Real Property Clerk

Hamilton County, Indiana • Noblesville, IN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Incumbent serves as Real Property Clerk for the Auditor, responsible for maintaining and processing various property tax records, determining eligibility, fraud, and applying tax deductions, managing the Auditor’s delinquent property tax sale duties, processing ERA tax abatements, and assisting the public.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED with a minimum of three (3) years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Working knowledge of department and standard office policies and procedures, and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated tasks.
• Working knowledge of county land areas and applicable state and local codes and terminology, with ability to accurately process, interpret, and verify land documents, such as legal descriptions, deeds, plat/split descriptions, annexation records, drawings, petitions, transfer books, aerial photos, and various maps.
• Working knowledge of applicable state laws and ability to read, interpret and follow relevant Indiana codes and procedural handbooks.
• Ability to research and identify fraud, notify errant taxpayers, and to effectively handle the responses of irate people with tact and respect.
• Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other county departments, attorneys, abstractors, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities and disabilities.
• Ability to comply with all employer/department personnel policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
• Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information/records according to state requirements.
• Ability to make relevant arithmetic calculations, and properly use an engineer ruler, GIS software, and a variety of standard office equipment, including computer, printers, telephone, copiers, and calculator.
• Ability to effectively use various computer software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
• Ability to read, interpret and follow relevant Indiana codes and procedural handbooks.
• Ability to work on several tasks at the same time, often under time pressure, and complete assignments effectively amidst frequent distractions and interruptions.
• Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment, and maintain appropriate, respectful interrelationships with co-workers.
• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions/directions, and appropriately respond to constructive criticism.
• Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including during occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.
• Ability to occasionally work extended hours and occasionally travel out of town for seminars.

Nice To Haves

• One (1) year of computer experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reads, interprets, and processes real property deeds and legal documents for recording, including reviewing for completeness, checking for accuracy, and resolving discrepancies with title companies and attorneys. Ensures legal documents follow state code for recordation. Distributes essential property information to other county departments.
• Completes and enters into the county tax database various deductions for taxpayers such as mortgage, homestead, blind, disabled, mobile homes, veteran, over age 65, and geothermal, including assisting with forms, answering questions, entering data in the computer, proofreading computer printouts, copying, and filing documents/forms. Ensures applications are valid per state code. Sends notices to taxpayers whose property tax deductions have been removed.
• Collects and processes fees, including preparing receipts, balancing cash with receipts daily, delivering to Accounts Receivable Clerk, and entering data on computer spreadsheet weekly. Creates monthly quietus and deed count reports for the Lead Real Property Tax Deputy.
• Maintains/creates various real estate records from recorded deeds and subdivision plats on computer, such as ownership, address changes, creating new parcels, transfers, and splits. Assists with database design to create in-department programs. Maintains social security and driver’s license numbers of real property taxpayers in county tax system to upload to state database and ensures sensitive information remains confidential.
• Runs reports from county tax database to find fraudulently filed deductions and to check accuracy of assessed value of property with filed tax deductions. Finds and contacts taxpayers about fraudulently filed deductions requiring them to submit residency verification documentation. Inspects and determines validity of verification documents. When applicable, figures back tax amounts and sends bills to taxpayers when fraud is discovered.
• Responds to inquiries from realtors, title companies and assists the public in the office, by telephone and electronic mail (e-mail), including, but not limited to, reading/interpreting/verifying legal descriptions, researching and copying records and documents as requested, locating property boundaries, tracing chains of title, providing copies, and researching computer records, maps, books and files. Verifies property owners listed for bond issues.
• Performs various clerical functions as needed, such as entering data on computer, providing information and assistance in researching records, proofreading printouts, entering corrections, copying and filing documents.
• Performs Auditor’s duties in annual tax sale by calculating/researching redemption amounts due and sending/receiving correspondence regarding properties listed for sale, generating and mailing claim forms, entering warrant check information with tax sale vendor (SRI), releasing judgments with County Clerk, and reviewing delinquent property lists for encroachments, land locks, or other problems that would invalidate sales. Calculates property taxes on parcels with newly added or removed deductions.
• Periodically attends job-related seminars/conferences. Trains and assists other department personnel in office and computer procedures as needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life (employee, spouse, children), Long and short-term Disability
• Hamilton County Employee Health Center & Pharmacy (Noblesville/Westfield): High quality primary medical care facility and wellness services
• Advocacy Program – One-on-one appointment with a Physician to evaluate chronic illness/injuries
• Nutrition Education and Wellness Center (diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss and management, cancer and kids health)
• Pharmacy – Low-cost co-payments, encourage use of generic meds, Medication Management Program providing review of medication interactions/effectiveness
• Leave Benefits: Sick leave, bereavement, holidays (10-13 per year), compensatory time, paid time off (1 week at 6 months, 2 weeks at 1 year then an additional day each year until max of 22 days on year 15). Upon completion of 30 years of service time, employees earn 1 additional day per year up to 40 years of service time.
• Retirement Benefit Options: Indiana Public Employee Retirement Fund Pension (annuity & pension), AUL Deferred Compensation Plan, McCready Retirement (Merit staff)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED