Property Tax Manager

Essex Properties Trust, Inc. is currently seeking an experienced Property Tax Manager to join its tax team in the role of assisting the Vice President of Tax with managing the Company’s property tax function.

Essex is a publicly-traded Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT) headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. Essex provides quality apartment homes in premier locations all along the West Coast. The position will be based in Irvine, CA.

The ideal candidate will be energetic, willing to do whatever is needed to complete tasks, and will work closely with different teams of property tax professionals to bring value to Essex. They will be willing to “roll up their sleeves” to manage the organization’s personal and real property taxes which include approximately 2,800 tax parcels in CA and WA, totaling approximately $190 million dollars of tax liabilities annually. This candidate must be able to work at all levels within the organization and effectively manage Essex’s outside property tax service providers.

Position Summary:
Reporting to the Vice President of Tax, performing tax planning and compliance activities related to personal and real property taxes with the objective of minimizing tax; ensuring timely compliance reporting; effectively working with internal departments and with external property tax professionals; effectively managing multiple competing priorities; serving as an internal resource to deal directly with customers and tax authorities on property tax related matters.
Primary Responsibilities:
Assist with, and manage, all aspects of real and personal property taxes including budgeting, payments, filings, and appeals. 
Ensure all taxes and filings are accurately prepared, timely filed, and timely paid.
Along with outside service provider maintain accurate and complete tax calendars.
Working with outside advisors on preparation and review of personal and real property tax filings and payments, budgeting, and appeals.
Develop and implement effective, tax strategies to minimize the overall tax burden of Essex and to minimize overall costs associated with the property tax function.
Manage outsourced property tax filing and payment functions.
Assist with monitoring the Company’s appeals of real property tax assessments.
Interact directly with taxing authority auditors and assessors as needed.
Assist with preparation of annual property tax budgets.
Assist with calculation of property taxes for construction and redevelopment projects, as well as, for changes in ownership.
Assist with due diligence for proposed acquisitions.
Desired Qualifications/Skills:
Seeking a professional with 5 to 10 plus years of progressively more responsible and successful experience, who has a strong knowledge of personal and real property tax matters in CA and WA.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance or similar function.
Experience working with complex and large amounts of properties and filings.
Experience with state and local property tax reduction and incentive programs.
Experience with low income housing properties.
Skill in developing and analyzing tax planning and tax minimization strategies.
Excellent communicator, strict attention to details, deadline oriented, and highly organized.
Multi-family housing experience a plus.
Personal Trait Profile:
Ability to manage multiple priorities/projects simultaneously.
Ability to work efficiently and independently.
Ability to work within tight deadlines.
Strong, loyal team player.
Professional and personable.