City Assessor at City of Charlottesville – Charlottesville, Virginia

The City Assessor performs complex professional and administrative work directing and overseeing the day-to-day activities, resources, and personnel of the Assessor’s Office and serves as a subject matter expert. Plans, organizes, and directs the appraisal and assessment of real property in the City both taxable and exempt. Appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, City Council. Work is performed under the limited direction of the Director of Finance.

The City Assessor’s Office is responsible for the valuation of all real property within the City limits. In addition to determining the value of land and buildings, we maintain hard copy history files of all parcels in the City, as well as computerized current information specific to each parcel. This information includes ownership information, deed and plat references, ownership history, and specific improvement or building information. To learn more about the Office and its operations, please visit: https://www.charlottesville.gov/210/City-Assessor

The preferred hiring range for this position is between $117,330.07 - $134,309.43 annually. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday, generous paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Manages and controls the assessment of real estate for taxation in accordance with the applicable state laws.
• Appraises for taxation, at its fair market value, on an annual basis all real estate in the city not exempted from taxation by the Constitution of Virginia and not assessable for taxation by the state corporation commission, which shall include all land, buildings, structures and improvements.
• Completes annual assessment by December 31 of the year in which such assessments are made.
• Prepares a land book in such form as may be adopted, showing such assessments in the manner provided by the applicable state laws, which shall constitute the land book. Sufficient copies of such book shall be prepared to comply with the statutes relating to land books.
• Notifies, by mail, each property owner whenever there is a reassessment of real estate, or a change in the assessed value of any real estate as shown by the land books of the city.
• Oversees the administrative appeals process prescribed by City Code including the Board of Equalization.
• Serves as Administrator of the City’s CAMA system (Vision) and provides oversight of data interface with other systems.
• Compres, reconciles, and explains differences in information listed on the Assessor’s Office website, and information available from various popular real estate websites.
• Forecasts and responds to emerging factors such as local, regional, and national real estate trends, energy efficiency and other residential improvements and availability of developable land.
• Supervises, coaches, trains, motivates, and evaluates the performance of Assessor’s Office staff; interviews, selects, assigns work, and administers disciplinary action to subordinate employees in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures. Establishing professional standards and manages work quality, quantity, performance, and accountability.
• Works regularly with, and fosters positive relationships with, other City departments such as but not limited to Treasurer, Economic Development, Neighborhood Development and City Manager; as well as external stakeholders and realty organizations.
• Reports reassessment results annually to the City Council, the City Manager, and the public.
• Regularly reviews operations and administration of the Assessor's Office for opportunities for continuous improvement, improved results, and/or enhanced customer service/experience.
• Effectively and professionally addresses and responds to review and appeal requests.
• Prepares the Assessor's Office annual budget and expenditure controls.
• Serves as a member of the Finance Department’s internal leadership team.
• May be required to represent the City in litigation.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties:

• Performs all other duties required by law and such other duties as prescribed by the City's Director of Finance.
• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.

• Bachelor’s degree with major course work in real estate, business management, economics, or related field AND 10 years of progressively responsible experience in appraising residential and commercial real property including 3 years performing work in a supervisory or senior-level capacity.

• Associate’s degree with course work in real estate, business management or related field AND 12 years of progressively responsible experience in appraising residential and commercial real property including 3 years performing work in a supervisory or senior-level capacity.

• High School or GED AND 15 years of progressively responsible experience in appraising residential and commercial real property including 3 years performing work in a supervisory or senior-level capacity.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

Preferred:

• Certification by the International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO) and/or state license from the Commonwealth of Virginia or similar professional organization.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

• Must meet qualifications prescribed by the Department of Taxation.
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to City’s criteria.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge

• Comprehensive and advanced knowledge of real estate assessment policies, practices and regulations. Complete comprehension of developing and fostering relationships, meeting internal and external customer requirements, solving common and unusual problems, able to advise on technical matters, and serve as a resource for others.
• Comprehensive knowledge of building construction practices and for building and land values.
• Comprehensive knowledge of modern principles, practices, objectives, and philosophies of real property assessment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of state laws, charter provision and municipal ordinances relating to real property assessment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) system or similar appraisal software.
• Thorough knowledge of personal management, budgeting, and effective record management.

Reading

• Advanced: ability to read and understand complex written materials such as books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents. Ability to read and understand building construction plans and specifications, cadastral mapping, and GIS systems.

Writing

• Advanced: ability to organize data and develop reports and materials such as researched editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques. Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex thoughts and ideas in writing.

Math

• Advanced: ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories, work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables. Ability to deal with a system of real numbers, and practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

Communication Skills

• Advanced: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, homeowners, business owners, neighborhood organizations, employees, elected officials, and the public. Make recommendations regarding policy development and implementation. Effectively communicate complex ideas and processes to a wide variety of audiences. Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. The art of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and acceptance of ideas. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Administrative Direction: normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements, accepted practices, and according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance is reviewed periodically.

Technical Skills

• Skilled: work requires comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Ability to operate standard office equipment, computers, calculators. Proficient in more advanced software applications, as well as Excel, Word and PowerPoint, GIS, CAMA, and in special financial reporting and tracking systems used within functional area.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Oversees budget preparation of a division or department budget. Reviews and approves expenditures of significant budgeted funds for the department or does research and prepares recommendations for organization-wide budget expenditures.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages, monitors, and directs work performance of subordinates and subordinate supervisors, makes final decisions on hiring, discipline, performance evaluation, setting program/work objectives and realigns work and staffing as needed.

Other Characteristics

• Time pressures
• Frequent change of tasks
• Works closely with others as part of a team
• Tedious or exacting work
• Independently balance multiple tasks simultaneously
• Constant interruptions and requests for service
• Work effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• May require additional hours outside of normal schedule.
• May require representing the city in litigation.

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Infrequently requires walking over rough or uneven surfaces, bending, stooping, and standing.
• Must frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Primarily, indoor office work where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust; however, during field visits, may be exposed to extreme temperatures, outdoor weather conditions, and allergens.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.