About the Department
Direct the appraisal of property values in the County to assure fairness to taxpayers and to the County in establishing appropriate property values for taxation purposes.
Among the services provided to the citizens of the County, the Assessor’s office establishes the fair value of the County’s real and much of its personal property in order to provide a legal and equitable basis for taxing its citizens. Establishing these fair values relies on appraisals of the values of these properties according to established legal methods and procedures. This position directs all these appraisals. All of this appraisal work is closely governed by state statutes and regulations.
Position Duties
The following examples of duties and accountabilities illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position. Employee must comply with all County and department policies, procedures, WAC’s, or other regulatory bodies.
- Appraisal Direction/Supervision:The incumbent personally directs the professional appraisal work of all Appraisers and is responsible for the supervision of all Office Staff. This includes such actions as: assigning field territories and duties to Appraisers; developing policies to guide assigned staff; participating in selection of assigned staff; reviewing and evaluating the work of assigned staff; conducting training of assigned staff; monitoring staff work to assure it is performed in accordance with statutes and regulations. The work also includes assisting Appraisers with complex tasks such as determining losses on destroyed property and preparing and defending valuations before the County Board of Equalization and the State Board of Tax Appeals.
- Performing Appraisals: The incumbent may perform field appraisals on large and complex industrial and commercial properties in assistance to the Commercial/Industrial Appraiser as well as defending valuations before the board of Equalization and the State Board of Tax Appeals. Tasks also include performing complex sales analyses, ratio analyses and calculation of economic trends.
Minimum Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Any combination of education and experience may be substituted as long as it provides the desired skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required:
- Analysis of appropriate data on real estate values and markets;
- Residential, commercial and agricultural property appraisal techniques and principles;
- Applied mathematics for accurate measurements and calculations of geometric and monetary data;
- Reading and interpreting maps, aerial photographs and computerized land diagrams;
- Operation of personal computers and assigned software.
- Valid Driver’s License with proof of automobile insurance
- Background Check: Must have an acceptable background record
- Driving Abstract: Must have an acceptable driving record
Preferred:
These skills and abilities typically are acquired through a combination of experience and training, which would include at least five years of progressively responsible experience in real property appraisal together with certification as a qualified appraiser by the State of Washington or equivalent examinations conducted by the International Association of Assessing Officers, the Society of Real Estate Appraisers and/or the American Institute of Real Estate Appraisers.
Other Qualifications
The Appraiser’s duties are carried out in both an office environment at a desk, using a computer and other office equipment, and field inspections of land and buildings in a variety of weather and geographical locations. Employee may be exposed to varying temperatures, office supply odors, and substandard conditions in the field.
The physical abilities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk on varying surfaces including uneven surfaces, sit, write, hear, speak and lift up to 50 lbs. of unequal weight. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision, peripheral, depth perception. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.