What are the responsibilities and job description for the Property Tax Administrator position at Wright County Minnesota?
General Definition of Work
Performs complex advanced technical work providing direction and oversight for the county's property tax operations in compliance with Minnesota statutes, assists with support functions involving the setting and establishment of department policies and goals. Work is performed under the general direction of the Finance Director. Continuous supervision is exercised over personnel within the team.
Essential Functions
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.
- Administers and monitors Property Taxation Division operations. Develops and implements standards, controls, policies and procedures necessary to administer and ensure compliance with all property taxation related statutes, laws, and regulations.
- Uses independent judgment providing supervision and leadership to personnel under position's span of control; makes and participates in decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, layoff, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under position's span of control; sets goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance; creates and maintains a positive work environment fostering effective performance of staff.
- Assists in the administration of the department's managerial and administrative functions as directed. Including the interpretation, development, and implementation, of operating policies and procedures within the Finance and Taxpayer Services Department.
- Responsible for property tax calculation, tax collection, management of delinquent accounts, tax forfeiture, special assessment, tax increment financing, and all taxation programs and all reconciliation processes, including settlement and distribution of property taxes. Plans and directs the county property taxation timeline in coordination with other departments. Acts as the quality and assurance review function for the county land records offices to ensure timeliness and accuracy in the overall administration of property taxation programs within the county.
- Acts as a liaison between the County and other governmental units, working closely with department staff, other county departments, local taxing authorities, other/adjoining counties, and various state departments to ensure compliance with all mandated Minnesota Property Tax Statutes and Department of Revenue Standards. Also serves as a resource to local government officials for the property tax processes; trains tax authorities in various taxation subjects and acts as statutory oversight.
- Administers Tax Increment Financing, including preliminary review of qualifications, certification and de-certification of districts, reporting, monitoring current districts for applicable laws and regulatory changes, and system management.
- Oversees the administration of the delinquency and tax forfeiture processes, including the establishment of payment plans and the disposition of forfeited properties; establishes appraised prices and settlements; works with legal counsel on tax forfeiture issues.
- Collaborates with stakeholders and other departments in the management of county drainage systems. Oversees the related software system maintenance and special assessment billing and collection processes.
- Administers the County's Aggregate Tax Committee, coordinates meetings with elected officials and appointed representatives. Administers the grant program and participates in the development of recommendations for the County Board.
- Acts as property taxation software owner; oversees and administers the property tax system assuring data integrity/security; implements and directs testing of software releases and updates for legislative requirements opportunities; directs property tax record management for the county. Develop, own, and execute product roadmap, as required. Works independently to implement and test complex software models for applicable tax programs for financially sensitive calculations, mailings, and distributions. Previous experience using SQL and other software tools to perform data analysis to complete required reporting, ensure data accuracy, identify trends, monitor compliance, correct errors, and determine areas of improvement.
- Provides expertise to the County in the interpretation/training of state directed changes and updates related to the Minnesota Tax Statutes. Prepares and provides presentations, reports and information as requested by the County Assessor, County Board, Taxing Authorities, private entities and organizations, local, county, and state elected officials.
- Assists with developing and managing the property tax division budget; including recommending capital projects, analyzing division data; monitoring and tracking expenditures and revenues and provides input to develop the county's annual budget, including analyzing property tax trends and forecasting.
- Represents the County at various meetings with other local units of government, state agencies, and statewide associations and cooperatives as well as other committees.
- In the absence of the Finance Director performs the job functions of the County Auditor.
- Performs other duties and activities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications & Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Education and Experience
Associates degree in business, finance, accounting, or related field, and six years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Supervisory experience is preferred.
Special Requirements
- Possession of Minnesota Department of Revenue Property Tax Calculation certification or the ability to obtain within three (3) months of employment.
- Legal description training within one (1) year of employment.
- Obtain MAAO Assessment Laws and Procedures (ALP) successful course completion and examination within one (1) year of employment.
- Previous experience working with Minnesota property tax calculation procedures, tax increment financing laws, and government settlement and collection procedures.
- Completion of SQL query course or certification or ability to obtain within 6 months.
- A valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility is also required upon hire.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of Minnesota Property Tax laws, tax increment financing, tax forfeiture, special assessment and other local, State, and Federal laws, regulations, codes, policies and procedures relating to property taxes; knowledge of accounting practices and techniques to tabulate, record and reconcile complex transactions; ability to research and resolve complex account discrepancies; knowledge of administrative practices including budgeting, purchasing, and policy formulation; knowledge of human resource management practices such as training, discipline, delegation; skill in the use of standard office equipment, including computer and software programs with advanced level spreadsheet and tax software skills; verbal and written communication skills sufficient to effectively draft and present technical information and respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences, including speaking before groups and with those not familiar with property tax terminology; reading comprehension skills sufficient to understand and interpret technical documents; interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and or convey information, receive work direction, and maintain effective working relationships; ability to learn computer systems specific to the County and Department; ability to enter data quickly and accurately; ability to make mathematical calculations and verify calculated property tax amounts with speed and accuracy required for tax purposes; ability to understand, interpret, and apply Minnesota Property Tax; ability to create, read, and analyze policies and procedures, exercising sound judgement of sensitive nature and effectively solving problems to meet time and fiscally sensitive deadlines under public scrutiny; ability to select competent personnel and to train them to perform their duties in an effective and efficient manner; ability to supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale; ability to resolve problems independently; ability to pay attention to detail and effectively organize time and anticipate, plan, and successfully respond to changing circumstances, pressure and deadlines; ability to perform all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices; ability to communicate courteously and professionally while maintaining positive working relationships with others when carrying out all job functions.
Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; 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, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
Wright County offers an exceptional benefit package including vacation, sick leave and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package is health, preventative dental and life insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan); deferred compensation plan and Public Employees Retirement (pension).
