Chief Financial Officer

Virginia Information Technologies Agency • Richmond, VA

10d

About The Position

The Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the agency’s financial operations. The CFO directs budget, financial programming, financial reporting, fiscal operations, and compliance and audit functions, and serves as a member of the executive leadership team providing strategic input across the agency. The role supports the Commonwealth’s freight rail and public transportation programs through responsible management and short- and long-term planning of financial resources, including clear and transparent reporting and development and public presentation of the agency budget and Six-Year Improvement Program.

The CFO works collaboratively across departments to understand needs and priorities and identify funding strategies. The position uses data to inform decisions and resource allocation, coordinates multi-year financial plans and reporting with agency leadership, and leads the finance team in developing and administering operating and capital budgets. It also partners with Transit and Rail program leadership to secure and manage state and federal grant funds and provide financial input for agency programs. The CFO ensures the integrity of fiscal operations and compliance with fiscal and reporting requirements, and oversees external financial reviews and audits.

DRPT offers a generous total compensation package. Well-qualified candidates may negotiate exceptional recruitment incentives. New external Commonwealth candidates may negotiate cash and leave bonuses upon hire; existing state employees may negotiate leave bonuses upon hire.

Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of complex financial structures, revenue, and cash resources.
• Demonstrated and considerable knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations and trends in government and public finance.
• Extensive knowledge of generally accepted management principles and practices in budget administration and procurement management, legislative processes, public finance, and related federal and state statutes and regulations.
• Outstanding collaboration skills, including the ability to build relationships and gain consensus among staff, colleagues, senior elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Experience and knowledge to plan and accomplish short- and long-term goals.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment in interpreting and analyzing rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to develop and implement organizational processes for effectively managing finances and maximizing available funds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, make presentations, and provide financial guidance to the organization and other entities.
• Demonstrated ability to make quality, timely decisions, sometimes with incomplete information, based on experience and sound judgment.
• Ability to promote the organization, make critical decisions, manage conflict, promote organizational alignment, build relationships, conduct high-level negotiations, and monitor and understand economic, political, social, business, and demographic changes.
• Significant and progressive experience leading and developing staff responsible for delivering complex, high-impact projects and services.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate degree in business administration with a background or training in government or public finance, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Demonstrated senior management experience in financial planning, accounting, budgeting, cash management, and revenue forecasting.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification.
• Progressive experience in state government roles involving financial management, budget development and monitoring, fiscal analysis, and adherence to state policies and regulatory requirements.
• General knowledge of freight and passenger railroads, mass transit, and mobility management.
• Experience in the transportation industry.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for DRPT’s financial operations.
• Direct budget, financial programming, financial reporting, fiscal operations, and compliance and audit functions.
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team and provide strategic input to agency functions.
• Plan and manage short- and long-term financial resources to support Commonwealth freight rail and public transportation programs.
• Develop and present the agency budget and Six-Year Improvement Program in a public context, ensuring transparent financial reporting.
• Collaborate across departments to understand needs and priorities and identify funding strategies for program delivery.
• Use data to inform decision-making and resource allocation in an open and transparent manner.
• Work with the leadership team to develop and coordinate multi-year financial plans and transparent financial reporting.
• Lead the finance team in developing and administering operating and capital budgets.
• Partner with Transit and Rail program leadership to secure and manage state and federal grant funds and provide financial input to advance agency programs.
• Ensure the integrity of fiscal operations and compliance with fiscal and reporting requirements.
• Oversee external financial reviews and audits to ensure financial stewardship and compliance.
• Lead and develop staff responsible for complex, high-impact projects and services.

Benefits

• Generous total compensation package.
• Well-qualified candidates may negotiate exceptional recruitment incentives.
• New external candidates of the Commonwealth may negotiate cash and leave bonuses upon hire.
• Existing state employees may negotiate leave bonuses upon hire.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed