| Location | Petersburg, VA |
| Salary | $41,789.28–$66,806.44 Per Year |
Billing Collections Specialist I - Utility Billing
Salary
$41,789.28 - $66,806.44 Annually
Location
144 N. Sycamore St., Petersburg VA 23803, VA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
1108
Department
Billing & Collections
Opening Date
08/10/2026
Closing Date
9/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
General Description:
The purpose of this class within the organization is to maintain the accuracy of water service accounts for the City by researching inquires or complaints concerning water service or changes and authorizing adjustments in billing.
Ensure compliance with City and State laws and regulations, and maintenance of the City's water service roll under the direction of the Operations Manager of Utility Billing.
Essential Functions
Duties and Responsibilities
The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this job/class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job/class as necessary.
Essential Functions:
Provide positive customer service and answer inquiries in person, by phone and by email to all internal and external customers to receive orders for installation, turn-on, discontinuance, or change in service.
Responsible for analyzing and researching accounts and resolving account issues that have errors by determining the cause of the error and making the needed corrections.
Collects, enters, and posts confidential personal data and fees for water service applicants.
Maintains proper handling practices and a high degree of accuracy with confidential personal data.
Resolves complaints from customers about water service and/or bills.
Researches and authorizes necessary adjustments on customer accounts when complaints prove well-founded.
Takes orders for new services and explains bill process to new customers.
Gathers data and documentation for water, sewer, and refuse.
Requests special meter readings when needed for high bills, suspected leaks, etc.
Assists department with special projects that arise.
Additional Duties:
Determines charges for service requested and explains reasons for charges.
Obtains and examines all relevant information in order to assess validity of complaints and determines possible causes, such as extreme weather conditions that could increase utility bills.
Responsibilities, Requirements and Impacts
Data Responsibility:
Data Responsibility refers to information, knowledge, and conceptions obtained by observation, investigation, interpretation, visualization, and mental creation. Data are intangible and include numbers, words, symbols, ideas, concepts, and oral verbalizations.
Collects, classifies or formats data or information in accordance with a prescribed schema or plan to facilitate the identification and extraction of useful information.
People Responsibility:
People include co-workers, workers in other areas or agencies and the general public.
Serves others such as customers, attends to their requests and exchanges information with them.
Asset Responsibility:
Assets responsibility refers to the responsibility for achieving economies or preventing loss within the organization.
Requires minimum responsibility for only small quantities of low cost items or supplies where opportunities for achieving economies or preventing loss are negligible.
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:
Requires High School Graduation or GED equivalent.
Requires three years clerical experience involving public contact and customer service, preferably including one (1) year of clerical figure work experience.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience working for a local or state government agency.
Working knowledge of spreadsheets or Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook. Familiarity with Bright Municipal Utility Software or database software.
For a summary of Benefits currently being offered by the City of Petersburg for Full-Time Employees Only, please click the following link: http://www.petersburgva.gov/index.aspx?NID=518
01
10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veterans widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply?
02
5-point veterans must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following: Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52 - 7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply?
03
Do you possess a valid Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or another state with reciprocity?
04
What is your highest level of education?
05
Select the answer that best describes your level of proficiency utilizing Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Word):
06
Do you have experience using a computerized cash register to collect fees and make retail merchandise sales?
07
Are you a City of Petersburg employee?
08
Describe your level of experience working in a customer service environment. Check all the answers that apply:
09
Do you possess a valid Drivers License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or another state with reciprocity?
10
Are you a City of Petersburg employee (full-time or part-time/temporary)?
11
How many years of data entry experience do you possess?
12
Do you have working knowledge of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applications?
13
How many years of direct customer service experience do you possess in dealing with the general public?
14
How many years of customer service do you possess working with the general public? (This must be detailed in the Work Experience section of your application.)
15
Please check all the areas where you possess at least one (1) year of working knowledge and experience: (This must be detailed in the Work Experience section of your application.)
16
Please select all the areas you have at least five (5) years of experience and working knowledge:
17
Which automated accounting system(s)/software package(s) do you have working knowledge and experience? (Check all that apply.)
18
Do you have experience handling payments?
19
Were you referred by US Army PaYS or Virginia Values Veterans V3? If so, please specify which program.
20
Have you previously worked for the City of Petersburg? If so, what department?
Required Question
Employer City of Petersburg
Address 135 No. Union Street
Petersburg, Virginia, 23803
Phone 8047332381
Website http://www.petersburgva.gov