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ASSESSORS
Assessing Technician
DEFINITION
Position is responsible for performing highly technical, clerical, confidential and fiscal responsibilities assisting the Director of Assessing and the Board of Assessors. Work includes preparation of real estate bills, excise bills and other tax forms and records, calculating financial data, responding to inquiries and maintaining records.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assists in the preparation of real estate bills and other tax forms and records, including recording transfers of property ownership and sales on the Cama system and ensuring that office records are changed accordingly. Processes authorized abatements.
• Researches MLS listings to get valuable information for assessment of homes when work has been done without building permits to help justify sales beyond the assessed value.
• Processes sales surveys sent as a result of deed transfers; creates, maintains and generates sales reports (using SQL) for public. Creates extensive reports, including sales reports for the public.
• Downloads deeds from Assessor's link to Norfolkdeeds.org.; researches plans, trusts, homesteads and other documents to ensure records are correct; provides deeds and other Registry documents to residents upon request.
• Responsible for reviewing confidential information and determining qualification for all exemption applications, noting any unusual situations or circumstances in preparation for review by the Board of Assessors. Maintains reports, creates mass mailings and assists residents with exemption applications, explaining laws and procedures.
• Ensures that all exemptions are entered into Munis for preparation of actual tax bills. Responsible for accurate cyclical reporting of exemptions to Massachusetts Department of Revenue on Gateway system for reimbursement to Town.
• Processes all excise tax bills received from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV): processes exemptions, commits taxes, generates accounts receivable, prints exemption reports and prepares reports for the Tax Collector multiple times a year. Calculates and enters excise bills for Section 5 Dealer plates and processes the commitments. Authorized to abate excise tax bills. Serves as liaison to other Town Assessors and the RMV to correct excise errors resulting in abatements, forwarding information to rebill and creation of new bills. Researches registration information on-line at the RMV to assist residents with abatement applications, explaining laws and procedures.
• Logs and enters building permits in Excel and on the Cama system. Records plot plans, creates files for them and ensures that they are issued to the map maker to update the maps. Researches the Building Department's Viewpoint system to verify permits.
• Sets up system to track and do mass mailings for exemptions for the Community Preservation Act tax; reviews confidential information and determines eligibility. Assists residents with applications and answers all inquiries about the tax and its implementation. Enters and posts exemptions in timely manner; processes reports and forwards to Town Accountant.
• Creates and maintains the Board of Assessor's website.
• Creates and certifies abutters' lists for the Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Selectmen's Licensing Board, Fire Department, Planning Board, and Board of Health, according to their requirements.
• Processes monthly cash turnovers to the Tax Collector's office.
• Plans and performs work on a variety of assessing documents, and monitors the flow of office work to meet cyclical deadlines.
• Provides and/or assists with providing assessing information by telephone, mail, e-mail, scanned documents and in person, explaining laws, policies, and procedures; assists public with use of computer and with locating property on the Assessor's maps.
• Performs necessary office secretarial work including the preparation of assessing documents, forms and reports.
• In absence of supervisors, exercises necessary judgment for running of the office.
• Acts as the E-911 secretary.
• Performs similar or related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Under general direction, employee plans and prioritizes the majority of work independently, in accordance with standard practices and previous training. Employee is expected to solve most problems of detail or unusual situations by adapting methods or interpreting instructions accordingly. Instructions for new assignments or special projects usually consist of statements of desired objectives, deadlines and priorities. Technical and policy problems or changes in procedures are discussed with supervisor.
ACCOUNTABILITY
The nature of the work means that errors in administrative work are not easily detected. Consequences of errors, including inaccurate information, missed deadlines or poor judgment could impact other departments or residents and result in monetary loss, interruption of service and poor internal or external customer service.
JUDGMENT
The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices and precedents which may be complex or conflicting, at times. Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. Employee is expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making. Requires understanding, interpreting and applying federal, state and local regulations.
COMPLEXITY
The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work.
NATURE AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS
Relationships are primarily with co-workers and the public, involving frequent explanation, discussion or interpretation of practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines in order to render service, plan or coordinate work efforts, or resolve operating problems. Other regular contacts are with service recipients and employees of outside organizations. More than ordinary courtesy, tact and diplomacy may be required to resolve complaints or deal with hostile, uncooperative or uninformed persons.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Incumbent has regular access at the departmental level to a variety of confidential information.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Associate degree in business, finance or accounting required and from three up to five years of experience in an office where assessing and/or appraising operations are primary responsibilities, or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Employee must complete basic assessing courses approved and required by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers as a condition of continued employment.
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITY, AND SKILLS
Knowledge : Knowledge of the laws, regulations, rules, procedures, and forms applicable to assessing administration, Town By-Laws, regulations, policies, and programs as they apply to department operations; knowledge of assessment and sales ratios; knowledge of types of property ownership; knowledge of office management principles and practices and equipment used by the department; knowledge of computers, the internet, Excel and Word. Knowledge of PK (Cama system), Munis, Viewpoint, Norfolkdeeds, MassDOT, Dept. of Revenue (regular website & Gateway (for reporting)), MLS,
Abilities : Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet cyclical and regular deadlines, and pay careful attention to details despite interruptions; ability to maintain highly confidential information, work independently; ability to interact with personnel at all levels in person and over the phone in professional and courteous manner.
Skills : Have strong accounting, computer, organization, verbal and written communication and customer service skills. May be required to deal under pressure and encounter hostile or angry customers. Able to read maps.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Incumbent may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to emergency situations or to attend evening meetings.
PHYSICAL, MOTOR, AND VISUAL SKILLS
Physical Skills
Minimal physical demands are required to perform most of the work. The work principally involves sitting, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May be required to lift objects such as files, boxes of papers, office supplies, and office equipment weighing up to 30 pounds.
Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, using office equipment, including but not limited to telephones, personal computers, handheld technology, and other office equipment.
Visual Skills
Visual demands require routinely reading documents, including maps, for general understanding and analytical purposes; ability to use computer and other office equipment.
Qualifications
Associate degree in business, finance or accounting required and from three to five years of experience in an office where assessing and/or appraising operations are primary responsibilities, or any equivalent combination of education and experience. Employee must complete basic assessing courses approved and required by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers as a condition of continued employment.
Special Requirements
Please send cover letter, resume and Town Application to:
Meredith Hartling, HR Generalist
801 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Canton, MA 02021
Email: hr@town.canton.ma.us
Fax: 781-575-6602
AA/EEO
Miscellaneous Information
Hourly Rate: $30.72 - $34.60
35 hours per week
Non-exempt, benefits eligible, AFSCME Union position