Auditor-Appraiser Trainee/I/II

Description

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 associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's 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 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Vacation Redemption - After 20,800 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 County's 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 County's 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 Assessor’s 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

VETERAN'S POINTS: The Auditor-Appraiser Trainee is a trainee/entry level classification, and Veteran's 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

Examples Of Duties

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.

Typical Qualifications

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 Bachelor's four (4) year degree with a specialization in accounting from an accredited institution of higher education; OR
• Completion of a Bachelor's 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 melissa.rodriguezm@ventura.org
• 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 melissa.rodriguezm@ventura.org

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 Assessor's 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.

Recruitment Process

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 www.ventura.org/jobs . If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 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.

Note: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing. The questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining qualifications for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION- qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether or not the stated requirements are met. Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the recruitment process.

WRITTEN EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related, un-proctored, on-line, written examination will be conducted to test candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to mathematics/geometry and accounting/auditing. Candidates must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list. Candidates invited to the written examination will receive written confirmation.

VALIDATING PROCTORED WRITTEN EXAM: Offers of employment may be conditional to the candidate taking and passing an on-site, proctored exam similar to the un-proctored, internet-based exam.

ELIGIBLE LIST: The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent, and Extra Help vacancies within the Assessor's Office. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of six (6) months.

NOTE: If appointed at the lower level, promotion to the higher levels will be non-competitive subject to demonstration of satisfactory performance, successful completion of the requirements specified in the Ventura County Assessor's Office "Career Ladder" Program, and in accordance with the business needs of the Assessor's Office.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record may be required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Melissa Rodriguez by e-mail at melissa.rodriguezm@ventura.org or by telephone at (805) 654-2556.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE
Ventura Employees' Association
(VEA)

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQ's
• Memorandum of Agreement

Codes: VAA, VPE

Closing Date/Time: 6/17/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• County of Ventura

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