Property Tax Research Consultant

Job Description

If you would like an opportunity to serve the public, work in a fast-paced setting with a team of talented and dedicated individuals, apply and increase your knowledge in valuation and Utah property tax law, all while enjoying a flexible work schedule with remote work options and great work-life balance, this job is for you. The Utah State Tax Commission's Property & Misc.

Area is looking for two skilled and motivated individuals to join the Locally Assessed Division as Valuation Analysts.

Position One

This is a working-level position for new hires, Appraiser Trainees, Licensed Appraisers, or Certified Appraisers where incumbents work during the first assessment cycle under supervision and receive on-the-job training.

• Conducting on-site reviews and inspections of vacant land, Residential, and Commercial properties.
• Reviewing and analyzing sales data;
• Performing statistical analysis;
• Conducting audits and writing detailed audit reports;
• Assist with training in the valuation of locally assessed properties;
• Working with and maintaining good working relationships with county officials and their staff;
• Assisting in the development of Real Estate Market reports;
• Other duties as assigned.

The best qualified candidate for this position will have:

• Licensed, Certified Residential, or Certified general preferred and/or
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Mathematics is helpful
• Real Estate Appraisal License Requirement
  The successful candidate must obtain and maintain a Utah Real Estate Appraisal License as follows:

• Become a Registered Trainee Appraiser within six (6) months of hire;
• Submit appraisal licensing application to the Division of Real Estate within 2 years of becoming a Registered Trainee;
• Pass the appraisal licensing exam and submit final paperwork to the Division of Real Estate within 1 year of receiving approval to take the exam;
• Maintain appraisal license and Tax Commission ad valorem appraisal designation in good standing.

Do you love uncovering the story behind the data? Are you interested in how real estate markets impact the economy? The Utah State Tax Commission is looking for a skilled and inquisitive Property Tax Data Analyst to join our Data Analytics group.

In this role, you will bridge the gap between complex data science and real property valuation. You will not just report numbers; you will build the statistical models and analytical tools that ensure fair and equitable property taxation across the state. While you do not need to be a licensed appraiser, an understanding of real estate markets combined with strong technical skills in SQL, Python, and GIS will make you a standout candidate.

Principal Duties

As a Property Tax Data Analyst, you will:

• Analyze Real Property Data:
  Perform complex statistical analysis on property sales, assessments, and characteristics data to identify trends, anomalies, and outliers.
• Conduct Sales Ratio Studies:
  Lead the preparation of statutorily required sales ratio studies to audit county assessment levels and ensure compliance with state standards.
• Data Engineering & Visualization:
  Write advanced SQL queries to extract data from systems; create interactive dashboards (Power BI/Tableau) and maps (GIS) to visualize assessment equity.
• Database support:
  Work with our team to provide support for sales database maintenance and support.
• Support Assessment Quality:
  Provide technical support to County Assessors regarding data integrity and valuation methodologies.
• Automate Processes:
  Use Python or R scripts to automate repetitive data cleaning and reporting tasks, replacing manual Excel workflows.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a "data detective" who is comfortable working with large, messy datasets and has an interest in the real estate domain. We are looking for someone who:

• Speaks Data:
  Possesses strong proficiency in SQL (joining tables, complex queries) and Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, advanced formulas).
• Thinks Spatially:
  Has experience or strong interest in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to analyze property data geographically.
• Understands Value:
  Has a working knowledge of real…