Assistant Assessor

Position Title: Assistant Assessor

Department: Finance/Assessing

Reports to: Director of Assessing

Grade Level:  Grade 9 Personnel Policies, Management Provision

FLSA Status: Exempt- Full-Time, Benefit-eligible

Salary Range: Hiring Range at $33.70 to $39.60

Statement of Duties:  The Assistant Assessor is responsible for the property inspection and office work necessary to document “New Growth” and to maintain the accuracy of the Town’s real property database. The position is required to work closely with the Director of Assessing in analyzing sales and work to ensure data quality and consistency using the CAMA system. This position administers and conducts the cyclical property inspection program and supports the Town’s real estate abatement 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 undergoing physical changes (e.g., new construction, additions, etc.) and performs required cyclical inspections per DOR guidelines and the Duxbury Data Collection Manual.
• Devotes a substantial amount of time in the community, performing the physical tasks related to the inspection, measurement, and photography of land and structures.
• Examines building plans and conducts property inspections to update CAMA system, including updating photographs and 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.
• Assist 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 plans the 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, computer and standard office equipment. 

Nature and Purpose of 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 Minimum Qualifications: 

Education and Experience: Graduate of a two-year college with an associate’s degree with three to five (3-5) years related 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

Knowledge of real property appraisal methods and procedures and Mass General Laws relating to municipal finance and property assessment for tax purposes. Familiarity with the following software is preferable: Vision CAMA, OpenGov Permitting, SoftRight Billing, RRC Personal Property Services, CAI GIS, and Microsoft Office. Valuation experience in a coastal community is desirable. Familiarity with 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 to interact effectively and appropriately with the public and other personnel with diplomacy and tact, perform multiple tasks and maintain confidential information.  Ability to provide expert testimony before the State Appellate Tax Board.

 Skills Required: Excellent mathematical, analytical, organizational, and effective communication skills are required. Microsoft Office Suite preferred. 

Physical and Mental Requirements

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

Physical Demands: Moderate physical demands are required to perform the essential functions of the position. Ability to maneuver stairs and uneven terrain for field inspections during all types of weather conditions. May spend several hours walking or standing. Office work principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment and computer paper. 

Motor Skills: Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle, using a personal computer, or measuring a building. 

Visual Demands: The position requires the employee to read documents and reports for understanding and analytical purposes, review non-written materials for analytical purposes and with a need for color vision.