At utilities, transit agencies, and other service providers, a revenue clerk performs clerical duties related to financial transactions. This includes billing, collecting payments, keeping track of account information, and dealing with past-due accounts. A revenue clerk’s job may also include the preparation of financial statements. Because of the high volume of payments handled, some offices provide administrative support, while others allow employees to work independently and report to a finance director or similar official.
The revenue clerk, who prepares customer statements, must receive information on the services provided. Automated software can help with this printing statements on demand and performing the necessary tax, fee, and other expense calculations. Payment envelopes and information about other payment options can be included with these bills. Some revenue clerks work with online payment systems, which allow customers to make payments online and may integrate with the computer system to automatically record data and generate reports for the clerk’s use.
The revenue clerk matches payments to accounts and records them as they come in. If there is a balance due, another bill may be issued, or notes about a payment plan, if one has been established, may be made. To avoid double billing or sending customers to collections when they are in good standing, accurate recordkeeping is critical. A revenue clerk can also make changes to accounts, such as updating addresses or service details, to ensure that clients are billed correctly and appropriately.
Financial reports that are generated on a regular basis can provide information on payments that have been received and those that are still pending. These are sent to other members of the office the revenue clerk so they can see how much money the company or agency is bringing in. This can also provide data on the number of services used, which can help with planning. During the dry season, a water utility, for example, may have to plan to truck water in to meet demand.
Overdue account lists can also be generated using software. If customers do not respond, the revenue clerk may issue demands for payment and make follow-up calls. Failure to pay after a certain period of time may result in being sent to a third-party collections agency. This entails gathering all available information about accounts so that collections representatives can work with customers to collect money, set up an installment plan, or pursue legal action to recover unpaid funds.