Property Tax Specialist

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 coordinator 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.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Auditor-Controller or designee.  May exercise direct or general supervision over assigned staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

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. (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.

• Providesresponsibleprofessionalandtechnicalanalysisinthepreparationofthetaxrolls, including calculatingschedules,settingfactors,bondschedulesandpayments,annexationsand 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.  
• Researchesandresolvesavarietyofdifficultaccountproblemsthroughthereviewof records, interpretationofprogramrulesandregulations,projectionoftheimpactofpotentialactions and decision, and the coordination with multiple stakeholders.
• Interpretsawidevarietyofcomplexpolicies,procedures,regulations,contracts,andagreements 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.
• Performsroutineadministrativeduties asnecessary,includingbutnotlimited toconducting and attendingmeetings,reviewing,andanalyzingreports,compilingdatafor 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 andrespondstoinquiriesandrequestsforassistancefromotherCountydepartments and external agencies regarding property tax assessment.
• Participatesinoperatinganautomatedofficeandcomputerizedfinancialandinformation system; identifies,develops,andimplementsnewautomatedapplicationsasneededtofacilitateeffectiveness and efficiency.
• Preparesavarietyoffinancialandstatisticalreportsincludingyear-endreporting,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,andtrainingsessions,andreviewspublicationsto remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in accounting specialty.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.  

Knowledge of:

• ApplicableFederal,State,County,Department,andDivisionlaws,regulations,codes,policies, and procedures.
• All pertinent state and county laws, codes, ordinances, regulations and standards pertaining to property taxes.
• Modernprinciples,practices,andmethodsofpublicandgovernmentalaccountingand financing, including program budgeting and auditing.
• General principles and practices of data processing and its applicability to accounting and government operations.
• Principles and practices of business organization and public administration.  
• Principles and procedures of financial record keeping.  
• County and department policies and procedures.
• Principles of employee training, supervision, and leadership
• Modernofficepractices,methods,andcomputerequipmentandapplicationsrelatedto accounting applications, including word processing and spreadsheet software.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.   
• Techniquesforprovidingahighlevelofcustomerservicebyeffectivelydealingwiththe public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Interpret, analyze, and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Train, supervise and evaluate assigned staff.
• Analyze financial data and draw sound conclusions.  
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.  
• Analyze situations accurately and develop effective course of action. 
• Conduct research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Understand and carry out a variety of complex instructions in a responsible and independent manner.
• Prepare clear, complete, and concise financial statements and reports.  
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial and statistical computations.  
• Establish and maintain a variety of files and records.  
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.  
• Usetact,initiative,prudence,andindependentjudgmentwithingeneralpolicy,procedural,and legal guidelines.  
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.  

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:

Equivalenttograduationfromafour-yearcollegeoruniversitywithmajorcourseworkinaccountingora closely related field and three (3) years of experience in governmental or professional accounting preferable in relation to property taxes.

Licenses and Certificates:

• None

Salary : $68,924 - $83,777