Senior Appraiser

Department: County Assessor FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

General Definition of Work

Performs difficult skilled technical work assessing real estate personal property and exempt property in order to determine market value analyzing and applying appraisal methods providing information to taxpayers citizens and other agencies maintaining property records and related work as apparent or assigned. Gathers and analyzes sales data and computes ratios to be in compliance with Minnesota state statues. Assists with training new hires and subordinate staff and guides them in day to day operations. Work is performed under the general direction of the County Assessor and/or Assistant County Assessor.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The below listed statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified.

Essential Functions

Independently performs complex physical inspections exercising professional judgement of new existing and remodeled property and structures; collects information on condition quality age and size to determine market value and classification of property or structure being considered; determine if property qualifies for any special programs.

Compiles and analyzes market data to allow reliable estimate of property values; determines valuation and classification of properties per MN Tax Law; determines and utilizes the most appropriate approach to value based on the specific property.

Provides testimony and information and conducts review appraisals upon request of taxpayer or local and county boards of appeal and equalization on disputed valuations or classifications; determines if changes in value or reclassification are necessary.

Provides information to taxpayers and the general public on property values classification tax programs assessments and valuation procedures and standards while adhering to State guidelines and policies.

Gathers and analyzes sales data by reviewing information on certificates of real estate contacting sellers and/or buyers on properties with extreme sales ratios to help determine market trends and qualification of sales; uses data in setting values in property appraisals.

Maintains various computerized property records systems including CAMA (Computer Aided Mass Appraisal);performs data entry and database management related to appraisal and assessing activities.

Serves as a resource person for staff; provides guidance mentorship and training to new and/or lesser experienced Appraisers and Technicians. The Senior Appraiser regularly provides training and mentorship to less experienced Residential Appraisers and Assessment Technicians.

Other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Comprehensive knowledge of MAAO educational materials; thorough knowledge of business and residential blueprints and drawings; thorough knowledge of GIS aerial photos; thorough knowledge of applicable local state and federal statutes and regulations; general knowledge of construction materials practices and types; general knowledge of agricultural information and practices; thorough skill using standard office equipment and related hardware and software; thorough skill using measuring devices; thorough skill using standard tools of the trade including a digital camera; ability to apply real estate knowledge; ability to interpret and compile sales ratio studies; ability to compose general letters and correspondence; ability to complete housing and appraisal applications and paperwork in a timely and efficient manner; ability to work within the computer aided mass appraisal database system and tax system; ability to safely operate an automobile; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers fractions and decimals; ability to compute rates ratios and percentages; ability to work efficiently within an emotionally charged situation; ability to perform complex property tax calculations; ability to analyze factors that influence property values; ability to read legal descriptions; ability to understand and apply governmental accounting practices in maintenance of financial records; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with taxpayers staff realtors region representatives city officials business owners and the general public.

Education and Experience

Associates/Technical degree in business finance real estate or related field and considerable appraisal experience or equivalent of education and experience. Requires the Accredited Minnesota Assessor licensure and five years assessing experience.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; continuous exposure involving hazardous conditions or situations; work frequently involves repetitive motions and requires standing much walking sitting speaking or hearing using hands to finger handle or feel climbing or balancing stooping kneeling crouching or crawling reaching with hands and arms pushing or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision distance vision ability to adjust focus depth perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data using of measuring devices operating machines operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to extreme outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet humid conditions (non-weather) working near moving mechanical parts exposure to extreme cold (non-weather) and exposure to extreme heat (non-weather); work is generally in a very loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance construction noise animal noise).

Working Conditions

Duties of this position are performed in a continuous exposure to hazardous conditions. Appraisal activities may involve viewing inspecting measuring and appraising property at times in remote locations construction sites and unsafe buildings in varying weather conditions. Occasionally exposure to angry animals and irate citizens with a chance for injury. There are instances when taxpayers become irate verbally violent threatening and/or intimidating which creates a situation for staff to get hurt physically and emotionally thus creating a stressful work environment.

Special Requirements

Must have Accredited Minnesota Assessor certification by successful completion of education courses a narrative report and an 8 hour exam or equivalent experience and education.

Ability to maintain certification by obtaining 60 continuing education hours per four year licensing cycle which may include in-state travel.

Valid drivers license in the State of Minnesota.

Other Requirements

The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data is being accessed incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions Ch. 13. If a new work assignment requires access to not public data the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed the employees work assignment no longer requires access.

Minimum Qualifications