Assessments Auditor

Are You….

• An approachable and skilled auditor with strong auditing, analytical, and problem solving skills?
• Patient and do you display strong listening skills with customer focus and a genuine interest in the auditing of real estate related data sets?
  
• An effective time manager and do you display timely and quality decision making ability?
• A coach and mentor for audit staff, assisting your colleagues with audit analysis and understanding?

The Department of Assessments and King County value diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.

The Department of Assessments values innovation, creativity and engagement among its employees, and actively promotes organizational improvement and new approaches to existing operations and issues.

THE OPPORTUNITY: The department is searching for an auditing professional with leadership and technical prowess in auditing taxpayer-reported listings of business equipment and personal property for compliance with Washington State law and King County Department of Assessments policy. Exercising a high degree of initiative, independent judgment, and discretion in determining market value estimates of business equipment and personal property.

Specifically:

• Function as the senior technical and lead auditor for the department, providing detailed auditing expertise and providing auditing and valuation guidance to personal property assessment staff.
• Leads staff in projects that expands their audit knowledge and capabilities.
• Apply your listening and negotiation skills when working with tax payers and to provide research, interpretation and technical guidance on RCWs, WACs and other legal precedents.
• Conduct on-site inspections of businesses to verify reporting accuracy and appraise market value of business equipment and personal property.
• Collaboratively work with the personal property team to coordinate, train, and assist in the department’s auditing function of personal property.
• Function as the internal personal property assessment quality controller to ensure compliance with applicable Washington State laws.
• Assist King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in preparing for court cases and formal Washington State Board of Taxation Appeal hearings and appear in court to defend personal property assessments.

This position serves a vital role in meeting our mission of setting fair and equitable personal property values, the primary service we provide to taxpayers. This role involves daily interaction with staff and the public requiring leadership and collaboration skills, a strong grounding in auditing and analysis of personal property/real estate data sets, excellent problem solving and analytical skills, and the ability to work in a culturally and generationally diverse team-oriented environment.

WHO WE ARE…..

Department of Assessments: An award-winning leader and innovator in government property assessments, with over 200 employees and an annual budget of over $27 million, the department administers King County’s property valuation and assessment process. The Assessor’s Office has a significant impact on the funding received each year by a wide range of important County public services. The agency uses innovative business intelligence tools and cutting-edge technology to be more efficient with current resources and provide value-added services to taxpayers. The Department of Assessments has collaborative partnerships with 163 separate taxing districts and 39 cities. To learn more, please visit our website at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.aspx.

King County: As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King, Jr., King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we’re changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking, and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation’s best places to live, work, and play.

The successful candidate will display:

• Strong auditing leadership, analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills and the ability to work well within a collaborative, team environment.
• Customer focus with a dedication to integrity, ethics, trust and values.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of auditing data sets related to personal property or other complex data sets.
• Ability to work and meet production goals and deadlines and ability to delegate and explain audit assignments to staff.
• Proficiency and ease in using business productivity tools and cutting edge technology in your everyday work; (We use iPads, Microsoft Office Suite and other assessment related tools).
• Exceptional listening skills and the ability to keep up with evolving business needs through flexibility and rapid integration of new concepts.
• Confidence in making audit decisions.

Any combination of education and/or experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties of the position above and may include:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Mathematics or related field, and
• A minimum of three (3) years of accounting or auditing experience.

Desirable Qualifications: Certification in one or more of the following:

• Certified Public Finance Officer, Certified Management Accountant, or Certified Internal Auditor.

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
This exciting opportunity to join County government is open to all applicants. A King County Application (paper or electronic) is required, and we highly recommend that you include a resume and cover letter with your application materials. Please contact Richard Watson, at 206-263-2356, or richard.watson@kingcounty.gov if you have any questions regarding this opportunity.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

The following are required as a condition of employment as a Assessments Auditor:

• Possession of an Assessor’s Accreditation Certificate as required by the state of Washington or the ability to obtain accreditation within twelve (12) months of hire;
• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid Washington State Driver License; and
• A successful background review and physical examination.

The primary work location for this position is the King County Administration Building, 500 – 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA and there will be field work required for this position.
Working Conditions: Position requires both working in an office setting and field work appraising commercial personal property throughout King County.

This position is represented by Teamsters Local 763.