The Buncombe County Tax Assessment Office is seeking a detail‑oriented and analytical Appraisal Analyst to support the county’s commitment to fair, accurate, and transparent property valuations. In this role, you will perform analytical and technical work to support property appraisal and assessment activities.  You will create and refine data models, identify inconsistencies or errors within the data, and review parcel and sales data for validation. Using established appraisal standards, you will analyze complex datasets to ensure assessments reflect current market conditions and collaborate with appraisers and other staff to maintain accurate, equitable, and consistent assessments. The ideal candidate is motivated, detail-oriented, and analytical professional who is committed to accuracy and providing high‑quality public service.

Purpose of the position: The purpose of this position is to perform specialized and complex administrative, technical, and analytical work in appraising improved and vacant residential, commercial, and industrial properties within the County for assessment purposes. This position also acts as Lead Appraiser, Analyst, and subject matter expert surrounding commercial and residential market trends. This position acts as a primary contact for appraisal staff and supervisors for market related questions and concerns, and technical questions and concerns surrounding appraisal practices and functions within the computer-aided mass appraisal system.

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Business Administration, Economics, Data Analytics, or a related field and three (3) years of related real estate, construction, GIS, analytics, or appraisal experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Additional Training and Experience: Preferred successful completion of IAAO courses 101- fundamentals of real property appraisal, 102- income approach to valuation, 112- advanced income approach to valuation, 300- fundamentals of mass appraisal, 311-residential modeling concepts, 312- commercial modeling concepts and North Carolina Machinery Act. Considerable knowledge and experience working with software and databases related to excel, Power BI, CAMA systems, access, power point and ArcMap.

License or Certification Required by Statute or Regulation: North Carolina Department of Revenue Certified Real Property Appraiser and/or North Carolina Appraisal Board certified.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Perform and monitor daily/weekly transactional data related to assessment of real property.
• Assist Appraisal supervisors in assigning staff activities, and reviewing work to ensure accuracy, including daily and weekly data audits.
• Perform revaluation duties including reassessing all real estate properties in the County for assessment purposes.
• Perform detailed market value analysis on individual properties, neighborhoods, and property types leading up to a property assessment reevaluation year through complex statistical analysis and review of sales, construction cost, and market income data within the revaluation period window.
• Assist general public and management with information requests.
• Assist with software development.
• Provide general public consultation and information through personal contact and by phone regarding property valuations, assessment information, appraisal procedures, and general and individual questions, and to resolve any other issues.
• Assist and guide the development of standard operating procedures and staff trainings.
• Resolve both informal and formal appeals, writing appeal information and present to the BOER or State Property Tax Commission.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques used in real property appraisal work as required and the methods and procedures of the County Assessor’s Office.

• Knowledge of current construction costs, including building materials and land value.

• Knowledge of the geographical layout of the County.

• Knowledge of the three approaches to market value (cost, income, and market) of real property.

• Knowledge of appraisal statistics and specialized appraisal analysis.

• Knowledge and mastery of mathematics.

• Knowledge and technical expertise related to computer applications.

• Ability to deal courteously, tactfully, and firmly with the general public.

• Ability to convey and discuss assessment practices with high-level and elected officials and the general public in private and public meetings effectively and professionally.

• Ability to make accurate computations with or without a calculator.

• Ability to navigate and operate spreadsheet and dashboard-based applications for analysis purposes.

• Ability to comprehend complex statistical measures and graphics to inform and support valuation decisions.

• Ability to assist and/or drive development of valuation models and analytical reports related to valuation.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

• Ability to plan, assign, coordinate, and review the work of subordinate employees.

• Ability to make decisions and to defend appraisal section's results to property owners, the general public, and the Board of Equalization and Review.

• Ability to physically navigate in and around active and non-active construction sites in all types of terrain and weather situations while collecting and recording data.

• Ability to self-motivate and meet daily, weekly, and monthly production goals as set by the Assessor.

• Ability to use small office equipment, computers, and technical applications.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.