PROPERTY TAXATION & ASSESSMENT ANALYST (2024)

• Job ID: 45473
• Job Category: Finance, Accounting & Purchasing
• Division & Section: Corporate Real Estate Management, Real Estate Property Management
• Work Location: Metro Hall at 55 John St.
• Job Type & Duration: Full Time, Permanent
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $48.49 - $53.14,Wage Grade 15
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 per week
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period:03-May-2024 to 17-May-2024

Job Description:

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of approximately 3 million people. Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, Toronto serves as a global hub for business, finance, arts, and culture. Join the award-winning Toronto Public Service as a Property Taxation and Assessment Analyst with the City of Toronto’s Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) Division.

Your substantial property tax experience and professional assessment designation, combined with your ease in interpreting and applying related bylaws and Acts makes you an ideal candidate for this key position.

Major Responsibilities:

Responsible for assisting the Senior Project Manager, Tax Services, in mitigating the property tax financial impact to the City, providing property taxation and assessment support to all City Divisions for properties where the City has an interest, particularly as it relates to making necessary rectification to property assessments and tax classifications.

• Reviews and analyses all City-owned and leased properties to determine correct assessment and tax classification, including identifying issues requiring follow-up with MPAC or appeal by the City.
• Carries out research to assist in the establishment of policies, procedures, and frameworks for the effective operation of the Centre of Property Taxation and Assessment.
• Conducts research and analyses of the City’s property assessment and taxation to identify issues, highlight trends and areas of concern, recommend solutions, and prepare financial impact assessment/reports/briefing notes/correspondence for Senior Management, MPAC or Council.
• Maintains confidentiality of information respecting commercially sensitive rates and business terms of leases and land transactions, and legal proceedings. Monitors and provides direction and guidance Reconciles tenant accounts and rebills realty taxes from City tenants, ensuring the effective and the timely payment of, by the City and by tenants, by ensuring consistency in practices, discipline in application of processes, and accuracy of data.
• Carries out activities with respect to property taxes, administration, taxation policy, assessments, payments, reviews, grants in lieu of payments, and legislative interpretation.
• Participates as a member of the management team of the Centre to provide leadership, goal setting, and proactive problem solving related to property assessment and taxation matters
• Prepares documentation and defence to support appeals to the to the ARB when properties appear to have been incorrectly assessed, when the comparables provided by MPAC are not considered appropriate and when the City challenges assessments.
• Undertakes property inspections and reviews, research property specific issues, and follows up on recommendations of corrective action.
• Annually reviews properties subject to tax exemption including Municipal Capital Facilities to ensure on-going eligibility.
• Liaises with MPAC and monitors MPAC information relative to change of property status and assessment, exemptions, errors, capping, claw backs, and filing for appeals and reconsideration.
• Liaises with all City Departments to confirm and verify information respecting jurisdiction, ownership, use and tenure of properties.
• Liaises closely with Revenue Services to coordinate efforts and common City interests in assessment and taxation issues
• Monitors and tracks the impact of all changes to City properties that may have an impact on taxation and assessment, including leasing in and out, acquisition, disposition, and jurisdictional transfers.
• Ensures the proper assessment and taxation of properties by reclassifying properties, reassessing property values and taxes to reflect prevailing market rates and applying tax exemption for City used properties.
• Analyses and reports regularly, changes occurring in assessment and taxation of City properties and develops multi-year forecasts for tax expenditures and recoveries using municipal and economic indicators.
• Identifies emerging issues related to impact of property assessments on taxation, develops effective solutions and prepares reports regarding same for Committee and Council consideration, if required.
• Represents the City of Toronto at the Assessment Review Board (ARB) and other court proceedings and provides assist to City of Toronto Legal Services in defending the City’s position regarding assessment appeals.
• Prepares briefing notes for Senior Project Manager, Manager, Director and/or Executive Director and other documentation as required.
• Liaises/works closely with other sections within Corporate Real Estate Management, other departments, MPAC, other external agencies, and other levels of government regarding assessment and related taxation issues.
• Assists in the development and tracking of appropriate performance measures and benchmarks, as required, and reviews the efficiency and effectiveness of the processes implemented and introduces improvements as required.
• Tests system enhancements and recommends implementation.
• Participates in special projects as required.

Key Qualifications:

Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

1. Post Secondary education in a relevant field such as Law, Finance, Economics, Real Estate, Public Administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience applicable to property tax analysis.
2. Extensive property assessment, tax legislation, appraisal methodology and regulations experience, with a wide range of property types, with a focus on resolution of assessment discrepancies with MPAC.
3. Considerable property tax experience, within or involving a large municipality, and completion of the Municipal Tax Administration program
4. Considerable experience in research, analysis, and interpretation of data.

You must also have:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Municipal Connect and database software programs.
• Thorough understanding of, and ability to interpret and explain, legislation and regulations including the Municipal Act, the City of Toronto Act, the Assessment Act, and the Federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Act.
• Familiarity with the Freedom of Information Act, as well as bylaws affecting the tax appeal process and real property assessment practices.
• Knowledge of real property assessment practices, tax legislation, appraisal methodologies and regulations.
• Knowledge of City of Toronto Zoning Bylaws, Official Plan, the Local Improvement Act, Planning Act, and City Policy and Procedures as it pertains to real property appraisal/assessment, taxation, and development.
• Excellent presentation skills and experience before Assessment Tribunals.
• Familiarity with government legislation in the area of occupational health and safety.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) and establish good relations with taxpayers, consultants, and lawyers, as well as staff at all levels within the organization, representatives from other levels of government, and members of Council.
• Ability to act as a representative and liaising with a variety of contacts, including legal, councillors, public, and other external parties, in an efficient, discrete, and diplomatic manner.
• Ability to motivate, train and oversee staff in a service oriented, politically sensitive environment.
• Ability to exercise independent judgement and discretion in dealing with confidential matters and commercially sensitive information.

MIMA or AIMA designation from the Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA) and maintaining designation through the IMA’s mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program would be an asset.

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:

City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City's Internal Job Posting Portal.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.