Senior Auditor-Appraiser

Position Information
The County of Sonoma is looking for an experienced Auditor-Appraiser to grow their career and join the Assessor's Office team as a Senior Auditor-Appraiser!
Starting salary up to $54.48/hour ($113,706/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*
As a Senior Auditor-Appraiser, you will provide training and review the work of Auditor-Appraisers, support staff, and lead staff in the valuation of boats and aircraft. Additionally, you will manage appeals scheduling, preparation and presentation; perform audit-appraisals that involve the largest businesses and most complex audit appraisal methodologies; coordinate staff schedules and coverage for unit's customer service counter; provide public outreach and training; and support special projects.
As a Senior Auditor-Appraiser, you will also be responsible for the following:

• Reviewing and discussing audit findings with property owners or their representatives including explaining the applicable tax codes and procedures related to business and personal property audits and appraisals
• Determining assessed values for business assets and fixtures
• Providing customer service via phone and in person to taxpayers
• Assisting taxpayers with their property tax matters and property statement filings
• Assisting the Supervising Auditor-Appraiser on closing the annual Assessment Roll
• Preparing for assessment appeals and testifies before the Assessment Appeals Board
• Performing in-person site inspections when needed to collect and verify property data, equipment, fixtures and other improvements
• Assisting the Supervising Auditor-Appraiser with the participation in the recruitment, selection and development of future staff
• Performing computer searches of data for property ownership, valuations and other information

The ideal candidate will possess:

• An in-depth knowledge of property tax rules, with the ability to effectively communicate tax rules and regulations
• Experience providing staff and public trainings and workshops
• Knowledge of principles of physical, economic, and functional obsolescence
• Strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a team environment
• Keen analytical skills to make independent judgments with limited information
• The ability to follow through on projects and assignments in a timely matter
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and proficiency in using tax appraisal-related software and data programs
• Possession of the Certified Public Accountant license is highly desired (but not required)

Please note: The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is responsible for the certification of state and county assessors' personnel performing appraisals for property tax purposes. Statutes require the BOE to certify Auditor-Appraisers before they perform these duties. The certification includes an initial evaluation of the candidate's education and experience, and the successful completion of a qualifying examination. Please visit the California State Board of Equalization website for the certification requirements.
Board of Equalization License/Certification requirements

• Hold a four-year degree with a specialization in accounting from a recognized institution of higher education (accredited) or be a licensed accountant in California or have passed a government civil service or merit system examination regularly given for the position of accountant or auditor by the Board of Equalization

• A degree with a specialization of accounting consists of either 18 semester units (or quarter equivalents) of accounting and/or auditing courses from a recognized institution of higher education
• Business law and economic classes may not contribute toward the 18 units; or 19 semester units (or quarter equivalents), 16 of which must be accounting and/or auditing courses from a recognized institution of higher education, and 3 semester units may be either business law or economic classes.
• Examples of accounting courses would include Principles of Accounting, Intermediate Accounting, Advanced Accounting, Governmental Accounting, Cost Accounting, Tax Accounting or Auditing

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 (available until 6/30/25) and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory
This recruitment is being conducted to fill a Senior Auditor-Appraiser position in the Clerk Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters (CRA) Department in the Assessor's Office. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience* : Any combination of education and work experience which would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed herein. Normally, this would include a Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, from an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting, including courses in basic, intermediate and advanced accounting and auditing or an active licensed accountant in the State of California, AND three years of recent experience in performing property tax audits in a California Assessor's office or in the State Board of Equalization's Property Tax Department; at least two years of this experience must have been at a level comparable to an Auditor-Appraiser II.
* The qualifications for this classification are subject to the California State Board of Equalization's current standards.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Certificate : A permanent certificate issued by the California State Board of Equalization as an appraiser for property tax purposes must be obtained during the one-year probationary period. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working Knowledge of : personal property appraisal and assessment principles, practices and techniques and California property tax laws and rules; the methods and practices used in auditing the accounting and financial records of businesses.
Ability to : read, interpret and apply the rules, regulations, policies and procedures that relate to the Assessor's Office; analyze financial and accounting data and draw logical conclusions therefrom; speak and write effectively and establish and maintain cooperative relations with the public and with fellow employees; apply accounting and auditing techniques to practical field problems. Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: KK