City of Tampa

This is supervisory work involving utility billing of key industrial and large commercial accounts.

The employee in this class is responsible for supervising and performing assignments involving:  utility billing of industrial, commercial, portable meter and other key accounts to ascertain correct charges.  Under direction, the employee performs supervisory activities including the scheduling, assignment, and review of office and field work.  Considerable initiative and independent judgment are required in determining charges and credits for application to bills and in determining when a customer’s account has been undercharged and retroactive billing is necessary.  Tact and courtesy are extremely important as work involves considerable public contact including such tasks as explanation of charges and resolution of more complex billing disputes.  Work is of considerable difficulty and includes investigating complaints received from the public, determining if a problem exists and coordinating solutions to the problem.  Work also involves quality control auditing of other billing functions, resolution of bankruptcies and the administration of all utility deposit programs.  Work is reviewed through conferences, reports submitted and results obtained.

Plans, assigns, supervises, trains and reviews the work of subordinate employees engaged in utility key account billing.

Recommends employment, promotion, transfer, discipline, demotion and dismissal of subordinate employees as necessary; responds to requests for leave; serves as initial respondent to grievances; completes employee performance appraisals; administers discipline as required.

Tracks meter reading schedule and download of data to prepare for billing; audits meter reads and exceptions for final billing; reviews and approves financial adjustments.

Monitors deposit coverage and all bankruptcy proceedings and records.

Develops, implements and reviews team goals and prepares performance reports.

Supervises inspections and investigations of the following:  new water meter set locations to ascertain correct charges and services to be rendered; accounts that have been opened by contractors and are being transferred to private owners; multi-family units to determine vacancies so credit can be made; claims for credit when dwelling is for sale, under repair, vacant, or used for storage; water accounts to compare water service with refuse services; all locations for vacancy when mail is returned; and building per lists to determine whether refuse charges are correct.

Bills customer accounts retroactively for falsifying records or when incorrect charges have been made.

Researches and responds to customer billing problems.

Reviews and approves periodic and special statistical, financial and other reports; establishes and maintains specialized files and record keeping systems and makes necessary reports; updates billing rates in system as necessary; resolves errors and problems in accounts, payments etc. in order to facilitate processing; verifies customer account information.

Performs related work as required.

Considerable knowledge of:   business English and mathematics; rules, regulations, procedures and functions of utility billing systems; meter reading systems, scheduling and related performance targets; utility rates, fees and taxes; codes and field methods relating to collections; appropriate municipal codes, ordinances, resolutions and regulations; effective supervisory techniques.

Working knowledge of:  deposits, accounts receivable management, write-off and bankruptcy practices; team dynamics, team building and diversity; business office practices and the computer systems utilized by the department; the layout of the city and its geography.

Ability to:  plan, assign, supervise and review the work of subordinate personnel; make mathematical calculations with speed and accuracy; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials and the general public; prepare and present clear and concise reports both orally and in writing; maintain records using a variety of source materials; understand and follow complex oral and written instructions.

Skilled in:  problem solving; oral and written communications.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration or a related field and five (5) years of responsible experience in utility billing and credit including two (2) years in supervisory experience; or an associate’s degree in business administration or related field and seven (7) years of highly responsible utility billing and credit experience including two (2) years in supervisory experience.

Possession of a valid drivers license.