Salary : $86,798.40 - $119,912.00 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Regular
Job Number: U078H
Department: Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 36

Description
The Business Personal Property Division of the Office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Auditor-Appraiser I/II.

The Auditor-Appraiser I/II will be responsible for:

• Obtaining, processing, and analyzing data for the timely completion of audits and appraisals of tangible and taxable property for assessment purposes.
• Completing appraisals of property and performing audits of property owner reports, records, and declarations.

Initially under close supervision, an individual hired at the Auditor-Appraiser I level is trained in performing routine audits and making appraisals of routine property types. An individual hired at the Auditor-Appraiser II level will be fully competent to independently perform auditing duties.

The Business Personal Property Division currently consists of two Principal Auditor-Appraisers, seven Senior Auditor-Appraisers, three Auditor-Appraisers, and one Assessor Recorder Technicians, who are managed by a Chief Appraiser. The County Assessor sets the value of the tangible assets possessed by more than 11,000 businesses operating in San Mateo County, thereby establishing their taxable value. The Assessor also sets the value of 3,000 boats and 400 private aircraft owned in the county.

This is an exciting and dynamic work environment with high-volume work and high-public contact.

We are seeking a goal-oriented individual who can organize and plan their workload accordingly to achieve yearly audit goals. The successful candidate is self-directed yet also effective in working with a team. The ideal candidate will have experience in accounting and in auditing of business, be fully competent to independently perform auditing duties, and have two or more years of experience performing appraisal audits for tax assessment purposes.

Knowledge of boats and aircraft is a plus. A bachelor's degree in accounting is highly desired.

The salary range for Auditor-Appraiser I is $86,798.40 - $96,969.60 annually.
The salary range for Auditor-Appraiser II is $95,929.60 - $119,912.00 annually.
Qualifications
Licensure/Certification:
Acquisition within one year of appointment of a permanent Property Tax Appraiser Certificate issued by the California State Board of Equalization.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Typical ways to qualify include:

• Possession of a bachelor's degree in accounting from a recognized institution of higher education (accredited); or
• Is a licensed accountant in the State of California; or
• Has passed the state, or a county, or city and county, or city civil service or merit system examination regularly given for the position of accountant or auditor by the testing body; or
• Holds the office of Assessor.

For candidates not meeting the qualifications listed above, the State Board of Equalization requires Auditor-Appraisers to possess these educational components:

• 18 semester units (or quarter equivalents) of accounting and/or auditing courses. Business law and economic classes may not contribute toward the 18 units; or
• 19 semester units (or quarter equivalents), 16 units of which must be accounting and/or auditing courses and 3 semester units of which may be either business law or economic classes.

Auditor-Appraiser I - In addition to the aforementioned information, some experience in real estate or property appraisal is desirable.
Auditor-Appraiser II - In addition to the aforementioned information, two years of experience performing audits and appraisals of tangible and taxable property for tax assessment purposes is crucial.

Knowledge of:

• Accounting and auditing principles and practices.
• Technical and professional knowledge of appraisal/audit procedures.
• California Property Tax laws.
• State Board of Equalization guidelines.
• Laws governing the formation and operation of businesses.
• Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
• Court decisions affecting assessment procedures.
• Methods used in the auditing of records and the valuation of property for tax assessment purposes.
• Policies and procedures related to the department.
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.

Skill/Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during work.
• Audit financial books and records to determine ownership, segregate costs of property, and evaluate property owner declarations.
• Read, interpret, and apply rules, policies, and procedures.
• Appraise property.
• Organize and plan time for completion of audit and appraisal workload.
• Discover and resolve audit and appraisal problems.
• Travel to a variety of geographic locations throughout the County according to regular schedules as well as on demand.
• Work independently.
• Select and make appropriate adjustments to comparable property.
• Accurately determines historic, reproduction, and replacement costs.
• Accurately identify and measure depreciation and obsolescence.
• Measure income producing characteristics of property and appropriately capitalize the income stream into value.
• Identify and classify various types of land, sites, buildings, structures, manufactured homes, vessels, aircraft, trade fixtures, and personal property interests in an accurate and uniform manner.
• Produce effective presentations.
• Maintain complete and accurate records and prepare narrative audit reports.
• Operate standard office equipment, including departmental applications.
• Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which may include a written exercise. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California, and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button.If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PSTApplication Screening: Monday, October 5, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: Monday, October 19, 2026

HR Analyst: Sarah Huynh (090926)(U079/U078 - Auditor-Appraiser I/II)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.

• I have read and understand this information.

02

A bachelor's degree in accounting or its equivalent is required to apply for this position. If your bachelor's degree is in another subject, then eighteen (18) semester units of college-level accounting and/or auditing is required for this position. Please list the college level ACCOUNTING and/or AUDITING courses you have completed. Specify your Accounting/Auditing courses by indicating the: A) Class Title, B) Name of Institution, C) Number of Units, D) Date of Completion. (If this is not applicable, please enter "N/A" below.)
03

Describe how your education and experience have prepared you for a career as an Auditor-Appraiser. As part of your response, and if applicable, describe your familiarity with obtaining, processing, and/or analyzing data for an audit. Be specific.
04

Describe a specific project you led or a report you prepared at work or school which required you to gather, analyze, and present information both in narrative format and orally. Be specific about what the project entailed, identify the steps in the process, and describe the audience and outcome.
05

An Auditor-Appraiser is required to work independently as well as with a team. Describe your work experiences in each of these environments. Be specific about your role and where the experience was gained.
06

How did you learn about this position?

• County of San Mateo Website
• County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
• County Hosted Virtual Event
• County Hosted Job Fair
• CalOpps.org
• Civic Match
• College/University Career Center
• Community-based Organization Posting
• Facebook/Instagram
• Friend or Relative
• GovernmentJobs.com
• Indeed
• Job Fair
• LinkedIn
• Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
• X (formerly called Twitter)
• Zip Recruiter
• Other (Please specify in next question)

07

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question