Tax Administrator

WILSON COUNTY JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: TAX ADMINISTRATOR

TAX DEPARTMENT

FLSA: Exempt

Expected Hiring Range $110,000 – $132,000 DOE

Wilson County, North Carolina is known for it’s forward thinking, progressive biotechnology companies, visionary community, county and city partnerships seeks a Tax Administrator that values integrity, leadership and quality with a focus on accurate data, details and project management. Candidate will have a demonstrated ability to supervise employees, manage multiple projects, and ensure timely and effective completion of assignments to keep Wilson County’s tax administration current while focused on the future efficiencies. Manages, supervises, plans and directs the listing, valuation, billing and collecting of property taxes with efficiency and effectiveness. Works collaboratively with staff, Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and County Department Leaders.

Join a forward-thinking, growing county 30 minutes east of Raleigh and lead within a modern tax office dedicated to accuracy, efficiency, innovation, and outstanding customer service to our citizens. Become a part of an amazing county leadership team directed by the County Manager.

Description of Work

Plans, directs and oversees activities of tax listing, appraisal, billing and collection in the Tax Department through direct or delegated supervision, ensuring that established policies, procedures and programs are planned and implemented in accordance with state laws and the County Board of Commissioners directives; reviews, develops and implements policies and procedures, as necessary, to improve department efficiency. 

Demonstrates expert level knowledge of NC Tax Laws and regulations, property assessments, mass appraisal systems, commercial and residential appraisals, revaluation processes and methodologies.

Recruits and selects department personnel; assigns, directs, trains and inspects the work of staff; disciplines, coaches, counsels and reviews employee performance; approves time sheets and verifies leave; assists staff with complex issues.

Receives and responds to inquiries and questions in person and via email and telephone.

Supervises the listing, discovery and evaluation of real and personal property and public utility taxes, as well as processing taxes pertaining to municipalities, fire districts, solid waste districts and privilege licenses; supervises the preparation of tax bills, maintenance of real estate transfer records and maintenance and updating of all County tax records. 

Supervises and participates in the collection of unpaid taxes; serves garnishments and tax levies as necessary; prepares warrants in tax violation or worthless check cases as necessary; contacts and negotiates payment with delinquent taxpayers. 

Appraises farm, residential, commercial and industrial properties to determine the value for tax purposes; sketches layout of structure; determines grade of materials and quality of workmanship; and grades buildings; verifies sales information for use in the appraisal process. 

Oversees the County-wide revaluation project; maintains records of assigned property values, updating as necessitated by changes in land use; develops and sets valuation policy to be used in the revaluation program; analyzes and researches the real estate market, develops valuation models for all classes of property, researches and defines neighborhoods, and reviews and approves final schedule of values and supervises its application. 

Advises, confers and assists the Board of County Commissioners on tax assessment matters; consults with the County Manager and Board of Commissioners concerning the fiscal impact of tax rate adjustments and estimates of cost and time necessary to complete revaluation project. 

Meets with tax payers, attorneys, consultants and other interested persons with inquiries about property value assessments, explaining process for arriving at property valuation; addresses and seeks to resolve disputes pertaining to property value assessments; attends meetings of the Board of Equalization and Review, hearing appeals and defending tax appraisals. 

Reviews the North Carolina Machinery Act, North Carolina Supreme Court decisions on tax cases, and the North Carolina Attorney General's rulings on ad valorem tax matters; advises and consults with County Manager on cases involving tax matters. 

Prepares annual budget proposals in coordination with Finance Department, including analyzing past expenditures to determine needs and submitting proposals to County Manager; administers approved budgets, monitoring expenditures to ensure payments are made from proper accounts; implements policy and procedure recommendations made by outside auditors. 

Prepares a variety of statistical and narrative reports and statements for submission to County Manager and Board of Commissioners, as directed or otherwise deemed appropriate. 

Assists and advises Department personnel with computer operations including performing routine maintenance. 

Assists and advises department personnel with a variety of computer operations including software systems, web based system, updates, and third party software systems.

Performs other related work as required. 

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business administration, finance, accounting, public administration or related field with 4 years of progressive experience in managing the administration of real and personal property appraisals, tax collections, revenues, and real estate. Three years of direct supervision of staff.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

Completion of special training and certification as a Tax Administrator within two (2) years of employment by the North Carolina Department of Revenue as prescribed in the Machinery Act of North Carolina (G.S. 105 - 294).

Completion of NCTCA Deputy Tax Assistant certification within 2 years of employment.

Completion of North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Level 1 Personal Property Appraiser requirements within 2 years of employment.

Completion of North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Level 1 Real Property Appraiser requirements within 1 years of employment.

Completion of North Carolina Department of Revenue’s Level 2 Real Property Appraiser requirements within 2 years of employment. 

Completion of the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES), Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS), or Mass Appraisal Specialist (MAS) Designation within 3 to 5 years of employment is recommended. 

Wilson County’s Tax Administrator is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and reports jointly to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager provides daily oversight and supervision. The Board of County Commissioners performs annual evaluations with a monthly report from the Tax Administrator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS

REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment, including computers, calculators, soldering equipment, hand tools, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 5 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work. 

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. 

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to conveyor exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants. 

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, budget reports, real property appraisals, tax abstracts, job applications, manuals, maps, statutes, architectural drawings, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, budgets, tax abstracts, tax bills, sales ratio studies, performance appraisals, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence. 

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including legal, accounting, computer and tax terminology. 

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; to multiply and divide; to calculate decimals and percentages; to interpret graphs; to compute discount, interest profit and loss, ratio and proportion, etc.; to perform calculations involving variables, formulas, to perform statistical calculations which include frequency distributions, reliability and validity of tests, correlation techniques, factor analysis. 

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape. 

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment. 

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination. 

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color. 

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress. 

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of accepted methods and procedures utilized in the mass appraisal of real property.

Thorough knowledge of the North Carolina Machinery Act and County tax policies as applicable to tax listing and collection, and assessment of real and personal property. 

Thorough knowledge of policies, procedures and practices used in appraising commercial, residential, farm and industrial property for tax purposes. 

Thorough knowledge of tax listing procedures and forms. 

Thorough knowledge of the ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional standards and/or federal, state or local laws, rules, and regulations. 

Considerable knowledge of construction cost, building materials and land values. 

Considerable knowledge of sales ratio scheduling, market trends and current real estate values. 

Considerable knowledge of the established accepted practices and techniques of accounting and bookkeeping. 

Considerable knowledge of the geographic and socioeconomic layout of the County. 

Considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration. 

Considerable knowledge of the current literature, trends and developments in the field of tax assessment and administration. 

Ability to use common office machines, including popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.

Ability to plan and conduct effective tax listing, appraisal and revaluation programs. 

Ability to design and implement valuation techniques and defend those techniques and results to the public. 

Ability to plan, organize and supervise the activities of the Department. 

Ability to prepare financial statements and reports. 

Ability to be bonded by licensed bonding agencies. 

Ability to exercise considerable independent judgment in making final decisions regarding contested property values and legal points on tax assessment matters. 

Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in contact with taxpayers and the general public. 

Ability to exercise firmness and fairness in adjusting complaints and explaining tax laws and policies. 

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

Ability to physically report to work in an office environment for 40 hours a week 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday, unless additional time is needed to complete required tasks.

Special Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Last Revised: 10/12/2026