Property Tax Specialist (Senior Accountant)

Under general direction, performs specialized, difficult, and complex accounting and administrative work as it relates to the planning, management, and coordination of the property tax functions within the Auditor-Controller’s office. The specialist provides research and education to ensure compliance with California law; performs a variety of technical accounting work in the processing, maintenance, and review of property taxes and trust fund accounts; prepares and submits reporting to the State Controller’s Office, State Board of Equalization, and schools; provides professional assistance to County management in areas of expertise; and performs related duties as assigned.

This is a professional single-position class. Incumbents exercise a high level of discretion and independent judgment in performing the full range of routine to complex accounting and financial record-keeping functions relating to property taxes. Incumbents are responsible for applying specialized knowledge of accounting systems, program rules and regulations, and state/federal reporting requirements, along with fundamental knowledge of accounting principles to facilitate fiscal control of subsidiary ledger/trust fund accounts and solve operational problems for a property tax program including apportionments, preparation of the tax roll, reports to the state of California, revenue analysis, trust fund accounting, and others as required. Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures, fund accounting, and fiscal management. This class is distinguished from the Property Tax Accountant by the scope of responsibility, liability, inter-departmental coordination, and by the depth of knowledge of and responsibility for compliance with governmental codes.

EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL JOB FUNCTIONS (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Provides responsible professional and technical analysisin the preparation of the tax rolls, including calculating schedules, setting factors, bond schedules and payments, annexations and subdivisions, board order changes, and prorating property ownership changes.
• Performs specialized technical review and control of accounting records and accounts.
• Reviews and verifies source documents to ensure proper coding and classifications, accurate accounting treatment, and compliance with provisions of contracts/ program/ legal requirements.
• Prepares standardized and specialized financial/statistical reports to County, State, or Federal agencies.
• Researches and resolvesa variety of difficult accountproblems through the review of records, interpretation of program rules and regulations, projection of the impact of potential actions and decision, and the coordination with multiple stakeholders.
• Interprets a wide variety of complex policies, procedures, regulations, contracts, and agreements to determine their provisions and regularly applies them to unusual or difficult situations.
• Develops and updates system codes, rate schedules, apportionment formulas, and accounting protocols to comply with regulations and policies.
• Assists in the research and compilation of information needed to develop budgets, set rates, or allocate costs.
• Creates and maintains detailed, code-referenced guidelines for routine and periodic tasks such as apportionments, roll corrections, supplemental extensions, balancing, state and school reporting.
• Coordinates with Assessor’s and Tax Collector’s Offices to ensure correct interpretation and application of State and County laws, regulations, codes, and policies.
• Performs routine administrative duties as necessary,including but not limited to conducting and attending meetings, reviewing, and analyzing reports,compiling data for reports, preparing reports and correspondence, entering data into the computer and creating/maintaining spreadsheets, processing mail, copying, and filing documents, etc.
• Evaluates operational policies and procedures and makes recommendations for modifications or changes as needed to maximize accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Receives and responds to inquiries and requests for assistance from other Countydepartments and external agencies regarding property tax assessment.
• Participates in operatingan automated office and computerized financial and information system; identifies, develops, and implements new automated applications as needed to facilitate effectiveness and efficiency.
• Prepares a varietyof financial and statistical reportsincluding year-end reporting, budgetary, legal documents, and management analysis.
• Fosters and maintains relationships with Property Tax Accountants and Managers in other counties and participates in that community through activities such as presenting at annual meetings, editing, and updating the Property Tax Manual, or serving on CalSACA Property Tax Manager’s sub-committee.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions, and reviews publications to remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in accounting specialty.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting or a closely related field and three (3) years of experience in governmental or professional accounting preferable in relation to property taxes.

Interested individuals are encouraged to apply on or before May 18, 2026.

Current County Management Association Benefits (subject to collective bargaining: https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/397/Employee-Benefits

· Retirement: CalPERS Retirement tier dependent upon hire date or prior service/reciprocity and Social Security.

· Deferred Compensation plans available

· $1,149-$2,484 contributed towards health benefits, or $600 cash out option per month if opting out of health insurance

· $100k life insurance policy

· Personal leave of 180-260 hours annually depending on years of service.

· Twelve paid holidays per year

· Personal Flex Days: 12 days (prorated) for FY 2025/26

· Management Leave: 80 hours annually

· Education incentive of 2.5%-5% for advanced degrees (upon completion of probation)

· Education reimbursement program

· Retention incentives for 5 (2.5%), 10 (5%), 15 (10%), 20, (15%) and 25 (20%) years of service