Assessment Appeals Specialist

Ramsey County • Plato Building, MN

9d • Remote

About The Position

Join the Ramsey County Assessor’s Office as an Assessment Appeals Specialist and play a key role in defending property values across one of Minnesota’s most diverse and challenging property portfolios. Enjoy the flexibility of primarily working from home, balanced with property inspections and occasional in-person meetings, while working with a supportive, and professional team that makes the job both rewarding and engaging. To analyze, manage and recommend actions as a technical expert in the office for assessment appeals and tax petitions related to complex commercial, industrial, apartment and special use properties. Perform complex appeals analyses, technical work and narrative appraisals; represent Ramsey County by testifying and defending assessed values in Minnesota Tax Court; negotiate with petitioners and respond to complex appeals under the direction and guidance of the Deputy Director of the County Assessor Department; and perform related duties as assigned. Flexible Workplace : This position is 100% remote, with the exception of occasional in person meetings and trainings. Field work required for property inspections.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in real estate or closely related field.
• Completion of courses required for licensure as an Accredited Minnesota Assessor.
• Seven years of experience appraising income producing, complex special use properties and/or complex residential properties.
• Licensure by the Minnesota Board of Assessors as an Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA) at date of hire
• Licensure as a Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (SAMA) within two years from date of hire
• A valid Class D Driver's License.

Nice To Haves

• Licensure as a Certified General real property appraiser by the MN Department of Commerce with the ability to get a temporary Certified Minnesota Assessor (CMA) license may substitute for the AMA; obtain an Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA) licensure under Minnesota Statues within the five-year time from the date the temporary license is issued; and licensure as a Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor (SAMA) within six years from date of hire.
• Licensure by the Minnesota Board of Assessors as an Accredited Minnesota Assessor (AMA) within five years of obtaining licensure as a CMA.

Responsibilities

• Resolve the most complex tax court appeal and specializing in the more complex appraisal assignments as may be assigned county-wide.
• Manage all aspects of commercial, industrial, apartment and special purpose property tax petitions including reviewing compliance with income data disclosure, negotiating fair settlements with tax attorneys, or preparing highly technical self-contained narrative appraisals and defending values through expert witness testimony in Minnesota Tax Court and for recommending strategy for the litigation of court petitions.
• Represent the Department of County Assessor and work as needed with the County Attorney in matters related to Tax Petition litigation.
• Develop narrative appraisal templates for use by commercial appraisers in tax court.
• Research and develop market rents, market vacancies and market cap rate tables for use by commercial appraisers for other tax petitions.
• Advise and coach commercial appraisers on appropriate application of complex appraisal/assessing techniques and procedures.
• Develop computer spreadsheet applications and valuation models for commercial appraisers to use for tax petition work, including and not limited to Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) models and income and comparable sales market adjustment grids.
• Represent the Department of County Assessor at Board of Equalization meetings, particularly on cases involving possible or ongoing tax petition litigation.
• Investigate and review requests for reduction in value and make recommendations regarding appeals including classification changes and abatements.
• Represent the Department of County Assessor when working with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office on tax petition related tasks, including compliance with income data disclosures, the discovery process, settlement offers, trial ready dates, deadlines for appraisal and trial preparation and keeping up to date with procedural changes related to the scheduling of petitions in Minnesota Tax Court.

Benefits

• Equal access to employment, programs, and services without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, sex (except when sex is a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification), disability, familial or marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, public assistance status, place of residence, political affiliation, or national origin.
• Advancing racial equity and promoting diversity and inclusion within all areas of its workforce.
• Equitable, inclusive, transparent, respectful, and impactful service and engagement with residents, as well as Ramsey County employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior