Customer Payment Specialist - City of Decatur, IL : Job Details

Salary: $22.91 HourlyLocation : Decatur, ILJob Type: Full-Time Benefited EmployeeJob Number: 18-00340 Department: Financial Management - UnionOpening Date: 12/18/2024Closing Date: 1/2/2025 11:59 PM CentralJob Summary Are you detail-oriented and customer-focused? The Customer Payment Specialist plays a key role in ensuring smooth and accurate payment processing for the City. In this role, you will:

• Process and record customer payments efficiently across multiple computer systems.
• Deliver exceptional customer service by assisting citizens with questions, complaints, and payment-related needs.
• Balance cash totals at the end of each business day to maintain financial accuracy.
• Post, maintain, and organize payment records, receipts, and related documentation.

If you enjoy working with numbers, interacting with the public, and making a positive impact in your community, we encourage you to apply!Salary will increase to $24.01 hourly after completion of the six-month probation period. Key Responsibilities Payment Processing and Recording

• Receive and record payments for utility bills, parking tickets, licenses, permits, municipal taxes, ordinance violations, court fees, boats, piers, and other miscellaneous City payments.
• Issue receipts, provide change, and process night deposits and mailed payments.
• Analyze and process payments made online, over the phone, or at authorized locations, ensuring accuracy and proper account posting.
• Identify overpayments and route them to the utility customer service team.
• Accurately record wire and ACH payments in the general ledger.

Cash Management

• Maintain and balance cash drawer daily in accordance with City policy.
• Reconcile cash collection receipts and prepare deposits for the cash management team.

Customer Service

• Assist citizens with payment inquiries, parking ticket appeals, and other requests via in-person, phone, and other communication methods.
• Advise citizens on parking ticket appeal statuses and direct them to other departments when needed.

Pet Registration and Licensing:

• Receive and process pet registration payments and vaccination records from local veterinarians.
• Update the pet tracking system with registration and vaccination information.
• Route pet registration citations to the licensing section.

Administrative Support

• Perform backup support for higher-level finance positions as required.

Needed Knowledge & Skills Communication Skills

• Strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound, independent decisions with minimal supervision.

Customer Service

• Ability to manage and resolve challenging customer service situations professionally.

Technical Proficiency

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications.

Data Entry

• Ability to pass a numeric data-entry (10-key) test with a minimum score of 7,000 keystrokes per hour and at least 95% accuracy.

Required Training and Experience Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Associate's degree or post-secondary education preferred

Experience:

• Experience in customer service operations
• Experience in cash handling or payment processing

More Details Examination ProcessThe examination process will consist of the components listed below. The combination of the written examination and oral interview will constitute 100% of the final examination score.

Data Entry (10 Key) Test All applicants must take a numeric data entry test. A data entry speed of at least 7000 keystrokes per hour with at least 95% accuracy is required for this position. The data entry test will be graded on a pass-fail basis.

Written Examination Applicants who pass the data entry test will be required to take a written examination tailored to this position. Applicants are required to score at least 70.00% .

Oral Interview Applicants passing the written test must pass an oral interview with a minimum score of 70.00%.

Veteran Points Applicants passing the written test and oral interview may be eligible to receive 5.00 veteran preference points added to their final examination score.

Seniority Points Applicable persons passing the written test and oral interview will receive 0.50 seniority preference points for each full year of continuous City of Decatur AFSCME service. A maximum of 10.0 points may be added to the final examination score.

The City of Decatur is a drug-free workplace. This includes marijuana. Candidates will be subject to a pre-employment drug screen, physical exam, and background check post offer.ResidencyThe Customer Payment Specialist position is covered under the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) collective bargaining agreement. AFSCME employees shall reside within 50 miles of the corporate limits of City of Decatur. An appointee may reside outside said limits but must comply no later than 90 days after the completion of the six-month probationary period.To ApplyComplete an application at the link below with all requested relevant information. Incomplete applications will be rejected. Downloading your resume prefills some sections of the application.SICK LEAVE: 1 day per month granted, accumulative to 240 days. VACATION: 10 days after 1 year of service; 15 days after 7 years of service; 20 days after 14 years of service; 25 days after 20 years of service; 1 additional duty day per year after 25 years of service (to a maximum of 30 duty days)HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day Labor Day Martin Luther King's Birthday Veterans Day Presidents' Day Thanksgiving Day Good Friday Day After Thanksgiving Juneteenth Christmas Day Memorial Day Independence Day Two Unscheduled Holidays PENSION: Employees of the City of Decatur contribute to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) at the rate of 4.5% per pay. The City of Decatur also contributes a percentage for the employee each pay. Employee contributions are refundable if employment ends before retirement. OTHER: The City offers a three-tier health insurance plan for employees and their dependents. Employees contribute toward the monthly premium for single coverage and/or family coverage through payroll deduction. The City provides group life insurance in the amount of $20,000 for each employee at no cost to the employee. Dependent coverage is offered. Employees may purchase additional term life on a voluntary basis.Employees may also purchase additional term life insurance sponsored by IMRF. Employees may participate in a voluntary group dental and vision insurance plan. Deferred compensation is also available.To learn more details click to view AFSCME Local 268 collective bargaining agreement.