The Basics
Division: Account Control
How long have you been at City Light? I celebrated my one-year anniversary in February.
Tell us about your role: As an accounting technician, my main priority is serving people. My duties include researching accounts, verifying payments, issuing refunds and transfers, reviewing voucher approvals, preparing stop payments affidavits, sending payment cancellations, and assisting customers. We mainly handle refunds for unclaimed property, renewable energy/solar, and the Utility Discount Program. We carefully check each refund to ensure it goes to the right person, for the correct amount, and to an updated address to avoid delays. Customers appreciate our due diligence when we contact them to make sure their information is current. Ultimately, we are here for the customers.
Background
Hometown: Seattle, Wash.
Alma mater: University of Washington
Discipline/Trade of study: Bachelor of Arts and Science
Tell us about your family/pets: My family consists of my mom, dad, and me. Yes, I am an only child. My parents immigrated from Hong Kong and met in Seattle.
Just for fun
What’s your favorite way to relax and unwind? Recently, I have been into old sitcoms, such as “Hazel,” “Designing Women,” “The Jeffersons,” and “That Girl.” Simpler times, great fashion, and mad funny. In terms of outside activities, I enjoy film photography, visiting new eateries, and getting lost in museums.
What would people never guess that you do in your role? Account control may often be associated with refunds, the Utility Discount Program, and unclaimed property. We research and collaborate with different divisions to ensure we provide accurate refunds, information, and instructions to our customers. For instance, when a customer requests a check reissue request due to not receiving it in the mail, we work with treasury to locate if the check was returned to us. This minimizes the amount of stop payment affidavits that customers need to fill out. We do not want to inconvenience customers and delay the check reissue process. I feel like account control is like the jack-and-jill-of-all-trades.
What is your motto or personal mantra? When I start something, I give it my all. Whether it’s a small task like folding laundry or a big accomplishment like being the first to graduate university in my immigrant family, I give it my all. There may not always be a tomorrow.
What is something most people don’t know about you? I have over six years of experience in the finance industry as a universal banker, which advises clients on a variety of financial matters. I helped customers from different cultures and backgrounds. Some customers were hesitant to seek help, especially if they had been discriminated against in the past. I’m passionate about helping customers identify their problems and guiding them to a resolution. Advocating for customers was the most rewarding aspect of my banking career.
If you could use two words to describe yourself, what would they be? Bubbly and genuine. My cubicle buddy nicknamed me Bubbles when we first met, and it just stuck. It’s important to be friendly and transparent. I want to build trust and strong relationships with internal and external customers. If I don’t have an answer, I point customers to someone who can help.