Please note that for the first six calendar days of this posting, it is only open to ARW represented employees. If, during the initial six days, which ends on April 28, 2024, a qualified ARW represented employee(s) applies, it shall be awarded in accordance with Section 52.06 of the ARW Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). If there are no successful ARW represented bidders, this posting shall be extended to May 3, 2024, and will be considered open to all other applicants.
PURPOSE OF POSITION: To ensure timely and accurate processing of accounts receivable invoices for credit customers’ reservations, cruise trains and pull contracts, including monitoring, reconciliation, and clearing of shortpays, discrepancies, and disputed items. Processes onboard/conductor ticket sales and/or upgrades from passenger trains, and add-on Flagstop ridership from the Hurricane Train. Audits Gift Shop sales and coin-operated vending machine transactions. Custodian for commuter booklets, including issuance accountability and usage reconciliation.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Audits rail services’ rates entered in the passenger reservation system against published retail rates prior to the start of the summer or winter season, and communicates discrepancies for correction.
Collects daily credit vouchers, as applicable, for credit agent transactions, verifies block sales/manifest details, and matches the same to credit agent reservations. Generates and reconciles consolidated invoices with the daily accounts receivable batch report, and emails reconciled invoices to credit agents.
Collects and organizes pull contract vouchers and cruisetrain manifests, reconciles with customer schedules and calendars, enters transactions in the passenger reservation system, and generates and emails corresponding invoices to contract customers, including pull-train head-end power invoices. Maintains and updates cruisetrain- and pull-revenue spreadsheets for cross-validation and reporting.
Interfaces with the Accounts Receivable Manager and credit customers on short-pays, billing discrepancies, disputes, and aged balances, including researching and reconciling amounts with reservation details and back-up vouchers and manifests.
Organizes and maintains billing documents and communications.
Notifies supervisor of any unusual or out-of-balance items. Must use experience and judgment to evaluate and resolve customer complaints, which must be handled in a professional and timely manner.
Processes onboard and conductor ticket sales and/or rail upgrades from passenger trains and Flagstop ridership from the Hurricane Train. The responsibility requires communicating with conductors and/or onboard personnel and customers any undocumented, unclear, and/or missing information needed to complete transaction processing.
Provides training, as necessary and/or requested, on onboard ticket sales and ridership processes and reporting.
Assigned as custodian for accountable commuter books, and responsible for issuance and usage reconciliation.
Audits and reconciles Gift Shop cash and credit card sales reports from three locations (four POS registers), including verifying sales associates’ reports accuracy with sales receipts, deposit slips, POS transactions details, and credit card settlement reports. Maintains daily revenue spreadsheet for back-up to the monthly journal entry.
Coin-operated “Penny Squisher” machines are set up in depots throughout the Railbelt. This position is responsible for coordinating with designated depot personnel on retrieving, counting, depositing, and reporting of machine-collected monies (quarters), and for calculating vendor’s prorated share for remittance.
Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related duties as needed.
Factor 1 - Knowledge Required
Must have a broad understanding of accounting procedures and terminology. Requires a thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), double entry bookkeeping and financial mathematics. Must be able to audit all aspects of daily sales records including associated passenger counts. Must be able to correctly interpret complicated cruise and pull contracts to accurately produce invoices. Must be able to reconcile on-line bookings. Must be proficient in a computerized system/PC environment. Experience using Word, Excel, and Outlook email systems required. Must have the ability to use a computerized reservation system for transaction entry, and to reconcile and research complex accounting transaction discrepancies. Must be able to operate a 10-key machine by touch and possess a minimum of 40 wpm keyboard speed.
Factor 2 - Supervisory Control
Works under the general supervision of the Accounting Manager, Passenger Services. Works independently with a minimum of supervision in performance for a full range of work assignments varying from routine to complex, depending on the daily operations of the ARRC. Completed work is spot-checked for accuracy, and reviewed from the standpoint of expected results and/or complaints and feedback from customers. Uses judgment in planning work schedule, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines. Must be able to close the month and provide accruals in a timely manner.
Factor 3 - Guidelines
In addition to generally accepted cash and internal control methods, incumbent follows policies and procedures outlined in the system user guides and departmental manual. Uses good judgment in application of policies and procedures, locating and correcting errors, and
reconciling payments processed. Guidelines are referred to when needed or when an unusual problem or situation is encountered.
Factor 4 - Complexity
Requires a thorough understanding of a variety of contracts and manifest/voucher handling procedures. The Accounting Technician must possess strong auditing skills as related to auditing travel agents’ and reservation agents’ daily sales reports. Must be capable of handling multiple tasks simultaneously. Must keep abreast of changes/issues related to passenger reservations. Requires use of ERP system and/or PC for data entry and reconciliation, and payment reports.
Factor 5 - Scope and Effect
Reconciles reporting of all Passenger Services sales transactions related to pulls/cruise trains, gift shop and conductor sales. Works under pressure of tight deadlines for daily reconciliations to manifest and vouchers, and is responsible for ensuring current weekly billings, and customer invoice processing. Job performance impacts information that goes into the corporate general ledger and cash flow for the railroad.
Factor 6 - Personal Contacts
Requires contact with customers, vendors and other ARRC personnel in the course of daily business. Requires courtesy and professionalism in all contacts when troubleshooting and resolving issues that could prevent the accounting process from being completed in a timely manner. Must possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
The public usually considers the Passenger Services employee efficiency and attitude as a reflection of the Railroad’s policy. Therefore, courtesy, alertness, efficiency, and integrity in serving the public affect the economic income on the railroad and promote good relations.
Factor 7 - Purpose of Contact
Must use professional judgment when asking for information to resolve problems, prevent errors, or answer questions on issues of varying complexity.
Factor 8 - Physical Demands
Normal office procedures involving large volumes of compiling information and entering the data into the reservation system. Requires scanning or copying, mailing, emailing and filing. Work is sedentary; however, on occasion, incumbent may have to lift up to 25 lbs.
Factor 9 - Work Environment
Corporate office environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
Associate’s degree in accounting or a business-related field is required. Two years of experience processing accounting data in an automated computerized accounting system may substitute for the required education. Four years of accounting-related experience using automated computerized accounting system(s) (Accounts Receivable or Accounts Payable) is required. Must be able to accurately type 40 words per minute and be able to operate a 10- key by touch. Must be proficient in PC spreadsheet, word processing and database programs (Excel, Word and Access preferred). Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs.
The above reflects only the more significant details for the performance of the job and is not intended to be all inclusive.

Additional Required Information

Please include any REQUIRED AND DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS in your APPLICANT PROFILE and/or RESUME. If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment and whether full- or part-time. Your application will be closely reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant will not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

Contact Information

Alaska Railroad Corporation Benefits
The following briefly describes the main benefits available to regular employees of the Alaska Railroad Corporation. Actual benefits differ by bargaining unit.

Retirement Plans
ARRC Pension Plan – Participation is mandatory. You are automatically enrolled in the Plan when you meet the eligibility requirement of your bargaining unit. Employees contribute 9% of their Earnings on a pre-tax basis. The Railroad is exempt from participation in Social Security; however, Medicare Tax is withheld. Participants vest with 5 years of eligible Vesting Service which entitles one to receive a pension benefit at retirement age.
Tier 2 Description (Employees hired after July 1, 2015)
Normal Retirement Age is age 65, however, the plan allows one to retire as early as age 60. The formula for a monthly Normal Retirement Benefits is 2% x Final Average Earnings x all Credited Service.
Early retirement, survivor and disability benefits are available for vested participants.
401(k) Tax Deferred Savings Plan – Participation is optional. You may enroll once you meet the eligibility requirement of your bargaining unit. Depending on the bargaining unit, there may be an employer match.

457 Deferred Compensation Plan – Participation is optional for non-represented employees.

Insurance and Flexible Spending Plans
All plans are optional except the RR Dental Plan for bargaining unit employees.

Health Insurance Plan
A comprehensive health insurance plan, self-insured by the ARRC and administered by Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska. Coverage is also available for the employee’s spouse and dependent children. ARRC and the participant share the premium cost. Bargaining unit employees are Eligibility after 90 days, and non-represented employees are eligible as of the date of hire.
The Railroad offers a Prefered Provider Organization plan (PPO Blue Essentials) and a Consumer Directed Healthcare Plan with a Health Saving Account (Gold Essentials). The Plans have the following features.
The Railroad also offers two dental plans.
The Railroad National Dental for repersneted employees
The Alaska Railroad Optional Dental Plan for both represented and non-represented employees.

Paid Leave & Holidays

Vacation Leave –accrual per bi-weekly pay period:

Represented Employees
0-3 Years of Service = 4 Hours
>3-15 Years of Service = 6 Hours
>15 Years of Service = 8 Hours

Non-Represented Employees
0-3 Years of Service = 6 Hours
>3-15 Years of Service = 8 Hours
>15 Years of Service = 10 Hours

Sick Leave: accrues at 4 hours (Represented) or 2 hours (Non-Represented) per pay period.

11 Paid holidays

For additional information regarding these benefits, please go to www.alaskarailroad.com