Director of Finance

We are the Metropolitan Council the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation wastewater and housing services.More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Metro Transitis one of the countrys largest transit systems employs more than 3000 people and provides more than 80 million rides a year through an integrated network of buses light rail and commuter trains as well as resources for those who carpool vanpool walk or bike in the Twin Cities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Director of Finance serves as Metro Transits chief financial leader responsible for developing and directing agency-wide financial objectives policies and strategies. This position oversees operating and capital budgets grants administration accounting and financial reporting long-range forecasting and revenue operations including fare collection and modernization. The Director provides strategic guidance to the Finance Division and serves as Metro Transits lead representative and collaborative partner for Metropolitan Council and Metropolitan Transportation Services financial teams. This role is responsible for ensuring Metro Transits compliance with federal state county and local requirements. The role also prepares legislative and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reports and develops long-term financial management forecasting and plans that support our projected growth and demonstrates how we are delivering on the investment in public transit for our region.

Candidates permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Leadership & Strategic Financial Direction

• Provide executive-level leadership for agency financial strategy planning policy development and long-range forecasting to ensure resources align with service enhancements and strategic and capital priorities.

• Advise the General Manager Senior Management Metropolitan Council county funding partners and legislative bodies on financial performance risks and opportunities. Lead development of 20-year Financial Management Plans for FTA and 25-year financial models that inform agency financial decisions options and impacts.

• Oversee Metro Transits sales tax commitments partnering with Metropolitan Transportation Services and Metropolitan Council Finance team creating a 20-year forecast plan.

• Review proposed Bills and prepare Fiscal notes during legislative session.

• Ensure consistency of all financial strategies with Council goals approved projects and funding availability.

Budget Grants & Capital Oversight

• Oversee preparation and presentation of annual operating budgets capital budgets the six-year capital improvement program.

• Direct financial reporting and forecasts for Metro Transit partnering with Metropolitan Council financial teams and collaborating with external funding partners.

• Create mechanisms that drive active budget management including but not limited to increased access to financial reports data and dashboards; budget development processes aligned to strategic framework; and mid and long-range forecasting tools.

• Manage grants administration including compliance billing and reporting for federal state and local sources.

• Provide oversight of capital financing strategies debt issuance and cash flow management.

Accounting Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Ensure timely accurate and compliant financial reporting including monthly quarterly and annual statements.

• Oversee accounting functions internal controls audits and adherence to GAAP GASB FTA and other regulatory requirements.

• Coordinate responses to FTA oversight reviews and ensure alignment of assumptions with Council and partner forecasts.

Revenue Operations & Fare Modernization

• Lead and direct fare revenue management including collection systems reconciliation auditing and financial reporting.

• Oversee fare modernization initiatives such as mobile payments contactless fare media and integrated mobility payment systems.

• Ensure the security accountability and efficiency of revenue processing operations (e.g. vault pulling money room operations event revenue).

Division Oversight & Team Leadership

• Strategic people-centered leadership of Finance Department teams in support of our Great Workplace norms.

• Establish division-wide goals strategies and performance metrics ensuring alignment with agency priorities and funding requirements.

• Establish division-wide communication and engagement standards informed by our equity consideration tool to ensure partners and leaders across Metro Transit and Metropolitan Council as well as external partners are engaged and informed in ways that improve the quality and value of our work.

• Lead staff development mentoring and performance management fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Proactively collaborate with Metropolitan Council financial team Metropolitan Transportation Services and other Metropolitan Council divisions.

• Engage and inform Metro Transit Senior Leadership and key department stakeholders to ensure financial decisions align with agency priorities.

• Lead collaborative continuous process improvement efforts with Metropolitan Council and Metropolitan Transportation Services financial teams enhancing and improving the sharing of data information and communication.

• Represent Metro Transit on financial committees task forces and joint financial committees with county and regional partners.

• Present financial updates and strategic plans to the Metropolitan Council Management Committee county boards and the legislature.

Education/Experience:

Any of the following combinations of completed education (in Finance Accounting Business Administration Public Administration or related field) and progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting including demonstrated expertise in budget development/oversight capital planning grants administration and government or public sector finance.

• Bachelors degree with ten (10) years of experience and five (5) years of senior leadership experience

• Masters degree with eight (8) years of experience and five (5) years of senior leadership experience

This position requires professional comprehensive and practical level of understanding of financial management business administration and accounting/financial reporting which skill level is acquired through a degreed program with many years of practical experience.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and/or Masters in Business Administration (MBA) strongly preferred.
• Background in financial leadership within a public transit or public sector organization.
• Experience with financial planning and reporting for federal and/or state funded projects including the FTA.
• Experience presenting complex financial information to elected officials boards or external funding partners.
• Experience leading the creation of dashboards and financial models to share complex and highly technical financial information with a wide variety of audiences.

What knowledge skills and abilities you should have within the first six months on the job:

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

Union/Grade: NRC Grade EX-1

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive:No

What your work environment would be:

Work is performed in a standard office setting and may require travel between primary work sites to other sites.

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.