Director, Property Tax
Role description
From the employerThe Director, Property Tax is responsible for leading the Company's enterprise
property tax function across a national residential real estate portfolio. This
role develops and executes strategies to optimize property tax expense, improve
forecast accuracy, ensure compliance with all state and local taxing
jurisdictions, and maximize value through assessment reviews and appeals. The
Director serves as the Company's subject matter expert on property taxation and
partners closely with Finance, Acquisitions, Asset Management, Operations,
Legal, and external tax consultants to support business objectives. The role is
responsible for property tax budgeting, forecasting, assessment analysis,
appeals management, tax payment oversight, reporting, data analytics, and
continuous process improvement.
This position utilizes technology, automation, and advanced analytics to drive
efficiencies, identify risks and opportunities, and provide actionable insights
that support portfolio performance and profitability.
Property Tax Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute the Company's enterprise property tax strategy.
- Lead all property tax activities across the Company's portfolio of
single-family rental homes and related assets.
- Establish policies, procedures, controls, and governance processes related to
property tax administration.
- Serve as the primary internal advisor regarding property tax matters and
emerging legislative or regulatory developments.
- Identify opportunities to reduce property tax expense while maintaining
compliance and minimizing business risk.
Assessment Management & Appeals
- Direct annual assessment review processes across all applicable
jurisdictions.
- Identify properties for valuation review, challenge, and appeal.
- Oversee third-party consultants, attorneys, and tax service providers
supporting assessment appeals and tax administration.
- Develop strategies to maximize appeal success rates and return on investment.
- Monitor appeal outcomes and incorporate results into future valuation and
forecasting models.
- Prepare business cases supporting significant appeal activity and tax savings
initiatives.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning
- Lead property tax budgeting and forecasting processes for annual operating
plans, long-range plans, and periodic forecasts.
- Develop predictive models to estimate future property tax liabilities and
valuation trends.
- Partner with FP&A and Accounting to ensure accurate accruals, reserves, and
financial reporting.
- Analyze tax expense trends, assessment increases, and market conditions
impacting property tax costs.
- Provide executive leadership with insights regarding tax expense risks and
opportunities.
Compliance & Tax Administration
- Ensure timely payment of all property tax obligations.
- Oversee tax calendar administration and jurisdictional filing requirements.
- Monitor tax notices, assessments, exemptions, abatements, and payment
statuses.
- Ensure compliance with state and local property tax regulations across all
markets.
- Coordinate internal and external audits related to property tax matters.
Data Analytics, Technology & Process Improvement
- Develop dashboards, scorecards, and key performance indicators to monitor
property tax performance.
- Utilize large data sets to identify valuation anomalies, assessment trends,
appeal opportunities, and portfolio-level risks.
- Partner with Data & Analytics teams to enhance automation and reporting
capabilities.
- Leverage AI, predictive analytics, and business intelligence tools to improve
decision-making and forecast accuracy.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency and
strengthen operational controls.
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage relationships with property tax consultants, appeal firms, outside
counsel, and tax technology providers.
- Establish service-level expectations and performance metrics for external
partners.
- Collaborate with Asset Management, Acquisitions, Market Operations, Legal,
and Finance teams.
- Present property tax performance, forecasts, savings initiatives, and
emerging risks to senior leadership.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop members of the property tax team.
- Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and service
excellence.
- Support succession planning and professional development efforts.
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Real Estate, Economics, Business
Administration, or related field.
- Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressive experience in property tax
administration, real estate taxation, valuation, assessment appeals, or
related disciplines.
- Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience.
- Experience managing property tax matters across multiple states and
jurisdictions.
- Experience working with large real estate portfolios.
- Demonstrated experience leading assessment review and appeal programs.
- Experience developing financial forecasts and managing budgets.
- Experience utilizing data analytics and reporting tools to support
decision-making.
- Certified Member of the Institute (CMI) designation.
- CPA, CFA, MAI, CCIM, or similar professional designation.
- Experience within single-family rental, institutional real estate, REIT,
multifamily, or private equity-backed organizations.
- Experience with property tax software platforms and automation tools.
- Advanced experience in data analytics, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or similar
business intelligence platforms.
Property Tax Expertise
- Extensive knowledge of property tax assessment methodologies and appeal
processes.
- Strong understanding of real estate valuation principles.
- Familiarity with jurisdictional tax regulations across multiple states.
Financial & Analytical Skills
- Advanced financial modeling and forecasting skills.
- Ability to analyze large data sets and identify actionable insights.
- Strong quantitative and problem-solving abilities.
Technology Skills
- Advanced Excel proficiency.
- Experience with Power BI, Tableau, SQL, or similar reporting tools.
- Working knowledge of automation, AI-enabled analytics, and data visualization
technologies.
Leadership & Communication
- Strong executive presence and communication skills.
- Ability to influence stakeholders across all organizational levels.
- Proven vendor management and negotiation capabilities.
- Ability to translate complex technical information into business-focused
recommendations.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and
offer opinions and direction.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities
and challenges.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining
personally challenging achievement goals and
exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using
logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and
thorough in completing work tasks.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive
or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and
professionalism.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the
essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Frequently remains in a stationary position while working at a computer
workstation.
- Frequently operates a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other standard
office equipment.
- Occasionally moves about the office to access files, meeting rooms, and
office equipment.
- Frequently communicates with others verbally and in writing.
- Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret detailed financial, tax, legal,
and operational information.
- May occasionally lift and move items weighing up to 15 pounds.
FirstKey Homes is an equal opportunity employer and will not tolerate
discrimination in employment based on race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin,
marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other legally
protected classification or status.