The County Executive’s Office of the County of San Mateo is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board/ Administrative Assistant I.
The mission of the Assessment Appeals Board (AAB) is to conduct fair and impartial property assessment appeal hearings in a timely and efficient manner for the property taxpayers of San Mateo County. The board’s objective is to ensure applicants’ properties are assessed at fair market value, in accordance with applicable law, based on properties similar in size and utility. The AAB consists of three part-time commissioners and the clerk. The mission-critical clerk’s position is fast-paced and demanding, characterized by extensive use of the computer and telephone to provide administrative support for the AAB and their associated proceedings.
The AAB acts on behalf of the Board of Supervisors and is independent from the County Assessor’s Office.
Examples of Duties
Duties of the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide public notice of Appeals Board meetings.
- Respond to taxpayer inquiries regarding their application and Board hearing procedures.
- Ensure that the applications meet the legal requirements for completeness and timeliness and are submitted on the proper form.
- Maintain correspondence with the State Board of Equalization.
- Prepare meeting agendas and provide the information needed to the Board members for the hearings.
- Schedule and clerk the hearings.
- Record final decisions of the Appeals Board and notify all affected parties.
- Maintain copies of evidence presented at the hearings.
- Perform record keeping and maintain confidentiality of all records.
- Perform arithmetic calculations.
- Act as back-up for the receptionist and co-workers.
- Assist with various projects or activities as assigned.
- Maintain and purge files as required.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have proven organizational and time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines and handle time-sensitive matters.
- Possess strong analytical skills and have keen attention to detail.
- Maintain complete and accurate legal records.
- Produce quality work under fluctuating workloads with minimal supervision.
- Have proven proficiency in operating standard office software and equipment.
- Compose effective routine-to-complex correspondence.
- Effectively apply established procedures and codes, including property tax assessment guidelines.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other personnel and the public.
The ideal candidate will also have worked as the Clerk for an Assessment Appeals Board or a similar board or will have worked in a similar capacity in a high-level office. The exceptional candidate will have knowledge of the methods used in the valuation of property for tax assessment purposes, California property tax laws, and the State Board of Equalization guidelines.
This is a limited-term position. Limited-term positions are full-time, fully benefited, temporary positions. This current position is funded for up to three years, depending on the department’s needs. Limited Term employees receive medical and dental benefits, like regular employees, and a defined contribution retirement plan (401-A).
Information for current County employees: Current and regular County of San Mateo Employees who are interested in this assignment must submit application materials and compete in the selection process. If you are successful in the selection process and are being considered for the assignment, HR will work directly with you and/or your department for options. Please note there is no guarantee that you will be allowed by your department to rotate into this assignment nor is your department obligated to allow you to take on this assignment. The salary range for this position is "as is" and non-negotiable.
Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify could be four years of increasingly responsible administrative or clerical experience.
Knowledge of:
- Modern office methods and equipment.
- Sub-professional accounting, bookkeeping, and fiscal procedures, if applicable.
Skill/Ability to:
- Learn, interpret, and apply the laws, regulations, codes, and guidelines governing the operations of the Assessment Appeals Board and the department.
- Read and interpret legal records to determine property ownership and evaluate ownership declarations.
- Effectively apply established procedures and codes, including property tax assessment guidelines.
- Organize and plan time efficiently for assessment appeals casework and Appeals Board hearings.
- Compose routine-to-complex correspondence from brief instructions.
- Use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
- Work well independently, without close supervision.
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions efficiently and effectively.
- Maintain complete and accurate legal records.
- Effectively handle stressful interactions with others.
- Perform detailed office support work, including, but not limited to, prioritizing work and coordinating several activities, organizing and maintaining files and records, operating standard office equipment, and making accurate arithmetic calculations.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Multi-task effectively.
- Be a good listener, communicator, and problem-solver.
- Remain calm and professional under pressure.
Ideal qualifying experience includes:
- Acting as the clerk for government boards or commissions.
- Preparing and preserving the associated agendas, meeting minutes, and resulting documents.
- Responding to a high volume of inquiries from individuals who have complex issues to resolve with those boards or commissions.
Application/Examination
This is an Open recruitment. Anyone may apply.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
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%).
Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in County of San Mateo, 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 above. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply.
~TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE~
Final Filing Date: January 2, 2026
Application Screening (Tentative): January 6 - 8, 2026
Panel Interviews (Tentative): January 21-22, 2026
San Mateo County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Chet Overstreet (12042025) (Administrative Assistant I - E029)
