SENIOR PROPERTY TRANSFER CLERK

County of Monterey, CA; Salinas (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Monterey seeks a Senior Property Transfer Clerk to lead the Change of Ownership team, review ownership documents, and ensure timely, accurate property transfer determinations. The role requires interpreting complex property records, coordinating workflow, and assisting title companies and the public with inquiries.

Ideal candidates bring experience in property transfers, strong communication, and the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining excellent service.

Qualifications

• Two years of experience in a classification comparable to Property Transfer Clerk in Monterey County.
• Valid California Class C driver license with driving record
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays
• Background check upon employment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• Lead staff processing and reviewing property transfer records.
• Train, assign and review subordinate clerical staff.
• Coordinate workflow with other sections and develop procedures.
• Assist the public, title companies, and attorneys with property ownership inquiries.
• Interpret recorded documents and resolve ownership discrepancies.
• Compose correspondence relating to deeds and assessment records.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Supervisory skills

Mathematical ability

Legal document interpretation

Attention to detail

Tools

Mapping systems

Job description

FINAL FILING DEADLINE:

Monday, September 21, 2026

EXAM#:

26/80R23/08CC

The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.

The Assessor's Office has the responsibility to locate all taxable property in the County and to identify ownership, establish value, and apply all legal exemptions to the property. We are committed to establishing fair and accurate assessed property values and to providing excellent customer service to property owners and the public at large.

The Senior Property Transfer Clerk position for the Assessor, Clerk-Recorder supports the Change of Ownership division by serving as the lead worker for staff responsible for reviewing and processing property ownership documents within the Assessor’s Office. Working under general supervision, the incumbent provides training, assigns and reviews the work of clerical staff, and ensures accurate and timely property transfer determinations. This position is responsible for performing the more complex and technical property transfer analyses, interpreting recorded documents, and resolving ownership discrepancies. Additional duties include coordinating workflow with other sections, developing and recommending procedures, composing correspondence requiring interpretation of property records, and assisting the public, title companies, and legal representatives with inquiries related to property ownership, assessment records, and mapping systems. This classification is distinguished by its lead responsibilities and the higher level of complexity involved in property transfer determinations.

Typical schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00pm and is located in Monterey County.

The ideal candidate brings proven skills in accurate and efficient customer service, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to effectivelyhandlecompetingprioritieswhileensuringtheconstituentremains the top priority. Success in this role requires a customer-first mindset, reliability, and the ability to perform clerical tasks with consistency and professionalism.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process may be used County-wide to fill current and future vacancies on a regular full-time, part-time, or temporary basis.

This classification is part of a flexible series. Incumbents appointed at the lower level of the career series may be promoted up to the higher level of the career series subject to their meeting the employment standards for the higher class and a recommendation for their promotion by the appointing authority.

Responsibilities

• Contacts title companies, taxpayers and attorneys regarding title errors or missing data and reviews and processes information received from them; composes correspondence relating to deeds and assessment records.
• Answers requests for information by independently composing correspondence which may require some interpretation of complex property ownership documents and assessment records.
• Assists the public by answering questions relating to title of property, standard assessment maps and parcel map systems.
• Personally makes and assists in the more difficult and complex transfers of property by analyzing recorded ownership documents.
• Trains, assigns and reviews work of subordinate clerical staff processing and reviewing assessment records.
• Writes procedures and confers with superiors regarding development and implementation of new procedures.
• Reviews and makes recommendations regarding individual work performance of assigned staff; recommends disciplinary action.

To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Senior Property Transfer Clerk.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, including but no limited to, excellent verbal and written communication skills and a high degree of integrity and professionalism.

Thorough knowledge of:

• Legal terminology pertaining to property transfers
• Property description and mapping

Skill and ability to:

• Plan, organize, coordinate, supervise and review the work of subordinate staff
• Read and understand difficult and complex types of property descriptions and legal documents for processing property transfers
• Perform mathematical computations (i.e., subtraction, addition, division, multiplication, fractions, percentages)
• Perform difficult clerical work involving independent judgment
• Organize facts and information in order to draw logical conclusions
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of training, education, and/or experience which provides for the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the duties listed above is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

Experience:

Two years of experience in a classification comparable to Property Transfer Clerk in Monterey County.

As a condition of employment, the following requirements apply:

1. Possess a valid California Class C driver license at the time of appointment and possess and maintain a satisfactory driving record or provide evidence of suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
2. Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency; travel out of County to attend meetings.
3. Prospective employees for the Assessor-County Clerk/Recorder will be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of criminal conviction.

BENEFITS:

The County of Monterey offers an excellent package. Please visit our website to view the Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Julie James, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at [phone], or [e-mail].