Water Clerk Job Description, Skills, Interview Questions

Last updated: Mar 17, 2023

What Does a Water Clerk Do? 

As a Water Clerk, you'll play a key role in maintaining the water and sewer utility accounts, ensuring timely billing and responding to customer inquiries. Your responsibilities will include scheduling work orders, receiving payments, preparing final bills, and maintaining customer service satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

  • Process and maintain water and sewer utility accounts, including scheduling work orders, billing, receiving payments, and customer service.
  • Use specialized utility computer software for water and sewer billing and become knowledgeable of rates and fees for water and sewer.
  • Schedule final water and sewer readings, prepare final bills, load meter routes for quarterly reading by the Water Division.
  • Receive and/or route telephone inquiries for customer service, collect all necessary forms and payment for water and sewer connection fees.
  • Schedule and prepare work orders for meter installs and maintenance.

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or equivalent education required.
  • Experience in customer service or office administration preferred.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong focus on customer service satisfaction.
  • Proficient computer skills, including knowledge of MS Office Suite and experience using specialized computer software.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.

Water Clerk Skills and Ideal Candidate Profile

Strong attention to detail and accuracy in recording and processing information.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for interaction with customers, coworkers, and other stakeholders.

Excellent time management and organizational skills to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely manner.

Proficient computer skills and experience with specialized utility software.

Knowledge and understanding of water and sewer rates and fees.

Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to think critically in complex situations.

Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure.

Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities or procedures.

Knowledge of financial reporting and data analysis related to water and sewer utility accounts.

Willingness to learn and continuously improve job-related skills.

Ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of customer information.

Customer service-oriented with a focus on satisfaction.

Ability to effectively manage conflict and difficult situations with customers.

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.

Ability to work with cross-functional teams or departments to complete projects or resolve issues.

Willingness to be flexible with work hours or schedule changes.

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify potential issues and anticipate problems.

Ability to follow policies, procedures, and regulations related to water and sewer utilities.

Excellent record-keeping and data management skills.

High level of accuracy and attention to detail when completing paperwork or work orders.

Proficient math skills for calculating rates, fees, and billing amounts.

Ability to work independently with little supervision.

Ability to maintain a professional and courteous demeanor in all interactions with stakeholders.

Willingness to go above and beyond for customer service and satisfaction. 

Water Clerk Interview Questions

Can you tell us about your experience with processing and maintaining water and sewer utility accounts?

How do you ensure timely billing and accurate recording of payments?

Have you worked with specialized utility computer software for water/sewer billing in the past?

How would you handle a situation where a customer disputes their water/sewer bill?

How do you ensure customer satisfaction while also enforcing policies and procedures?

Can you explain your knowledge and experience with rates and fees for water/sewer services?

How do you prioritize your workload and manage multiple tasks at once?

Can you give an example of a difficult situation you faced in a customer service role and how you handled it?

Have you worked with scheduling work orders and ensuring timely completion?

How do you maintain accurate and up-to-date records for water and sewer utility accounts?

Can you explain how you schedule final water and sewer readings and prepare final bills?

Have you worked with meter routes for quarterly reading by the Water Division?

Can you tell us about your experience with receiving and routing telephone inquiries for customer service?

How do you collect necessary forms and payment for water and sewer connection fees?

What steps do you take to ensure meter installs and maintenance are scheduled and prepared efficiently?

How do you prioritize and manage urgent work orders or customer service inquiries?

Can you give an example of how you have adapted to new technology or software in a previous role?

How do you ensure the confidentiality and security of customer information?

Have you worked with cross-functional teams or departments to complete projects or resolve issues?

Can you tell us about your experience with financial reporting or data analysis related to water and sewer utility accounts?

How do you maintain accuracy while working under tight deadlines?

Can you explain your experience with maintaining compliance with regulations related to water and sewer utilities?

How do you ensure all necessary paperwork for work orders is completed accurately and in a timely manner?

Can you give an example of how you have improved a process or procedure in a previous role?

How would you approach a customer who is consistently late on their water/sewer bill payments?