GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under broad direction of the Director of Finance and Administrative Services, and in accordance with Connecticut General Statues and Town ordinances, incumbent is responsible for the assessment of property values.  Supervises staff engaged in property valuation, tax calculation, and maintenance of related property records. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. Administers and evaluates assessment activities such as discovery of taxable property, residential property valuation, determination of property ownership, preparation of the Grand List and periodic revaluation studies.  Prepares related reports.
2. Develops appraisal models.  Performs field work relative to residential, commercial and industrial property.  Analyzes and values such properties by computing replacement costs, estimating market values and analyzing financial statements.
3. Prepares annual Grand List by statutory deadline and directs the notification to property owners of assessed values. Explains methods and techniques used to property owners and others such as the Board of Assessment Appeals.
4. Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow, evaluating and standardizing procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.  Maintains records of department activity and completes related reports.
5. Supervises the daily activities of Assessor’s Office staff; provides performance feedback both formally and informally.  Ensures training on and enforces compliance with best practices for safe work practices, with attention to risk management and loss control.  Administers policies and procedures.
6. Ensures a respectful and safe work environment for all by fostering a culture of mutual respect, accountability for ethical behavior and positive leadership, aligning policies, procedures and training with such values. Sets high professional and customer service standards for staff and ensures accountability with those standards.
7. Coordinates department functions relating to Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal System (CAMA) and the Geographic Information System (GIS) with other town agencies and outside vendors as necessary.
8. Coordinates with the Building department to receive permit records and proactively checking that data to update assessed values.
9. Coordinates activities of the Board of Assessment Appeals.  Participates in assessment appeals by property owners and defends Department’s findings including attending court hearings as required.
10. Drafts department budget and controls and accounts for expenditures within fund allocations.

OTHER DUTIES:

1. Participates in employee selection activities.
2. Participates in vendor selection activities.
3. Performs work of a lower classification as needed
4. Performs other related duties.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

• Maintains confidentiality of records and information as appropriate

CONDUCT:

• Observes safe work practices
• Represents the Town in a professional and courteous manner; observes and respects the dignity of all persons

DEPENDABILITY:

• Regularly attends and is punctual for work
• Attends evening meetings as required
• Attends court proceedings as required

NOTE:   The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities.  It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and responsibility.  Incumbent must be able to perform essential duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE:

• Knowledge of
  • Public administration principles and practices as applied to municipal property assessment
  • Property assessment laws, regulations and ordinances
  • Principles and processes for providing customer service
  • Contemporary CAMA systems and their interaction with GIS
  • Administrative software systems and their interrelation with Revenue Collector’s Office

• Skilled in
  • The use of Assessment software
  • Providing a high level of customer service
  • Evaluating performance to make improvements or take corrective action
  • Active listening and social perceptiveness in order to understand others’ concerns
  • Verbal and written communication, including enforcement of regulations with firmness and tact
  • Presentations to boards and commissions
• Ability to
  • Use inductive and deductive reasoning in analysis and problem solving
  • Organize and prioritize work in order to meet deadlines
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to
  • Sit, stand, walk and stoop; carry objects of up to 20 pounds; occasionally, stand for long periods of time, and walk over rough or difficult to traverse surfaces
  • Perform manipulative skills which require hand-eye coordination, such as keyboarding
  • See objects closely, as in typing a document or reading a report
  • Hear normal sounds with some background noise; distinguish voice patterns and communicate through human speech, as in answering a telephone or speaking with others
  • Concentrate on fine detail with frequent interruption, attend to task for 60 minutes or more, remember multiple tasks given to self and others over long periods, and understand the theories behind several related concepts
  • Don protective gear such as boots and hard hats
  • Tolerate seasonal environmental conditions when conducting field work

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in Real Estate, Business or Accounting, preferred, and seven (7) years of progressively responsible assessment or appraisal experience. Relevant work experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis
• Two (2) years in a supervisory capacity

LICENSE OR CERTIFICATION:

• Connecticut Certified Municipal Assessor II
•  Driver’s License