Auditor-Appraiser Trainee/I/II

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associates degree 3.5% for completion of a bachelors degree OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Based on agency need proficiency levels by exam are $.65 per hour (Level I) $.80 per hour (Level II) or $.90 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual - New regular full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase atand 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Vacation Redemption - After 20800 hours (approximately 10 years) of continuous County service an employee may elect to cash in or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave - Full time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the Countys 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans You are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical dental and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical dental and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Participation in the Countys defined pension plan which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
• Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement Disability Plans Employee Assistance Program Life Insurance Wellness Program.

THE ASSESSOR

California tax law directs the Assessor to discover inventory and assess property for tax purposes and to keep a public record of this information. The primary mission of the Ventura County Assessor is the production of the local assessment roll that reflects the current status of ownerships owners; addresses and values of all locally assessed property.

The Assessors office is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion at all levels of our organization recognizing that equity is a fundamental principle that applies to all polices practices and systems. We celebrate community and employee diversity striving for inclusion and belonging and promoting empowered participation. We encourage a fair and inclusive environment enabling all to participate and reach their full potential aspiring to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities that we serve.

THE POSITION

The Auditor-Appraiser under general supervision (Trainee I) and direction (II) performs progressively complex audits of financial records and appraisals of taxable personal properties to establish verify and update assessment rolls; and performs related duties as required.

At each successive level the incumbents are expected to demonstrate greater initiative self-direction independent judgment and conflict resolution with less supervision than the preceding classification.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES

Auditor- Appraiser Trainee: $28.84- $38.99 per hour

Auditor- Appraiser I: $30.12- $42.13 per hour

Auditor- Appraiser II: $34.74 - $48.70 per hour

VETERANS POINTS: The Auditor-Appraiser Trainee is a trainee/entry level classification and Veterans Points may apply to eligible applicants. Documentation of military service (DD-214) must be submitted prior to close of recruitment in order to receive points.

Auditor-Appraiser Trainee/I/II classifications are represented by the Ventura Employees Association (VEA) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: Tuesday June 3 2025

CLOSING DATE: Tuesday June 17 2025

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Inspects and analyzes pertinent records of business firms to determine assessability and value of machinery equipment fixtures boats aircraft and other taxable properties for various assessment rolls;
• Prepares schedules working papers and reports detailing the rationale behind assessed values;
• Examines personal property declarations filed by taxpayers for accuracy and consistency contacts taxpayers to discuss omissions or discrepancies and makes necessary adjustments for assessment purposes;
• Performs field work to discover and inspect businesses for assessment purposes;
• Explains assessments to taxpayers and resolves complex issues related to property assessments for tax purposes; prepares the most difficult assessment appeal cases and testifies as an expert witness at Assessment Appeals Board hearings;
• Computes and adjusts sales data original costs depreciation factors and replacement costs of equipment and fixtures to arrive at fair market value for assessment purposes;
• Travels in-county out-of-county or out-of-state to examine financial records of selected taxpayers;
• Performs other duties as required.

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION TRAINING and EXPERIENCE

Some (Trainee) considerable (I) or extensive (II) experience depending upon the level in the series in accounting auditing and appraisal of personal property which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge skills and abilities in conjunction with qualifications set by the California State Board of Equalization under Revenue and Taxation Code.

The required knowledge skills and abilities can be obtained by:

Education

• Completion of a Bachelors four (4) year degree with a specialization in accounting from an accredited institution of higher education; OR
• Completion of a Bachelors four (4) year degree in another subject as long as either of the following have been completed:
  • Eighteen (18) semester units (or quarter equivalents) of accounting and/or auditing coursework from a recognized institution or higher education of which business law and economic classes cannot contribute toward the eighteen (18) semester units; OR
  • Nineteen (19) semester units (or quarter equivalents) of which sixteen (16) semester units must be accounting and/or auditing courses from a recognized institution of higher education and three (3) semester units may be either a business law or economics class; OR
• Active licensed California accountant (Certified Public Accountant in the State of California); OR
• Passed the state or a county or city and county or city civil service or merit system examination regularly given for the position of accountant or auditor by the testing body;

AND

Experience

Auditor-Appraiser Trainee: No experience is required.

Auditor-Appraiser I: One (1) year of experience as an Auditor - Appraiser Trainee or Auditor Trainee.

Auditor - Appraiser II: Two (2) years of experience as an Auditor-Appraiser or Auditor. One (1) year must have been at the Auditor - Appraiser I level.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Driver License: A valid California driver license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
• State Board of Equalization Certification for Property Tax Purposes: Appointees must attain State certification as an Auditor-Appraiser for property tax purposes within one (1) year of appointment. Failure to pass the State Board of Equalization Certification Examination within one (1) year may result in termination.
• Conflict of Interest Statement: In accordance with the Political Reform Act of 1974 incumbents at all levels will be required to file an annual Conflict of Interest Statement.

Verification of a college degree and college-level coursework as described above is required.You maysubmit your transcripts or grade reports from an accredited college or university which shows your name the conferred date of your degree and the major area of study using one of the following options:

• Attach to your online application
• Email to
• Mail to Human Resources 800 South Victoria Avenue L#1970 Ventura CA 93009. Materials must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you need additional time to submit transcripts contact the analyst conducting the recruitment for an extension at

Degree(s) from a foreign institution require an academic credential evaluation to determine the U.S. equivalency.

If the name on this documentation is different from the name on your application include documents that show the name change (e.g. a marriage certificate).

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Some to thorough knowledge (depending on level in series) of: general accounting and auditing principles practices and methods; California Revenue and Taxation Code and California Administrative Rules applicable to personal property assessments; various appraisal techniques applied in the appraisal of personal property fixtures of a variety of businesses; methods and procedures for determining depreciation appreciation and replacement cost on equipment and fixtures for appraisal purposes.

Working knowledge of: manual and automated accounting and record-keeping systems in the Assessors Office and in business firms audited.

Working ability to: plan and organize own work requirements in order to meet tight time schedules; communicate effectively with taxpayers and their representatives on audit findings; prepare concise reports to support tax assessments; conduct audits in-county out-of-county and out-of-state when required.

Supplemental Information

Incumbents may be required to travel out of state on occasion to audit financial records of taxpayers and occasionally may be exposed to hostile property owners and/or adversarial working conditions.

FINAL FILING DATE: Applications must be received by the County of Ventura Human Resources Division no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 17 2025.

To apply online please refer to our web site at If you prefer to fill out a paper application form please call for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura Human Resources 800 South Victoria Avenue L-1970 Ventura CA 93009.

Information for Transfer Candidates: If presently permanently employed in another merit or civil service public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a merit or civil service style examination then appointment by Lateral Transfer may be possible. If interested please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.