February 2015 Archives

Job: Accounting Specialist – AR & Sales Tax – Castelli USA – FILLED

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title
Accounting Specialist – AR & Sales Tax

Company/Organization
Castelli USA

Job Description
Castelli USA is looking for a self-motivated and resourceful individual with a positive can-do attitude and a willingness to take initiative. This individual will have exceptional communication skills and be a team player. This position is responsible for various accounting duties including assisting with collections, customer service and monthly sales tax preparation. Requirements include a strong understanding of basic accounting principles and an accounting or finance degree.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• 2-4+ years of accounts receivable experience, including collections/customer service

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Post customer payments to individual accounts on a daily basis and resolve account discrepancies as they occur.
• Respond to accounting-related customer inquiries regarding AR accounts.
• Review AR accounts to determine the appropriate action for collection.
• Collect on past-due accounts by sending statements and communicating with customers via phone and email while maintaining a strong focus on customer service.
• Use weekly holds report to monitor and follow up on accounts that are on hold.
• Work in tandem with Inside Sales to get holds released so orders can be shipped.
• Prepare monthly sales/use tax returns for review by the Accounting Manager.
• Gather and analyze financial information necessary to prepare sales/use tax returns.
• Collect resale certificates and maintain records for tax exempt sales.
• Take on other various accounting related tasks on an as needed basis.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
• Outstanding organizational skills with high attention to detail.
• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly strong in Excel, as well as, familiarity with accounting and database reporting software.
• Ability to adapt to change and learn quickly.
• Ability to work well under pressure and quickly respond to customer requests.
• Strong business acumen with ability to make lower end decisions and give constructive feedback on accounting matters.
• Ability to work independently and as a collaborative member of a team.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.

Compensation: Castelli USA offers competitive pay; health, vision and dental insurance; 401(k) plan with company match; profit sharing; and paid vacation. Castelli USA is an equal opportunity employer.

How to Apply
For consideration, please submit resume and cover letter to accounting@castelli-us.com

SW Portland Week photo diary: Day 1

Finding my way around southwest Portland.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

This post is part of our SW Portland Week.

Yesterday was an epic day to kick off our SW Portland Week coverage. Riding in the area is challenging enough in nice weather, throw in strong winds and sheets of rain and things get very interesting. Despite the storm, it didn’t keep us from exploring the area’s bikeways.

Who rides? Who drives? And what do residents think?
(Photo J Maus/BikePortland)

This post is part of our SW Portland Week.

Though you can’t truly understand any community from numbers alone, you can’t fully understand it without them, either. As we get into our week in this quadrant, we wanted to ground ourselves in the hard facts behind the photos we’re taking and the people we’re meeting.

Fortunately, the City of Portland does a project every year that goes a long way to understanding the culture of each quadrant.

Jim Anderson
(Photos J. Maus/BikePortland)

This post is part of our SW Portland Week.

Jim Anderson is like many southwest Portland residents who like to ride bikes: He’s a master at finding alternates routes.

“I know all the ways to avoid the major streets,” he shared with me during a chat at Baker & Spice Bakery in Hillsdale today. The bakery overlooks a sea of auto activity: a strip mall parking lot, then two-way traffic on SW Capitol Highway (a.k.a. State Route 10, which in this location carries the combined traffic of two highways — Capitol and Beaverton-Hillsdale), then more auto parking from a strip mall across the street.

It’s a daunting place to ride a bike.

Anderson — a 37-year-old freelance graphic designer, cycling event organizer, and president of the Team Oregon cycling club — says he never rides on the area’s highway streets unless he’s very late, or very tired. That’s because out here in southwest Portland, the flattest and most direct routes also happen to be the worst to ride on.

Possible biking and walking projects that might accompany a transit line through Southwest Portland.
(Maps: Metro)

This post is part of our SW Portland Week.

Interstate Avenue owes its bike lanes to the Yellow Line MAX. The new Tilikum Crossing wouldn’t be standing without the Orange Line.

Sorry, this job has been filled. Browse more great jobs here.

Job Title
Account Service Representative

Company/Organization
Chris King Precision Components

Job Description
Chris King Precision Components™, manufacturer of bicycle components and Cielo Cycles, is seeking qualified applicants for a Account Service Representative position in dealer sales.

