Business Office Co-Op II

Close Date: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:00 AM

Department: Charlotte Water Department

Salary: $23.00 – $27.00 Commensurate with Experience

SUMMARY

The City of Charlotte, Charlotte Water Department is accepting applications for the Business Office Co-op position for the Career Training Academy Co-op Program. This individual will work under the supervision of the Charlotte Water Business Office. The Co-op position will engage with and support the three primary groups of the CLTWater Business Office: Budget & Finance, Acquisition & Compliance, and Fleet. Each group engages with all parts of CLTWater operations and support services, as well as several other departments in the City in various capacities. The role would focus on growing and exercising foundational skills necessary to the work performed by these groups as well as more transferable skills that are essential to success in any workplace. Throughout their tenure, the candidate will have ample opportunities to network with coworkers throughout the organization as well as receive coaching/mentoring with senior managers in the Business Office.

The Co-op participant must be able to commit to the full one-year assignment and be available to work a designated weekly/hourly schedule. Works full time (40/hr week).

PROGRAM BENEFITS: Assigned mentor/trainer; workplace-ready certification, career pathing, wellness programs, on-site gym and eligible for City benefits.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Applicants for this position will learn the following tasks as it pertains to the daily work operations at Charlotte Water. The work will include rotations with various workgroups to experience the full scope of a process/project.

• Financial management and reporting: Learn about financial management considerations related to capital and operating spending. Work with coworkers and manager to develop and maintain reporting for management and ad-hoc decision-making support.
• Procure-to-Pay: Involved with solicitation of goods/services process, review, and selection of a provider. Support financial services activities involving requisitions, purchase orders (change orders), p-card, invoice processing, and monitoring accounts payable metrics for the department. Learn compliance measures and support auditing, reporting, and analysis activities.
• Accounting: Learn and actively utilize basic accounting entries. Leverage this knowledge in other aspects of job duties, analysis, and projects to produce various deliverables.
• Records management and process development: Support the audit and improvement of the Business Office’s records and process documentation. Partner with various stakeholders, develop proposals for changes, and support their implementation with management approval.
• Budget Season support: Involved with CLTWater Budget development season performing analysis, review, and other activities as assigned.
• Performs special assignments for management; participates in special projects; and prepares periodic and special reports as requested. 
• Provides customer service to internal and external customers.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License
• Post-secondary experience, current or recent graduate in an accredited college or university (Associates- Bachelors) with major course work in a related field of study specific to the departmental or work assignment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office

Preferred Qualifications

Exposure to and knowledge of foundational educational concepts through an ongoing or recently completed degree in business, finance, accounting, or a related field of study, along with an interest in pursuing a career in local government or the utility sector.

Licenses, Certifications or Registrations:

• Requires a valid driver’s license

Fundamental Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

– Knowledge of basic financial management principles and reporting.

– Knowledge of accounting fundamentals, including basic accounting entries.

– Skill in using Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, for financial analysis and reporting.

– Skill in managing procurement activities, including requisitions and purchase orders.

– Skill in providing customer service to internal and external customers.

– Skill in analyzing data and preparing reports for decision-making support.

– Ability to apply accounting principles to job duties and support financial reporting.

– Ability to collaborate effectively with various workgroups and stakeholders.

– Ability to manage records and contribute to process improvement.

– Ability to communicate effectively and manage time efficiently while working on multiple assignments.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

                The work is sedentary work and requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: fingering, hearing, distinguishing among sounds, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity in data/color/observations.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

                Work is performed in a work environment that may periodically have unpredicted requirements or demands.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte is committed to making the job application process accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modification will be provided. To make a request, please email HRADAAdministration@charlottenc.gov, call 704-962-6168, or visit us in person at 700 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202.

BENEEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.