Public Service Specialist

Public Service Specialist

Salary

$45,846.40 - $64,779.92 Annually

Location

10770 W Oakland Park Blvd. Sunrise, FL, FL

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

2026-191

Department

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Opening Date

08/04/2026

Closing Date

8/18/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

Bargaining Unit

FOPA

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

NATURE OF WORK

This is classification involves clerical and cashier work involving the maintenance of customer accounts for a municipal gas, water and sewer utility.

An incumbent in this classification is responsible for providing several services to utility customers primarily through in-person contact and the cashier function, including answering inquiries and furnishing information, maintaining related records, opening and closing accounts and handling cash and non-cash bill payments. The incumbent furnishes information to utility customers relating

to new applications for existing service, disconnecting service, transferring accounts, new accounts, and related service matters. The incumbent provides support and relief for other areas and employees of Public Service operations, must be able to work at any of the Public Service offices throughout the City, and performs other assigned duties. Performing various additional duties related to registering residents for Leisure Service activities, and taking payments for those activities, as well as processing cash receipts for other City departments. Supervision is received from an employee in a higher class, which usually consists of assistance with difficult inquiries. Work is generally reviewed through consultations and review of records or reports.

Examples of Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Receives and services customers making application for water or gas service connections; explains needed deposits by new residents or commercial users; explains procedure involving transfer of accounts from one location to another and the need for new deposits; issues receipts for customers when necessary.
• Opens and closes utility accounts in an on-line in utility billing system; enters complete customer information and appropriate documentation.
• Receives requests to disconnect water and gas service and explains appropriate procedure in disconnecting or holding service for new party moving in; enters appropriate service orders to field crews using an on-line service order system.
• Receives reports of damaged gas or water meters and issues repair service orders to field crews.
• Receives reports of low water pressure or water quality problems and refers to the Utility Department.
• Receives reports of water or gas leaks and immediately dispatches report to Utility or Gas Department for service.
• Receives request to turn on gas or water service after regular hours and refers requests to the Utility or Gas Department.
• Opens and distributes mail as assigned; completes and mails payment receipts; posts records of requests for new service, disconnects, and other changes for report purposes.
• Receives from utility customers or through the mail cash and non-cash monies for payment of bills and deposits; enters customer utility payments and deposits into on-line utility billing system; checks and balances payment and deposit receipts against system-generated payment listings; submits balanced customer receipts daily to supervisor for review and posting.
• Enters field service orders into on-line service order system to accommodate needs and requests of customers, the public, or other City personnel.
• Prepares, issues, and processes adjustments to utility accounts in order to correct billing.
• Processes returned customer checks and applies appropriate returned check fees to utility accounts; follows through on returned checks and issues appropriate paperwork and service orders to disconnect utility services if required responses are not received.
• Prepares and issues notices for deposit to utility customers for new service; follows through on notices for deposit and issues appropriate paperwork and service orders to disconnect utility services if required responses are not received.
• Receives lien inquiries from City Clerk; researches, completes and returns lien inquiries to City Clerk.
• Assists in the review and preparation of documentation for utility customer non-payment service disconnections; makes courtesy telephone calls to utility customers prior to disconnections; assists customers with questions relating to non-payment service disconnections.
• Staffs and operates the Citys main switchboard in relief of regularly scheduled clerk.
• Travels between Public Service offices in order to ensure adequate staffing of customer service and payment processing operations.
• Organizes and maintains miscellaneous Public Service files, including service orders, adjustments, new customer paperwork, and final account paperwork.
• Accepts and processes various payments for other City departments, functions and fees.
• Performs related work as required.

Requirements

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of G.E.D. equivalency diploma including or supplemented by courses in business practices.
• PROOF OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPLETED EDUCATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AS AN ATTACHMENT WITH APPLICATION. (Applications without attached proof of education will not be processed for consideration)

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Reasonable professional paid experience in customer service /billing clerical work with basic experience as a cashier
• Knowledge of utility rules and regulations pertaining to customer service credit procedures and billing practices within a Utility and Gas Department, highly preferred
• Basic proficiency in Word and Excel desired
• Experience with Tyler Munis preferred
• Ability to speak Spanish fluently is preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical:

Light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials up to twenty (20) pounds. Descending and climbing stairways and extended periods of standing may be required throughout the workday.

Work Environment:

Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment. Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Sensory:

Must have the ability to perceive and differentiate visual cues or signals. Tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.

Supplemental Information

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Considerable knowledge of utility rules and regulations pertaining to customer service.
• Knowledge of Utility and Gas Department credit procedures, billing practices, and charges for service.
• Knowledge of departmental procedures in the receipt and recording of cash and non-cash payment and deposit transactions.
• Knowledge of business English, spelling and arithmetic.
• Knowledge of office practices, procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of effective public relations.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of record maintenance.
• Ability to deal effectively with utility customers on telephone and visitor contacts.
• Ability to maintain clerical records according to department requirements.
• Ability to perform repetitive payment transactions accurately and with speed.
• Ability to make rapid and accurate arithmetic computations.
• Skill in the operation of computer equipment and keyboard.
• Ability to withstand pressure of competing priorities and varied responsibilities and works efficiently and effectively to develop win-win solutions.
• Ability to evaluate the impact of alternative courses of action and evaluate circumstances of an innovative, new or unprecedented nature.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional working relationships with City officials, management team members, general employees, industry professionals, and the general public.

