contractor to ensure monthly distribution needs are met.
- Act as liaison with printing and supply contractors; place annual billing orders, co-ordinate shipments to print contractor, order operational supplies for activities of Operators, Meter Technician and Collections.
- Process Land Title changes twice a month, ensuring internal records are up to date and accurate
- Process utility payments over the phone.

2. General Trade Receivable Administration
- Work in cooperation with other Billing Specialists to be accountable for timely billing, adjustments, refunds and interactions with end users and stakeholders.
- Receive and review invoice requests for supporting documentation, accuracy of GL coding and GST treatment. Report atypical requests to supervisor.
- Analyze invoice management processes based on departmental needs and customize efficiencies to ensure integrity of financial information.
- Initiate and establish improved billing procedures and maintain accuracy of procedural manuals.
- Ensure appropriate costing to ambulance recoveries and perform regular audits with Fire Services representative.
- Process invoice requests and applicable debit and credit adjustments as necessary.
- Review invoices, statements and other correspondence to identify errors and/or anomalies before delivery.
- Reconcile sub-ledger to general ledger monthly.
- Prepare monthly aging summary and other periodic reports as required.
- Test software for upgrade impacts.
- Process bankruptcy claims & maintain filing based on claim activity.

3. Collections
- Work in cooperation with other billing specialists to be accountable for timely management of responsibilities and interactions with end users and stakeholders.
- Investigate payment/billing discrepancies and prepare adjusting entries as necessary.
- Collaborate w