Appraiser Trainee

About the Position

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time throughout the County.

The County of San Luis Obispo is looking for a curious and motivated Appraiser Trainee to join our team! In this role, you’ll learn the appraisal process through training and hands-on experience. If you’re detail-oriented, enjoy research, and have an interest in real estate or property values, this is a great opportunity to start your career and work toward becoming a certified appraiser.

Under the direction of an assigned supervisor, performs a variety of duties in appraising real and personal property for tax assessment purposes; and other related duties as required.

(Not in order of importance)

• Collects and analyzes data to determine market value of properties as a result of changes in ownership, new construction, improvements, alterations, additions, removals, damages or changes in land-use, zoning or other factors affecting property value.
• Utilizes information on construction costs, sales, rents, leases, business income and expenses in determining cost trends and unit cost factors; determines depreciation factors and their effects on market value.
• Performs onsite inspection of properties to measure, plot and describe land and improvements; identifies significant characteristics including quality and use.
• Gathers and assembles information to be used in setting assessment standards and values.
• Reads and interprets legal descriptions, blueprints and assessor maps.
• Answers taxpayer inquiries concerning assessment laws, values, appraisal methods, billing and assessment issues.
• Investigates complaints and takes appropriate action as directed.
• May assist or lead in the development of new systems, workflow, procedures or policies to be used in the Assessor’s Office.
• May be called upon to assist, coordinate or serve on special projects and/or teams.
• Presents cases and appears as a witness in equalization hearings before the Assessment Appeals Board.
• May train and mentor subordinate appraisal staff.
• Prepares a variety of reports and correspondence.

The Ideal Candidate

Knowledge of:

• Appraisal principles, methods, procedures, mathematics and terminology pertinent to appraisal of real property for ad valorem property taxation
• Economics of value and price as they affect the valuation of real property
• Building design and construction characteristics; building materials and costs
• Provisions of the California State Constitution and Revenue and Taxation Code pertaining to the assessment of property for ad valorem taxation purposes
• Common methods of describing real property
• Basic computer software including those applications pertinent to the appraisal of real property and the use of spreadsheet programs
• Assessor’s office organization, procedures and standards as well as strategic direction and goals
• Current technological developments and industry trends in area of expertise
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Oral and written communication skills
• Principles of leadership and training

Ability to:

• Read and interpret laws and regulations, maps and property descriptions
• Independently analyze appraisal data and make proper determinations of value
• Analyze appraisal problems, prepare sound recommendations and adopt effective courses of action
• Prepare concise and accurate written or oral reports and correspondence
• Provide testimony and reports for equalization hearings before the Assessment Appeals Board
• Embrace and follow Assessor’s Office policies, goals, Guiding Principles and Mission – Vision - Values Statement
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships; communicate and work effectively with others
• Foster a spirit of teamwork and support when interacting with staff and others
• Operate a computer and assigned office equipment
• Maintain a safe and orderly work area

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

All Levels: Either A:Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree; OR B:Graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D. certificate and four years of job related, relevant experience as defined by the State of California State Board of Equalization Property Tax Rules, Chapter 1, Subchapter 2, Article 7, Rule 283 which includes Accountant, Auditor, Real Property Appraiser, Building Cost Estimator, Engineer, Real Estate Loan Agent or Underwriter, Right-of-Way Agent, Licensed Building Contractor, Real Estate Licensee Licensed by the California Department of Real Estate, or any other experience approved in Rule 283.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources athr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website atwww.slocounty.ca.gov.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points
If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity
The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection / promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.

Make a Difference
Employees of the County of San Luis Obispo are public servants who impact the lives of our community every day. From supporting efforts to reduce homelessness, keeping our drinking water clean, or serving the families in need in the community, County employees make a difference.

Compensation and Benefits
Your annual salary is supplemented by a generous benefit package.

In general, temporary employees are not eligible for County-sponsored benefits and may have limited benefit options available to them. For more information on benefit eligibility, please e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us.

For additional information regarding the benefits listed that may be available to you, visit the associated Benefits-At-A-Glance webpage (click here for link).

Some benefits include:

• Medical (PPO, EPO, HDHP), Dental (HMO, PPO) and Vision Insurance
• Health enhancing programs such as Hinge Health, GIThrive and Carrum Health for medical enrollees.
• Cafeteria (County contribution to pay for insurance premiums)
• Free visits to the employee health clinic
• Mental Health resources/benefits including Headspace
• Voluntary insurance plans (life insurance, disability, critical illness and many more)
• A lifelong retirement benefit through the San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
• Optional deferred compensation plan
• Tax savings accounts (medical and dependent care)
• Paid personal, sick and vacation days
• 12 paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Education and Wellness Allowance
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Family Friendly workplace policies
• Flexible work schedule options
• Rideshare commuter benefits
• Pet Insurance

The County of San Luis Obispo has been recognized as a Diamond Level Family Friendly Workplace by San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. We support our employees through: childcare assistance, flexible scheduling practices, paid and unpaid leave, comprehensive health benefits, flexible spending accounts, and employee assistance programs.

Pension Benefit and Employee Contribution Rates:
The County's pension is a defined benefit plan that provides a guaranteed monthly pension payment for life based on your time in service, wages, and other factors. The County is the primary contributor to the pension fund, but the health of the pension fund also depends on mandatory employee contributions. Employees are required to pay a percentage of their base pay towards the pension fund, ranging from 5% to 19%. This amount is deducted from your paycheck pre-tax every pay period. To find out how much will be deducted from your paycheck should you be hired for this position, please contact Pension Trust at (805) 781-5465.

Healthcare Benefits and Cafeteria Contributions:
The County offers comprehensive medical coverage to you and your family, along with two dental plan options and vision coverage. All permanent employees receive a monthly employer contribution (or ‘cafeteria’ contribution) to help them pay for their portion of the medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums. The amount of the cafeteria contribution varies by Bargaining Unit (BU) and the extent to which employees enroll their dependents. If the cafeteria amount is greater than your selected premiums, the remainder of the cafeteria is paid out to you in your paycheck as taxable income. If the cafeteria amount is less than your monthly premiums, you pay the remainder of the premiums with pre-tax wages.

To estimate your out-of-pocket costs (or cashback from extra cafeteria), visit the Cafeteria Rates webpage (click here for link).

Learning and Development
The County prioritizes your learning, personal and professional development, and career growth. Employees have access to over 1500 on-demand courses, instructor led courses, and job-specific trainings.

Employees can take courses to upskill to make themselves more competitive for promotional opportunities and further their career growth. Examples of courses include:

• Emotional Intelligence
• Supervisor/Manager academies
• Microsoft Suite courses
• Defensive Driving
• Financial management
• Retirement preparedness
• Teambuilding
• Written Communication
• Conflict Management
• Clifton StrengthsFinder and DISC
• Job specific conferences/trainings

Student Loan Forgiveness
Did you know that if you are employed by a government agency you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
County employees also have access to GotZoom, a program that offers tools and support to navigate your federal student loans.

Homebuyer assistance program
Employees have access to the “Assist-to-Own” program sponsored by Golden State Finance Authority (click here for link to more information) to get a loan for the down payment.