Senior Financial Analyst (Budgets)

San Mateo County Transit District • Millbrae, CA

3d

About The Position

The Senior Financial Analyst (Budgets) is a senior level Budget Analyst position that will report to the Manager, Budgets and is responsible for analyzing and preparing the operating and capital budgets for: the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority (ELJPA), and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA). This role involves receiving and reviewing cost center manager budget requests, preparing budget reports, verifying budget authority, analyzing budget changes and trends, and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. The position also assists with the development of the annual budget, ensures grant funding is allocated correctly, and prepares specific financial calculations and applications such as the Indirect Cost Allocation (ICAP) in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 and ASMB C-10, and the ICAP/ICRP application with FTA and Caltrans. Duties include processing fund activations for capital projects, monitoring funding plans, providing analysis for current budget year activities, processing budget transfers, identifying and proposing solutions to budget issues, and performing budget monitoring activities like revenue and expense forecasting. The role also supports ICAP calculations, prepares monthly financial statements and the annual budget book according to GFOA standards, and prepares funding applications for specific transit funds. Training for Cost Center Managers on the budget process is also a responsibility. All duties must be performed safely, promoting safety awareness and following procedures to prevent injuries.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Three (3) years of full-time increasingly responsible experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, or related field.
• In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with grant budgeting.
• Public Sector experience, ideally transportation related.
• Experience with enterprise financial management system (e.g. PeopleSoft).
• Experience with Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA) reporting.
• Effective written and oral communication skills in one-to-one and one-to-many settings.
• Effective research and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite programs, specifically Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Receive, review, and monitor cost center manager budget requests for SamTrans, Caltrain, ELJPA, TA operating and capital programs.
• Prepare the budget report in the monthly financial statement and staff reports for Board approval.
• Review and verify budget authority for both operating and capital projects for up to four agencies, including monthly and quarterly staff reports.
• Review and analyze year-over-year budget changes, historical and future trends, and project budget assumptions.
• Liaison with internal staff and external stakeholders to provide and/or retrieve budget information.
• Assist with development and analysis of the annual operating and capital budget; development of baseline budgets and processing new budget requests for approval by executive team.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholder to ensure grant funding is allocated to the appropriate projects.
• Preparation of the Indirect Cost Allocation (ICAP) calculation in accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87 and ASMB C-10.
• Preparation and filing of Indirect Cost Allocation Plan/Indirect Cost Rate Proposal (ICAP/ICRP) application with FTA and Caltrans.
• Analyze and process the activation of funds for capital projects.
• Monitor the implementation of the funding plan for capital projects.
• Provide operating and capital analysis for current budget year activities.
• Process budget transfer requests.
• Identify, prioritize, and propose solutions to budget issues.
• Perform budget monitoring activities including revenue and expense forecasting, and budget actual cost comparison for monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.
• Assist with the ICAP calculation by providing supporting workbook and documentation.
• Prepare the monthly financial statement presented to the Board of Directors.
• Prepare the annual budget book based on the Government Finance Officer Associations’ (GFOA) standards and best practices.
• Prepare funding application to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for State Transit Assistance and Transportation Development Act funds.
• Conduct training for Cost Center Managers for budget process as needed.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect one’s self, fellow employees and the public from injury or harm.
• Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures in an effort to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior