This is not a timed exam. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the exam until the request is processed.

If you have tested for the Assistant Property Auditor Appraiser classification as part of the Assistant-Associate Property Auditor Appraiser Series exam in the previous 9 months, it may be too early for you to take this exam. Please check your CalCareer account for the retake date on your exam results notification for this classification BEFORE continuing this exam process. Retaking this exam under another or a new User I.D. and password, Social Security Number (voluntary, not required, information), or name is not allowed.  

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

• ASSISTANT PROPERTY AUDITOR APPRAISER (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION) - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

1772

For ASSISTANT PROPERTY AUDITOR APPRAISER (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION), once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 9 months:

Exam Code(s):

• EX-01772

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:

1. General appraisal methods, procedures, and terminology.
2. General accounting and auditing principles and procedures.
3. Real property law and common methods of describing property.

Ability to:

1. Apply the required knowledge.
2. Conduct appraisals and/or audits of real and personal properties.
3. Analyze data and draw sound conclusions.
4. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action.
5. Prepare clear, complete, and concise reports.
6. Communicate effectively.

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ASSISTANT PROPERTY AUDITOR APPRAISER (BOARD OF EQUALIZATION) Classification will be established for:

• CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

SECTION 1 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS-VERBAL

Please indicate the number of times you have performed each of the following and the recency of that experience.

1. Made formal presentations of technical or other complex information at meetings, briefings, conferences or hearings.
2. Made formal presentations to persuade your audience to a particular viewpoint.
3. Answered questions or given demonstrations in a work environment.
4. Made presentations of nontechnical information at meetings, briefings, conferences or hearings.
5. Translated technical or other complex material into common everyday language.
6. Communicated to others the consequences of their actions if they fail to do what is required by law or regulation.
7. Testified before quasi-judicial bodies as to work performed.
8. Lead or facilitated briefings, meetings or hearings.
9. Interviewed others to obtain relevant data.
10. Provided informal training to others or project participants.
11. Explained or interpreted complex information such as procedures and policies.
12. Participated in an activity or class since high school, designed to improve verbal communication skills (for example, Toastmasters, debate team, community theater).
13. Tutored someone in an academic subject as part of an organized program.

SECTION 2 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS-WRITTEN

Please indicate the number of times you have performed each of the following and the recency of that experience.

1. Formal memos/letters/reports to a person of authority.
2. Written feedback to others.
3. Complex written procedures.
4. Memos or short reports designed to persuade an audience to a specific viewpoint.
5. Technical reports.
6. Resolution of problems through written correspondence.
7. A brief accurate report describing a situation.
8. A written response to a request.
9. Lengthy reports or documents that include facts, conclusions, and/or persuasive arguments (for example, thesis, issue paper, office policy).
10. Written translation of technical or other complex material into easy to understand language.
11. An edited version of written material developed by others.

SECTION 3 - ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Based on your experience, whether paid or as a volunteer, rate your ability to:

1. Read and interpret laws, rules and regulations.
2. Develop an instrument or process for gathering data (for example, survey, questionnaire).
3. Analyze material and make a recommendation.
4. Examine source documents to detect errors in the application of property tax laws.
5. Develop courses to train professional personnel.
6. Apply appraisal principles to reach opinions of property values.
7. Analyze data and draw sound conclusions.
8. Research, discover, and compile relevant data in order to complete assigned tasks.
9. Research, discover and apply property tax law in order to complete assignments.
10. Analyze financial information and draw inferences regarding reasonableness of recorded amounts.
11. Perform research to determine properties comparable to subject property.
12. Evaluate functions of a county assessor's office.
13. Research, compile, write and orally present responses to assessment appeals of assessed property.
14. Review and select from competing written proposals or contracts.
15. Evaluate forms or other documents.
16. Prepare a report summarizing numerical information.
17. Design charts or graphs depicting numerical data.

SECTION 4 - INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

How often does your experience, whether paid or as a volunteer, involve:

1. Answering questions or providing assistance to others.
2. Working cooperatively with people outside your immediate work setting.
3. Organizing and coordinating the work of other team members.
4. Instructing professional training courses.
5. Working cooperatively as part of a team in a work environment.
6. Settling disputes through negotiation.
7. Doing investigative work where you are required to listen attentively to others.
8. Gathering information from others.
9. Conducting interviews to gain an understanding of a business operation.
10. Discussing and explaining audit and/or appraisal reports with taxpayers.
11. Working effectively with other Governmental organizations.
12. Working effectively with the public.

SECTION 5 - PERSONAL COMPUTER SKILLS

How current is your experience, whether paid or as a volunteer:

1. Using a personal computer (IBM PC or compatible, MacIntosh) at home or work.
2. Using a personal computer word processing program such as Microsoft Word or Wordperfect.
3. Using a personal computer spreadsheet program such as Lotus or Excel.
4. Using a personal computer database program such as Dbase, FoxPro or Access.
5. Receiving formal training on the operations of a personal computer or software.

How knowledgeable and proficient are you in:

1. Operating a personal computer.
2. Creating databases.
3. Accessing data to resolve work related problems.
4. Operating an electronic calendar to maintain a schedule.
5. Performing work using a word processing program.
6. Performing work using a spreadsheet program.
7. Performing work using a database program.

SECTION 6 - WORK HABITS

How current is your experience, whether paid or volunteer:

1. Completing non-routine assignments independently or with minimal supervision.
2. Completing major long-term projects timely or ahead of schedule.
3. Completing your assigned work ahead of schedule and seeking out additional tasks.
4. Planning and having responsibility for large work or school projects.
5. Being relied upon by a supervisor or project team leader to make decisions on a regular basis when he/she is unavailable.
6. Dealing with disruptions to your work and still managing to continue or complete your work assignments on schedule.
7. Formulating an alternate workplan due to a setback or changing priorities to allow you to complete a project on time or within budget.
8. Working without direct supervision on multiple assignments and completing those assignments on time.
9. Working with sensitive or confidential data.
10. Conducting projects where you have to account for your time.
11. Prioritizing assignments.
12. Suggesting a change to a work procedure that was implemented.
13. Using self-study to improve your skills at work, home or school.
14. Seeking to learn new skills or knowledge that have helped you achieve your goals at work, home or school.

SECTION 7 - WORK PREFERENCES

Please indicate your preference for and recency of experience with the following:

1. Working with numbers and statistics.
2. Analyzing data from a variety of sources and developing supportable conclusions.
3. Conducting research using surveys, interviews, the library, and file reviews.
4. Working without direct supervision on multiple assignments.
5. Answering questions or providing assistance to others either in person or by telephone.
6. Handling interpersonal conflicts.
7. Resolving complaints or problems.
8. Using computer programs to store and arrange data.
9. Working in groups or in teams.
10. Working independently on projects.
11. Traveling to out-of-office locations.
12. Traveling overnight over fifty percent of the time.
13. Working on long term projects.
14. Making formal presentations before groups.
15. Writing reports, letters and memos.
16. Dealing with sensitive or confidential data.
17. Regularly explaining or interpreting complex information such as procedures and laws.
18. Providing instruction to others.
19. Working in an office setting.
20. Working evening or weekend assignments when required.

SECTION 8 - ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING SKILLS

How current is your experience:

1. Auditing small to medium-sized business accounts.
2. Appraising the business property of a small to medium-sized business.
3. Using appropriate cost indexes and percent good factors.
4. Performing compliance audits.
5. Reviewing financial records.
6. Preparing audit workpapers.
7. Testing the accuracy of reports.
8. Analyzing business operations of a small to medium-sized business.
9. Utilizing general accounting and bookkeeping principles.
10. Applying property tax laws.
11. Applying general accounting and auditing principles, standards and procedures.
12. Preparing bank account reconciliations.
13. Preparing a trial balance.
14. Posting journal entries to ledgers.
15. Preparing financial statements/reports.

Rate your ability to:

1. Reviewing records to detect errors.
2. Apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
3. Apply Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
4. Analyze the flow and recording of information in the accounting system of a small to medium-sized business.
5. Apply appraisal principles.
6. Analyze financial records of a small to medium-sized business.
7. Create audit workpapers.
8. Apply cost indexes and percent good factors.
9. Develop methods to test accuracy of data.
10. Follow an audit trail.
11. Analyze internal controls.
12. Apply property tax laws.

• CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.