Carteret County Government is seeking a Tax Administrator to lead the County Tax Office. This crucial role oversees the busy Carteret County Tax Office with responsibilities that include planning, direction, supervision & coordination of appraising property, listing taxes, reevaluating property, collecting taxes and handling appeals/public contacts on tax assessments. Tax Administration experience required, including a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in real/personal property appraisal, real estate, and collection of taxes/revenue; plus, three years of supervisory experience. Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration or Business Administration or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience meeting the requirements to perform the duties. If you want to make a difference in your community, the Tax Administrator position may be the role for you! Apply online at https://carteretcountync.gov and click on the Employment link. Carteret County Government is an equal opportunity employer.

The Location

Office location is in Beaufort, NC.

The Details

Salary is commensurate with experience, education and overall qualifications.

Posting expires 3/6/2025. NOTE - This is a repost. Prior applicants are not required to reapply.

Full-time with benefits including paid medical, dental, vision and life insurance; retirement and 401(k) plans; and, paid sick, vacation and holiday leave.

Apply online at https://carteretcountync.gov & click on the Employment link.

The Job Description

General Statement of Duties

Performs complex professional and administrative work supervising, planning and directing the listing, assessing, billing and collecting of taxable property, overseeing the collection of various fees and revenues, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, maintaining records and files and preparing reports.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class plans, organizes and directs the work of a staff responsible for appraising property, listing taxes, reevaluating property, maintaining property records, maps, and other files, collecting taxes and handling appeals and public contacts on tax assessments. The employee is also responsible for the periodic revaluation of property involving in-house and/or contracted work. Work involves developing policies, procedures, and methods for program operations; handling budget and personnel matters; and working with sensitive and controversial issues in the tax assessment, collection and garnishment program. Independent judgment and initiative are required. Work is performed in accordance with state statutes and local ordinance. Work is performed under the general supervision of the County Commissioners and County Manager and evaluated through periodic conferences, quality of work, review of annual audit of records, review of reports and feedback from the public.

Duties and Responsibilities
Essential Duties and Tasks

• Supervises, plans and directs the activities for the County's comprehensive tax program including the management of listing, mapping, appraisal and collections personnel.
• Recruits and selects departmental personnel; assigns, directs, and inspects the work of, and supervises and evaluates assigned personnel; ensures the proper training of personnel; recommends suspensions, demotions, and terminations.
• Develops policies, procedures, and methods for program operations; administers land records management and geographic information system program.
• Oversees the collection of property taxes and delinquent property taxes including bankruptcies; enforces applicable legal remedies; oversees garnishments, bank attachments, and foreclosures; negotiates settlements in tax audits; approves tax exemptions.
• Manages computer software contract for tax.
• Coordinates and serves as administrative support to the Board of Equalization and Review.
• Appraises and processes data on new construction; lists and appraises real and personal property in order to prepare and collect annual tax bills; updates/corrects changes for appraisals, tax bills, etc.
• Develops the Uniform Schedule of values, rules and standards to be used in revaluation.
• Coordinates and supervises County mass revaluations per the General Statutes.
• Prepares and submits accurate value projections and annual tax base projections; reviews tax files, records, and reports for accuracy; analyzes real estate sales, markets, and data.
• Oversees the daily receipt of payments by mail and walk-ins and assures all money received is properly accounted for and deposited in the appropriate accounts.
• Prepares and administers department budget; monitors expenditures; requisitions supplies and equipment; prepares and disseminates requests for proposals/qualifications; makes recommendations; prepares and presents contracts.
• Handles appeals; defends tax assessments at State and local meetings; makes recommendations for tax releases to the Board.
• Assists customers by phone, in person, via email, etc.; receives and responds to inquiries regarding tax bills, property cards, geographic information system, etc.;
• Prepares and verifies various reports; assists with annual audit.
• Assures that all required notices, postings, deadlines, and other guidelines are met in the tax appraisal and collection system.
• Oversees Disaster Damage Assessment for the County’s Emergency Operations plan.

Additional Job Duties

• Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of state laws governing the administration of taxes on real and personal property and the collection of taxes.
• Thorough knowledge of accepted practices in assessing real and personal, residential, commercial, and industrial property.
• Considerable knowledge of office practices and procedures required in a tax office.
• Considerable knowledge of the organization and functions of County government.
• Considerable knowledge of modern supervisory practices, and County personnel, budgeting, and purchasing policies.
• Considerable knowledge of the application of information technology to property records, appraisal and tax billing and collections including knowledge of GIS systems.
• Ability to evaluate and appraise a wide variety of real and personal property.
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the public.
• Ability to handle sensitive and controversial tax appeals and other situations.
• Ability to interpret and explain laws, policies, and procedures relating to listing and assessing property and tax collections.
• Ability to plan, organize, and evaluate the work of employees.
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities to meet guidelines and deadlines of the State.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective relationship with, peers, State and County officials, County departments, employees and the general public.

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force.
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires sitting, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, 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.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Worker is subject to outside environmental conditions.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Desirable Education and Experience
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration or related field, plus a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in real and personal property appraisal, real estate, collection of taxes and revenue, and three years of supervisory experience; or any combination of education, training, and experience which meets the requirements to perform the duties of the position.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license upon hire.
Candidate must possess all certifications by North Carolina Department of Revenue as required in the North Carolina Machinery Act; or be able to achieve all necessary certifications within two years of employment.