Primary purpose:
Responsible for the recording of City revenue receipts, the tabulation and posting of collections to individual accounts, the investigation of discrepancies and at discretion of supervisor perform essential tasks for department.
Supervision:
Supervision Received: Receives direct supervision from the Teller Supervisor.
Supervision Given: None.
Essential Functions:
(The essential functions or duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
Interacts with customers, both in-person, on the telephone and via email.
Collects and posts receipts from both customers and City departments using various software products designed for this purpose.
Proofs, balances and reconciles daily receipts within the City’s accounting software.
Prepares bank deposits, including electronically scanning checks that are deposited via secure portal, as well as preparing cash deposits for physical delivery to a bank branch. May also be directed to deliver deposits to a local bank branch when necessary.
Answers phones and replies to department voicemail messages.
Provide customer service to residents in person and over phone with clear, succinct answers to questions and clear explanation of city accounts and procedures.
Posts betterment payments, deferral tax accounts and notifies Assessor's Office of receipts.
Posts lock box receipts from banks that are received as import files over a secure portal that are then imported into the City’s accounting software solution.
Balances cash drawers and ensures receipts are properly posted, in the City’s accounting software.
Maintains required transaction records of payments and/or adjustments to customer accounts within the City’s accounting software.
Generates and reconciles monthly balance reports of revenue totals.
Handles customer transactions and assists in customer account balance verifications, the processing of payments for various tax bills, water and sewer use fees. Maintains customer confidentiality.
Ensures coordination and receipt of signed warrants, proper funding, proper bank notification and timely mailing of live checks.
May be required to open, sort and distribute department mail. Records mail payments and sends out mail receipts as well as check return letters.
Follows and adheres to department, City and government rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
May be required to open, sort, and distribute department mail. Records mail payments and sends out mail receipts as well as check return letters. Performs other duties as required.
Minimum Entrance Qualifications:
(To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.)
Education, Training and Experience: Bachelor’s degree preferred, and one to three years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge: Knowledge of cash receipts, basic accounting, and office procedures. Must be well organized with attention to detail and have ability to problem solve. Team player with ability to multi-task in fast-paced environment. Ability to provide excellent customer service skills in person and over the telephone.
Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra. Ability to understand and carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where prescribed standard practices exist.
Skill: Excellent communication skills and ability to provide outstanding customer service in a person-to-person environment. Ability to communicate, either orally or in writing, in a language other than English is preferred. Ability to read and interpret documents, such as reports and procedures manuals. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, one-on-one, or in small groups, to citizens or employees of the city. Intermediate level computer skills, especially including experience with Microsoft Office suite of products (Word, Excel), plus experience with accounting software, including QuickBooks, and other Accounts Receivable software that includes posting payments, reviewing and interpreting historical accounts receivable records. Knowledge of and experience working with documents saved in Portable Document Format (.pdf), and software that manages such documents (typically Adobe), including merging .pdf documents, editing documents, etc. A strong commitment to public service required.
Physical requirements/Work Environment:
(The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
Ability to lift boxes weighing fifty (50) pounds or less.
The office environment is a typical indoor office environment, including interacting with colleagues daily. The incumbent will be provided a desk, computer, telephone, and other typical office implements with which to perform the job.
Performance Standard:
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)
THE CITY:
The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus. The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.
OUR GOVERNMENT:
Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Marc C. Laredo was sworn in on January 1, 2026 after serving on the City Council. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.
AS AN EMPLOYER:
The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset. To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits. We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities. We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings. We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees. And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing hr@newtonma.gov.
Human Resources Diversity Statement
We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:
The targeted salary range reflects what the City of Newton reasonably and in good faith expects to offer for this position at the time of posting, but the final salary determination may be within or outside this range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, and market factors. The range will be reviewed regularly and is subject to change.