This position provides customer service to dealers within a predetermined region and/or dealer type through regular inbound and outbound telephone and email communication. Reaches out to all dealers as assigned in an effort to nurture relations and, thereby, increase sales. Processes orders through data entry and inventory tracking procedures.

Must have a proven track record of 2+ years of delivering superior customer experience, through utilization of product technical knowledge and inventory systems. Must be well versed in discussing product installation, routine maintenance and some technical problem solving. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required. Bicycle industry experience is not necessary but personal excitement, experience and passion about bicycles is.

How to Apply
Please furnish letter of interest & resume by e-mail to human.resources@chrisking.com (No attachments accepted). A drug free environment & EOE. Visit our website at www.chrisking.com.

It’s SW Portland Week: Here’s what to expect

Overlooking I-5 in southwest Portland.
(Photo J Maus/BikePortland)

As promised last month, all this week, Michael Andersen and I will be working and riding in Southwest Portland. The goal is to gain a better understanding of that part of our city (its people and places), and share what we learn and see with all of you.

The weather, topography, and distance from both of our houses (I live in north Portland, Michael lives in northeast) will make things a bit more challenging, but that’s all part of the experience.

Job Title
Bike Shop Retail Coordinator

Company/Organization
Bike Works Seattle

Job Description
Shop Retail Coordinator

Bike Works, the Seattle bike education and community-focused non-profit, is hiring a Shop Retail Coordinator in our community bike shop. The position is part-time (24-30 hours / week, depending on season), paid hourly. The position starts April 1, 2015.

Position Summary: The Shop Retail Coordinator is responsible for customer service, retail inventory management, and merchandising within our earned-income bike shop. Duties include sales, receiving and pricing orders, and maintaining accessible, organized retail displays. Secondarily, the Shop Retail Coordinator will support shop operations by providing mechanical repair services.

Start Date: April 1, 2015

Classification: Part-time, non-exempt, 24-30 hours / week, depending on season

Reports to: Shop Director

Primary Responsibilities:

Deliver professional, accessible, and helpful customer service to a diverse customer base (30%)
• Assist customers in purchasing a bike, helping them find the size and style they need, within their price range
• Help customers choose bike parts and accessories to purchase
• Operate point of sale software and cash register to cash out customers
• Act as public face of Bike Works, providing general information about our organization and program offerings
• Diagnose repair and maintenance work needed on customer bikes

Manage retail shop inventory of new bike parts and accessories (30%)
• Receive, unpack, price, and sort shipments of parts and accessories for the bike shop
• Create and maintain inventory management systems to ensure appropriate quantities and organization of inventory
• Create and maintain sales displays for bikes, parts, and accessories, keeping ample stock displayed
• Populate wholesale parts and accessory orders to reflect purchasing needs
• Perform periodic physical inventory counts

Provide mechanical support in bike shop (15%)
• Diagnose and process bikes dropped off for service at shop
• Adhere to service writing process, seeking to provide value to customer through repair instructions written for mechanic
• Perform bike repairs as needed

Support daily bike shop operations (15%)
• Open and close bike shop
• Answer phone calls and respond to voice messages
• Maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Assist with processing donated bikes, parts, and accessories as needed
• Assist with the recycling of bicycle bi-products and shop materials as needed
• Assist with inventory upkeep and yearly inventory reporting
• Work to create and maintain an environment in our bike shop where youth and adults feel safe, supported, and respected

Participate in organization-wide events, meetings, and staff development processes. (10%)
• Attend staff-wide and departmental meetings and trainings as scheduled
• Attend our Annual Fundraising Auction and participate in other fundraising initiatives

Required Qualifications and Desired Skills

• Retail experience with strong customer service and communication skills
• Strong foundational knowledge of bicycles, bike parts, accessories, and apparel
• Knowledge of bike mechanics
• Mechanical and sales experience in a bike shop is preferred
• Ability to work professionally and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Proficiency with technology including point of sale software, online ordering platforms, Microsoft Office, social media, and databases
• Hard-working, optimistic and enthusiastic demeanor that takes initiative and possesses a high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Ability to work well independently and execute projects with minimal supervision, as well as a collaboratively.
• Experience with, and understanding of, diverse South Seattle communities
• Commitment to environmental stewardship, social justice, and youth development.
• Passion for the mission, vision, and values of Bike Works

Job Location & Schedule

Typical hours for this part-time position are between 10am and 6:30pm, or 10:30am and 7pm, and will include weekends. This job is primarily based in our earned-income bike shop, at 3709 S Ferdinand St., Seattle, WA 98118. Occasional evening events will be required.