BENEFITS PACKAGE SUMMARY

GENERAL EMPLOYEE

HIRED ON OR AFTER 10/01/23

City-Paid Medical Benefits:

• Group Health Insurance: The City pays for 100% of the cost for single coverage for full-time employees and 66.66% of cost for Dependent/Family Coverage. Upon retirement and separation from City employment, employee receives a monthly stipend of $350 per month, applicable toward retiree health coverage.
• Life Insurance: $30,000
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D): $10,000
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Cigna Behavioral

Retirement:

• Employee Contribution = 8%
• Vesting = 10 Years
• Normal Retirement Benefit = 2.5% of pensionable earnings for each year of creditable service
• Average Final Compensation (AFC) = 3 best consecutive earning years
• Maximum Benefit = 80% of AFC, not to exceed $80,000.
• Normal Retirement = Age 62 and ten (10) years of creditable service
• Early Retirement = Age 57 and ten (10) years of creditable service, 3% annual reduction for each year prior to normal retirement age
• 13th check based on monthly retirement, payable if the pension plan funding status is equal to or greater than 100%. Paid in December each year following retirement
• Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) = 4 years/48 months maximum
• DROP Interest Rate = 4%, compounded annually

Longevity:

Based on successful completion of full-time, continuous service with the City, employee shall receive the following:

Years of Creditable Service Longevity Benefit*

10 Years 2.5%

15 Years 2.5%

20 Years 5.0%

• Longevity Benefit calculated on employee's base rate of pay

Paid Holidays:

Employees receive the following City-paid holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• 4th of July, Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans' Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

Annual Leave:

Annual leave may be taken as earned after completion of (90) calendar days. Maximum accumulation each fiscal year is 290 hours. At time of resignation or retirement, employee is paid for all annual leave accrued at their current rate of pay. Annual leave is accrued based on continuous, full-time service with the City, as follows:

Completed Months of Service Total Hours Accrued Annually

Up to and including first 60 months 96 hours/12 Days

Greater than 60 months through 120 months 136 hours/17 Days

Greater than 120 months through 204 months 176 hours/22 Days

Greater than 204 months 216 hours/27 Days

Annual Leave Cash Out:

Employee can opt to receive a non-pensionable cash payment twice per year for up to forty (40) hours of annual leave, provided accrued annual leave bank does not fall below eighty (80) hours.

Floating Holidays:

Upon completion of (26) weeks of full-time employment with the City, employee shall be entitled to utilize up to five (5) floating holidays per fiscal year. Floating holidays shall not carry over to the next fiscal year.

Perfect Attendance:

For every six (6) months period (April 1 - September 30) and (October 1 - March 31) in which, no sick or unpaid leave is utilized, an employee shall receive ten (10) hours of annual leave credited. Employees who qualify for a consecutive Perfect Attendance benefit shall receive fourteen (14) hours of annual leave credited for each applicable consecutive earning period.

Sick Leave:

Each employee earns (96) hours (12 days) of sick leave annually with no waiting period for use and unlimited accrual. Upon separation of City employment due to resignation, employee shall receive payment of all accrued sick leave at a rate of twenty-five percent (25%) of the employee's current rate of pay at time of resignation. Upon separation of employment due to retirement, employee shall receive payment of all accrued sick leave at a rate of fifty percent (50%) of the employee's current rate of pay at the time of retirement.

Sick Leave Conversion:

After completion of one (1) year of continuous, full-time employment with the City, an employee may convert their unused portion of their first six (6) days (maximum of forty-eight (48) hours) of accrued sick leave into annual leave. Conversions are subject to the following: A minimum of 96 unused sick leave hours accrued prior to hours being converted, total eligible sick leave hours to be converted shall be reduced hour-for-hour by any sick leave hours utilized during the eligible benefit period, and conversion subject to annual leave accrual cap.

Bereavement:

Qualifying City-paid Bereavement Leave as follows:

• In State = Up to 3 Days
• Out of State = Up to 5 Days

Tuition Reimbursement:

After one (1) year of full-time employment

• 100% reimbursement for a grade of A or B
• 50% reimbursement for a grade of C
• $250 books/lab reimbursement per semester

Credit Union:

We Florida Financial Bank & Credit Union - 8890 NW 44th Street, Sunrise, FL. 33351

Optional Voluntary Benefits (paid by the employee):

• Single or Family Dental Insurance Coverage
• Single or Family Vision Insurance Coverage
• Accident Advantage
• Life Insurance Coverage
• AD&D
• Short Term Disability
• Critical Care Protection
• Cancer Protection Assurance
• MissionSquare Retirement Compensation Programs

o 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

o 401(a) Governmental Purchase Plan: Newly hired

01

Please describe your highest level of education completed. PROOF OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPLETED EDUCATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AS AN ATTACHMENT WITH APPLICATION. (Applications without attached proof of education will not be processed for consideration.)

• No High School/GED
• High School/GED
• Some College
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctoral Degree

02

Please describe how many years of professional paid experience you possess in in customer service /billing clerical work with basic experience as a cashier.

• No Experience
• Inexperienced (Less than 6 months)
• Basic (6 months - 1 year)
• Reasonable (1 - 3 years)
• Considerable (4 - 6 years)
• Extensive (7 - 9 years)
• Broad (10+ years)

03

Do you possess basic fulltime experience as a cashier?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have knowledge of utility rules and regulations pertaining to customer service credit procedures and billing practices within a Utility and Gas Department?

• Yes
• No

05

Are you proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you fluent in Spanish?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Sunrise

Address 10770 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Sunrise, Florida, 33351

Phone 954-838-4522

Website http://agency.governmentjobs.com/sunrisefl/default.cfm