City and County of San Francisco

Under general direction, is responsible for the appraisal of real property for tax purposes-and performs unusual or difficult appraisal and assessment work; This is the Principal level in the Real Property Appraiser series.

4267 Principal Real Property Appraiser is distinguished from the 4265 Senior Real Property Appraiser class in that the former has supervisorial responsibility.

Supervises Real Property Appraisers at the trainee, journey and senior levels and technical and clerical assessment staff.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Supervises the work of senior, journey level and trainee Real Property Appraisers engaged in appraisal and assessment work within an assigned area of activity by planning, coordinating and monitoring overall team/section workload and productivity to ensure maximum productivity, timely completion of all work, and compliance with Real Property productivity standards. This includes ongoing work, projects and special assignments.

2. Applies and enforces existing tax laws and statutes and assessment methods and procedures; interprets the ramifications of current assessment legislation in connection with real property appraisal activities; explains the above to subordinates, representatives of other departments and the general public.

3. Advises Assessor, Deputies, Chiefs, and Senior Managers in establishing procedures, interpreting legislation and setting department goals. Evaluates, develops and implements policies and procedures for real property appraisal work in order to improve department operations and productivity.

4. Reviews and approves all real property valuations, pursuant to the Revenue and Taxation Code, SBE Rules, Standards manual, office policies and procedures; reviews developed income multipliers for multi-unit income-producing residential properties and derived capitalization rates for commercial sales; reviews and approves completed parcel management; reviews all lien date progress assessment valuations; and reviews all direct enrollments in appraisers’ assigned workload.

5. Resolves valuation problems by reviewing complaint investigations performed by subordinates and by conferring with taxpayers and their representatives in order to determine and explain changes in valuation.

6. Performs appraisals on complex properties; performs difficult special investigations and surveys related to complex transactions, corporate acquisitions, and mergers.

7. Maintains accurate, timely, and automated appraisal data, and report status and progress on goals and objectives. Provides status of appraiser production relative to interim and long term goals as requested by management. Verifies that appraisers prepare and maintain supporting documentation and data on valuations. Prepares technical reports, records, instructions, memos, correspondence, progress reports and other documents related to the appraisal of real property for tax assessment purposes. Responds to taxpayer and inter-City correspondence.

8. Interacts with other agencies and City departments in order to resolve complex assessment issues and implements uniformity of assessment standards.

9. Represents the Assessor before the Assessment Appeals Board, and/or appears as an expert witness before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies in order to answer questions on assessment issues; makes public presentations; prepares and presents at an Assessment Appeals Board; and consults with City Attorney in writing legal findings of fact. Represents the office at public forums, taxpayer fairs, professional or appraiser organizations, etc.

10. Maintains professional certification and competency by completing legally required hours of State approved appraisal courses annually. Ensures that all assigned staff complete training requirements and maintain professional certification and competency.

Knowledge of: Real property appraisal methods, theory, practices and procedures utilized in establishing current value accessibility for all types of real property; Government codes, regulations, and laws as they apply to appraisal of real property for tax assessment purposes; Principals of change of ownership laws for property tax purposes; Economic factors relating to property values.

Ability and Skill to: Analyze and interpret data/information to determine tax assessment valuations; Prioritize, plan, coordinate and monitor the workload; Train, coach and evaluate staff; Interact effectively, tactfully and courteously with the public and members of official bodies all persons encountered during the course of business; Establish effective and cooperative working relationships with subordinates, departmental staff and representatives of agencies and organizations; Clearly, concisely and effectively communicate work-related information; Prepare clear, concise and accurate reports, records, and other documents related to the appraisal of real property for tax assessment purposes; Use a computer to research and process information, enter appraisal data into database and prepare correspondence and reports.

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification.  Please note, additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement.

Education:
Requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience:
Five (5) years of experience appraising real property in a County Assessor’s Office, including two (2) years appraising income-producing residential, commercial and industrial properties.

License and Certification:
Possession of a valid California driver license.

Eligibility for certification from the California State Board of Equalization as an appraiser for property tax purposes. In accordance with the California State Board of Equalization, appointees to this class must possess or obtain permanent certification as an appraiser for property tax purposes, within one (1) year of appointment, and must maintain certification as a condition of continued employment.

Substitution:
Additional relevant experience in the appraisal of real property, building, cost estimating, engineering, and accounting or in buying, selling or managing real estate, or in a related area as defined by the State of California, may be substituted for the education on a year for year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). One (1) year of education is equivalent to either thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units.

Seven (7) years of experience appraising real property as a fee, institutional or government appraiser, including three (3) years appraising income-producing residential, commercial and industrial properties, may substitute for the required experience.

Completion of a 12 month real property appraiser trainee program equivalent to the City and County of San Francisco’s 4260 Real Property Appraiser Trainee Program may substitute for one (1) year of required professional experience.

PROMOTIVE LINES

To: Chief Real Property Appraiser
From: 4265 Senior Real Property Appraiser

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.