Assistant Assessor

Town of Duxbury; Duxbury (MA); On-site; USD 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Duxbury is seeking an Assistant Assessor to document New Growth and maintain the real property database. You will work with the Director of Assessing to analyze sales, ensure data quality, and support the abatement process using the CAMA system.

Responsibilities include conducting cyclical inspections, updating records, and assisting with notices and testimony. Massachusetts Accredited Assessor designation is preferred, with evening Board of Assessors meetings possible.

Qualifications

• Graduate of a two-year college with an associate’s degree and 3–5 years related work experience in assessing/appraising or equivalent.
• Massachusetts Accredited Assessor Designation (MAA) preferred or attained within two years of employment.
• Familiar with real property appraisal methods and MA laws relating to municipal finance and property assessment; experience with CAMA systems.

Responsibilities

• Inspect real property undergoing changes (new construction, additions) and conduct cyclical inspections per DOR guidelines and the Duxbury Data Collection Manual.
• Devote time to community fieldwork: inspection, measurement, and photography of land and structures.
• Update CAMA data, review building plans, and prepare sketches and photographs.
• Assist in abatement documentation and provide testimony as required.
• Support office functions: motor vehicle excise, exemptions, forms, DOR reporting, and senior tax work-off processing.

Skills

Property appraisal

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Associate degree

MAA designation preferred

Tools

Vision CAMA

OpenGov Permitting

SoftRight Billing

RRC Personal Property Services

CAI GIS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Title: Assistant Assessor

Department: Finance/Assessing

Reportsto: Director of Assessing

GradeLevel: Grade 9 Personnel Policies, ManagementProvision

FLSAStatus: Exempt- Full-Time, Benefit-eligible

SalaryRange: Hiring Range at $33.70 to$39.60

Statement of Duties

TheAssistant Assessor is responsible for the property inspection and office worknecessary to document “New Growth” and to maintain the accuracy of the Town’sreal property database. The position is required to work closely with theDirector of Assessing in analyzing sales and work to ensure data quality andconsistency using the CAMA system. This position administers and conducts the cyclical property inspection program and supports the Town’s real estateabatement process.

Essential Functions

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Inspects all real property undergoingphysical changes (e.g., new construction, additions, etc.) and performs requiredcyclical inspections per DOR guidelines and the Duxbury Data Collection Manual.
• Devotes a substantial amount oftime in the community, performing the physical tasks related to theinspection, measurement, and photography of land and structures.
• Examines building plans and conduct sproperty inspections to update CAMA system, including updating photographsand creating building sketches.
• Under the direction of the Director of Assessing, the Assistant Assessor applies complex appraisal techniques that are applicable and necessary for the accurate and defensible determination of property values. Ensures compliance with state laws, regulations and best practices in assessing.
• Assists in the preparation of abatement support documentation for the Board of Assessors, and for the defense of values at the Appellate Tax Board. Provides testimony as required.
• Provide support to office staff in the areas of motor vehicle and boat excise, tax exemptions, personal property, form of list, income and expense statements, abutter lists, all required DOR reporting, and senior tax work-off processing.
• Assist the public by providing information in the office and by telephone to property owners and others regarding assessment policies and procedures, the determination of specific valuations, abatements, exemptions, property records, assessed values, etc.
• Works with the Director of Assessing in analyzing specific neighborhoods, home styles, land uses, grades, depreciation, and other factors (i.e., cost per sq ft).
• Attend Board of Assessor meetings, as needed.
• Maintain Massachusetts Accredited Assessor designation.
• Perform similar or related work as required, directed, or as the situation dictates.

Supervision Required

Under general direction of the Director of Assessing, the employee plans and carries out the regular work in accordance with standard practices and previous training, with substantial responsibility for determining the sequence and timing of action and substantial independence in planning and organizing the work activities, including determining the work methods. The employee is expected to solve, through experienced judgment, most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve the particular problem. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with the supervisor, but ordinarily the employee plansthe work, lays it out and carries it through to completion independently.

Supervisory Responsibility

Upon the extended absence of the Director of Assessing, the Assistant Assessor is to assume all duties associated with the Director’s position both in terms of managing the administrative/clerical staff and the work schedule of the Director. These responsibilities also pertain to work-related absences from the office by the Director.

Confidentiality

Employee has regular access to confidential information of the department. Confidentiality must be maintained with regard to this information in accordance with Departmental Policy and the Public Records Act.

Accountability

Consequences of errors, missed deadlines or poor judgment may include adverse public relations, monetary loss, legal repercussions, labor/material costs and personal injury. The production of the annual tax rate in a timely manner means that the tax bills go out on time and would not necessitate additional expenditures for borrowing.

Judgment

The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations, or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices, and precedents, which may be complex or conflicting, at times. Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. Employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making. Requires understanding, interpreting and applying complex federal, state and local regulations along with adherence to USPAP.

Complexity

The work consists of the practical application of a variety of assessing concepts, practices and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact-finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work. Selects and applies appraisal techniques to ensure that appraisal data is accurate and defensible.

Work Environment

The work environment is typical of offices, with exposure to outside elements when conducting field inspections. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, i.e.: Board of Assessors and/or to complete assigned tasks in a timely manner. Employee operates an automobile, laser measuring device, camera, computerand standard office equipment.

Nature and Purposeof Public Contact

Employee regularly interacts with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as civic leaders, peers from other organizations, representatives of professional organizations, and the news media. The employee deals with the public and other individuals on behalf of the department to communicate departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. May be required to discuss controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation.

Occupational Risk

Duties generally do not present occupational risk to the employee. Personal injury could occur through employee failure to properly follow safety precautions or procedures when conducting field inspections.

Recommended MinimumQualifications

Educationand Experience

Graduate of a two-year college with an associate’s degree with three to five (3-5) yearsrelated work experience in the field of assessing/appraising and municipal law; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge,skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

Massachusetts Accredited Assessor Designation(MAA) preferred or attained within two years of employment. Valid Class D Motor Vehicle Driver’s License.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledgeofreal property appraisal methods and procedures and Mass General Laws relatingto municipal finance and property assessment for tax purposes. Familiarity withthe following software is preferable: Vision CAMA, OpenGov Permitting, SoftRight Billing, RRC Personal Property Services, CAI GIS, and MicrosoftOffice. Valuation experience in a coastal community is desirable. Familiaritywith researching and reviewing legal documents relating to property transfer;knowledge of various building types and quality of construction; familiar with the local real estate markets.

Abilities

Ability to make changes to the Town’s CAMA database;ability to inspect, measure and list all types of real property; ability tointeract effectively and appropriately with the public and other personnel withdiplomacy and tact, perform multiple tasks and maintain confidentialinformation. Ability to provide experttestimony before the State Appellate Tax Board.

Skills Required

Excellent mathematical, analytical,organizational, and effective communication skills are required. MicrosoftOffice Suite preferred.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here arerepresentative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully performthe essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made toenable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essentialfunctions.

Physical Demands

Moderatephysical demands are required to perform the essential functions of theposition. Ability to maneuver stairs and uneven terrain for field inspectionsduring all types of weather conditions. May spend several hours walking orstanding. Office work principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, withintermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be someoccasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computerpaper.

Motor Skills

Duties may involveassignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with fingerdexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle,using a personal computer, or measuring a building.

Visual Demands

The position requiresthe employee to read documents and reports for understanding and analyticalpurposes, review non-written materials for analytical purposes and with a needfor color vision.