Compensation

$14-15 per hour, depending on experience and qualifications, paid hourly

Conditions of Employment

Bike Works is an equal opportunity employer committed to assembling a diverse and talented staff. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, Bike Works does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or marital status. Candidates of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
Please submit a resume and cover letter, including names, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references to steve@bikeworks.org. Applications received by February 26, 2015 will receive priority consideration.

The Monday Roundup: Brain-stress maps, disembowled by a bike thief & more

A bike map built from brain waves.
(Image: MindRider)

Welcome to the first day of BikePortland’s first Southwest Portland Week! All this week, Jonathan and I will be reporting (and usually writing) from west of the hills, sharing the stories of biking here.

But while we get things rolling, we’ll start, as always, with a roundup of great bike links from around the world that caught our eyes this week.

Stress maps: A bike helmet set up to monitor brainwaves for signs of stress has created a unique bike map of Manhattan.

Bike-thief knife attack: A Southeast Portland man was disemboweled by a would-be bike thief at his home last June, he testified last week in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Dear America: It’s not actually that hard.
Just ask Franklin High School.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)

Good bike parking: it’s not that hard but it’s not that common, at least in North America. Except in Portland, where we really do know how it’s done.

The explanations don’t get any shorter and sweeter than this one from BikePortland reader Jessica Roberts, who shared it beneath our story Tuesday about the city enforcing its bike parking code on a North Portland Home Depot in response to a resident’s complaint. (As we wrote, anybody can report potentially out-of-compliance bike parking in Portland by calling (503) 823-CODE (2633) or using the BDS online form.)

Here’s Roberts’ simple definition, plus a couple examples of rack designs that don’t cut it:

Plan now, ride later.
(Photo by J. Maus/BikePortland)

2015 is shaping up to be a great year for off-road cycling in Portland.

We have just learned that the PP&R requested budget for 2015/2016 (PDF) includes $350,000 for an “Off-Road Cycling Master Plan.”

This is nothing short of huge news for mountain biking advocates in Portland who see the lack of such a plan as the last remaining hurdle to more local trails, building more pump tracks, and so on. Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz called for the plan one year ago and just last November the NW Trail Alliance started an online petition to persuade Parks to fund it.

N-NE-SE Portland Good-Bad-Ugly Houses 84

Which is incompatible with which, and why?
(Photo: Mark McClure)

Why does Portland require every new house to have a driveway big enough to fit two cars?

Why do we forbid most lots from having two separate dwelling structures unless one is 25 percent smaller than the other and has a roof with an identical slope?

Why do we ban second kitchens within a single home unless the owner essentially pinky-swears that only one household will be living in the building?

In a city where a chronic shortage of housing in walkable and bikeable areas has driven prices up and up, driving major changes in the culture, these aren’t trivial questions.

The most familiar answer to all of them is one of the most-used words in urban zoning: “compatibility.” But what exactly does that mean?

Job: Accounting Specialist – AR & Sales Tax – Castelli USA – FILLED

SW Portland Week photo diary: Day 1

Understanding SW Portland: What the numbers say

SW rider mini-profile: Jim Anderson and the power of shortcuts

Will SW Corridor bring millions for biking, too? It might depend on the route

Job: Account Service Representative – Chris King Precision Components – FILLED

It’s SW Portland Week: Here’s what to expect

Job: Bike Shop Retail Coordinator – Bike Works Seattle

The Monday Roundup: Brain-stress maps, disembowled by a bike thief & more

Comment of the Week: 43 words that perfectly define good bike parking

Parks bureau adds $350,000 Off-Road Cycling Master Plan to budget

Define ‘compatibility’: Ben Ross on the evasive language of zoning

Latest Headlines

Transportation Commission says state can move forward with I-5 Rose Quarter project

Weekend Event Guide: Sunday Parkways, Naked Ride, immigrant solidarity, and more

TriMet: Service cuts will start in November

Pause or proceed? Commission weighs future of I-5 Rose Quarter project

From the Archives

Opinion: If we’re serious about cycling, let’s get serious about cycling infrastructure