Administrative Assistant I - Essential Utilities

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We are hiring for an Administrative Assistant on a Full-Time basis to support our Fayetteville office working under the direction of the Area Manager. We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Administrative Assistant to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate will possess strong accounts payable and invoicing experience, coupled with a solid understanding of ERP systems like SAP and Oracle NetSuite. This role is essential in ensuring efficient administrative operations and financial transaction processes within the Aqua North Carolina business!

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Prepare correspondences, including reports and meeting minutes and distribute via e-mail, fax, overnight shipping, etc. 
• Maintain general files and records
• Responsible for charging out inventory and assisting in the annual physical inventory count
• Direct telephone calls and messages, make copies, distribute mail and order supplies
• Responsible for the operation and maintenance of office equipment, cleaning contractor, security system and building maintenance
• Responsible for various financial duties for the division including processing of invoices, bank deposits, preparation of purchase orders, credit card statements, claims processing, bulk water invoicing, monthly financial close and other financial duties as assigned
• Utilize SAP for transaction processing, reporting, and financial management tasks
• Monitor accounts receivable, track unpaid invoices, and follow up on discrepancies.
• Assist in system audits, ensuring data integrity and compliance with existing procedures
• Enter and edit payroll for division employees
• Local contact for workers compensation claims processing and other benefits and human resource issues
• Coordinate and schedule division activities including, but not limited to, employee meetings, community events and other division public-relation initiatives
• Responsible for all new customers: Application process, processing loan applications, creating new account and setting appointments
• Responsible for coordination and record keeping for the Cross Connection Control Program.
• Responsible for providing back up to the Field Supervisor with various tasks including but not limited to scheduling work orders, customer inquiries and field locates.  Also responsible for backing up the State Customer Service Representatives when requested.
• All other duties as assigned.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OR REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school graduate or GED equivalent. 
• Excellent typing and computer skills including proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, database, and e-mail applications, and have the ability to gain proficiency in company technical software such as CIS-Banner, ServiceLink, Lawson and Powerplant, SAP or
• Must demonstrate ability to organize and complete multiple activities simultaneously
• Self-starter who can operate with little or no direct supervision
• Must have the personality, articulation (both spoken and written) and characteristics necessary to communicate effectively with customers, all levels of management, employees, regulatory agencies, government officials and vendors
• At least three years’ experience in a responsible administrative position; bookkeeping, accounting experience or training a plus.
• Maintain Notary License

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KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Technical aptitude with proficiency in Microsoft Office software programs (Email, Word, Excel)
• Excellent written & verbal communications skills.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A Team Player demeanor with the ability to work effectively and multi-task in a team-fostered environment.
• Good writing, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Perform sedentary work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.