Salary : $62,751.00 - $120,981.00 Annually
Location : George Howard Building, 3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-00678
Department: Finance
Division: Finance - Water & Sewer Misc. Billing
Opening Date: 10/23/2026
Closing Date: 11/6/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
POSITION SUMMARY/CLASS DESCRIPTION
POSITION SUMMARY:
Acts as a lead person in the absence of the supervisor. Handles difficult inquiries that the staff is unable to resolve. Reviews and analyzes the meter investigation reports. Prepares and processes adjustments, refunds and journal vouchers. Prepares monthly work schedules, trains and assists staff.
STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:$30.17 - $34.04/Hourly$62,751 - $70,806/Annually
*This is the anticipated starting salary range for this position. Please note that the final salary will be determined by the Office of Human Resources, commensurate with experience and aligned to ensure internal equity with similarly situated roles.*
CLASS DESCRIPTION:
Performs senior technical level administrative support work, which may include supervisory responsibility, under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work typically involves administrative, technical and para-legal work providing staff assistance to various Boards; or administrative secretarial or constituent services work assisting the County Executive, the State's Attorney, the Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Chief of Staff or the Chief Administrative Officer. Assumes responsibility for clerical procedures and office operations; maintains executive calendar and appointments. May supervise a support staff. Work at this level may include independent responsibility for a difficult and complex administrative or clerical process not requiring the attention of a professional or technical expert.
*This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months*
*Please note that this position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810.*
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Billing Operations and Coordination:
• Prepare schedules to coordinate monthly billing activities and deadlines across four divisions.
• Coordinate, verify, and release PDF billing documents to the County's print vendor for printing and mailing.
• Review billing and invoicing out-sorts, verify consumption, correct readings, release billing, and resolve EMMA errors.
• Prepare Domestic Sewage Billing for Miscellaneous Billing.
• Process sewer surcharge rate changes, new accounts, and closed accounts.
Payment Processing and Account Reconciliation:
• Research and post payments with invalid account numbers.
• Research, transfer, and resolve misapplied or missing payments.
• Retrieve daily online payment totals and return payments.
• Post internal agency payments and journal vouchers.
• Transfer data files to the bank for ACH direct debit and prenotification verification.
• Retrieve and process direct debit items not honored by the bank.
• Monitor account change activity, run queries, and make corrections as needed.
Adjustments, Refunds and Account Maintenance:
• Prepare and process water/sewer adjustments, penalty waivers, and refunds.
• Review and analyze material investigations; close out online work orders.
• Verify and sign returned check letters and delinquent fire protection letters.
• Review and verify account entries completed by other division members.
• Work with the Bureau of Utilities on complex accounts.
• Access various County, vendor, and state systems to research and verify account details.
Customer Service and Issue Resolution:
• Respond to inquiries escalated from water/sewer staff.
• Ensure coverage of the customer service area.
• Train subordinates on required job duties.
Systems Support and Collaboration:
• Work with the SAP team and consultants on system updates and issue resolution.
• Attend staff meetings and other meetings related to water/sewer services.
• Assist with interviewing.
General Administrative Duties:
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises in the absence of the Division Chief.
MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Associate's degree and four (4) years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands described here are representative of those 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.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to travel to meetings, accident scenes and job sites independently.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents and policies. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write reports, speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style.
Ability to independently troubleshoot and problem solve, or collaborate a team approach, in a timely manner and in high-pressure situations. Ability to work with intricate budget documents and apply concepts associated with budgets.
Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems on a daily basis.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
TO APPLY: You must complete an employment application online to be considered for this recruitment. Resumes cannot be substituted for completion of the job application work history. No paper applications will be accepted.
Selected candidates may be subject to drug screening, background screening, and reference checks.
At time of application, please submit a copy of any college degree, coursework, licenses, or certifications that you have referenced on your application. Applicants who have education obtained outside of the U.S. may need to provide proof of the equivalent U.S. education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service, such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org) or World Education Services: International Credential Evaluation (https://www.wes.org/).
Howard County Government is not sponsoring employees in application of the H-1B Visa or providing an extension of an existing H-1B Visa. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The following is a summary of the benefits available to Howard County employees who hold full-time benefit-eligible positions. Employees in positions covered by a bargaining agreement should consult their union contract for other specific benefits. Additional details are also available in the Employee Manual and in summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources or at
FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: Under the County's flexible benefits plan called CountyFlex, employees may elect to enroll in medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans, optional life insurance, dependent life insurance, and healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Employee contributions to these benefits are made on a pre-tax basis. Information concerning enrollment options, plan rates and a benefits comparison chart are available in the Office of Human Resources.
GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE: Employees receive a group term life insurance benefit equal to 2 times their annual salary at no cost. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage is included. The County pays the entire cost for this benefit. Employees may purchase additional coverage under the CountyFlex benefits plan.
PAID LEAVE BENEFITS: Annual and Disability Leaves are accrued over 24 pay periods each year. Personal leave is credited on January 1st each year. Use of Annual, Disability and/or Personal Leave requires supervisory approval.
ANNUAL LEAVE: During the first 5 years of employment, employees accrue the equivalent of 13 days per year. From years 6 through 10, the accrual is the equivalent of 16 days per year. From years 11 through 20, the accrual is the equivalent of 19 days per year. From year 21 on, the accrual is the equivalent of 21 days per year. Annual leave may not be used during the first 6 months of employment. A maximum of 40 days may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next.
DISABILITY LEAVE: Employees accrue the equivalent of 1 day per month (12 days per year). There is no maximum accrual. This leave may be used for the disabling illness/injury of the employee, spouse or minor child or for a serious medical condition approved under F.M.L.A. Absences of over 3 days must be substantiated by a physician's certificate.
PERSONAL LEAVE: Employees receive 6 personal leave days each calendar year to be taken during the calendar year. Employees hired after April 30th receive 4 days of personal leave that year; those hired after August 31st receive 2 days; and those hired after November 30th receive no personal leave for that year. Personal leave may not be carried over.
HOLIDAYS: Employees are paid for the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King Day; President's Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day; Friday after Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day.
OTHER PAID LEAVE: Other paid leave will be granted for approved jury duty, military leave, bereavement leave and official leave. Unpaid leave will be granted in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act.
RETIREMENT: Howard County sponsors a defined benefit plan for its employees. participation in the plan is mandatory. Employees are required to make contributions to the plan, which are taken on a pre-tax basis. Contribution rates are dependent upon the plan in which the employee participates (general plan, or police and fire plan). The County contributes an additional percentage sufficient to ensure that each plan is adequately funded. Complete details are available in the summary plan descriptions which are available in the Office of Human Resources.Howard County Retirement Plan: Employees contribute 3% of salary to the plan. Sheriff Deputies hired after 7/1/2021 contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan. All eligible Corrections Employees must enroll in the Corrections Employees Enhanced Benefit and must contribute 8.5% of salary to the plan.Howard County Police and Fire Employees' Retirement Plan: Sworn p
