SR COST ANALYST

MARTA•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

Provides analytical support, consultation, and advice to staff, managers and executive staff members regarding Federal and State Regulations, which include grant programs, garnishments, employee taxes, and compensation regulation compliance. Performs cost analysis and financial analysis to assist with the Authority’s strategic business planning process. Prepares monthly and year-end close-out of all financial reporting records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the MARTA ACT. Serves as Department of Finance liaison with the Federal Transit Administration, Amalgamated Transit Union, Office of Management & Budget, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (U.S. House of Representatives), Federal and State Tax Offices, Fulton County Courts, Child Support Agencies and other outside agencies. Serves as consultant and “subject matter expert” for the integrated Oracle system, including General Ledger, Payroll, Accounts Payable, Grant Accounting, Labor Distribution, Projects, Accounts Receivable, Treasury, and Fixed Assets modules. Reviews complex journal entries including those related to hedging and investment derivatives, lease-leaseback transactions, bond issues and retirements, debt service management, investments and commercial paper. Serves as operational expert, support, and analyst for the Teledriver Operator Compensation System and other complex timekeeping and reporting systems. Prepares monthly and year-end close-out of all financial reporting records. Develops recommendations between departments with grant and project set ups in Oracle Grants Accounting. Serves as subject matter expert and resource to cost analysts accountants, and accounting specialists, while providing instructions on complex grant costing analysis, union contract interpretations, compensation rules and regulations, accounting transactions and financial reporting in accordance with OMB (Office of Management and Budget) circulars, GAAP, GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) and other applicable guidelines and authorities. Supports Cost Analysts, Accountants and Accounting Specialists using GAAP, State Grant compliance, the reporting of Stimulus Grants, Federal and State Tax compliance, and various analyses and accounting functions. Works closely with various departments, including the Department of Technology, Department of Police Services,, Office of Budget, Office of Treasury, Office of Grant Management, Office of Revenue Operations, Office of Risk Management, and the Office of Human Resources, to develop and implement complex system changes. Reviews, analyzes and recommends proposed solutions regarding FTA reports, Federal Financial Reports (FFR), National Transit Database reports, and grant requisitions of federal funds to the Authority. Implements efficiencies and writes accounting policies and procedures for General Ledger Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Labor Distribution, the Cost Allocation Plan, Grants Accounting, Project Accounting, Fixed Assets, Human Resource Organizational set-ups, Payroll Policies and Oracle System Processes.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or related field with a minimum of eight years of progressive professional experience in accounting, finance or business analysis.
Specific job-related experience is required in at least two of the following areas: general ledger accounting, generally accepted accounting principles, GASB interpretation and implementation, bond analysis, financial reporting, transit industry grant programs, grant costing, cost accounting, cost allocation plans, project accounting, Oracle integrated system set-ups, FTA guidelines, OMB guidelines, NTD (National Transit Data) reporting, and stimulus grant reporting.
Designation as a Certified Public Accountant or a Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.

Nice To Haves

Designation as a Certified Public Accountant or a Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.

Responsibilities

Provides analytical support, consultation, and advice to staff, managers and executive staff members regarding Federal and State Regulations, which include grant programs, garnishments, employee taxes, and compensation regulation compliance.
Performs cost analysis and financial analysis to assist with the Authority’s strategic business planning process.
Coordinates with Gwinnett County Transit, Cobb County Transit, the Amalgamated Transit Union State of Georgia and Federal Tax Offices, Child Support Agencies and other outside agencies to ensure compliance.
Prepares monthly and year-end close-out of all financial reporting records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and the MARTA ACT.
Reviews, analyzes and sets up organizational changes, union contract changes, complex cost allocation plans, payroll system changes, and automated accounting changes in the Oracle Grants, Payroll, Projects, and Fixed Assets modules.
Serves as the Department of Finance liaison with the Federal Transit Administration, Amalgamated Transit Union, Office of Management & Budget, Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (U.S. House of Representatives), Federal and State Tax Offices, Fulton County Courts, Child Support Agencies and other outside agencies.
Researches and determines the proper accounting treatment for various accounting transactions.
Ensures all transactions are in complinace with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Govermental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and the MARTA ACT.
Initiates and conducts analysis to determine the labor cost that qualifies as capital versus operating to comply with OMB circulars.
Reviews complex journal entries including those related to hedging and investment derivatives, lease-leaseback transactions, bond issues and retirements, debt service management, investments and commercial paper, and all other entries submitted by Cost Analysts and Accountants.
Serves as consultant and “subject matter expert” for the integrated Oracle system, including Payroll, Grant Accounting, Labor Distribution, Project, and Fixed Assets modules.
Serves as operational expert, support, and analyst for the Teledriver Timekeeping System and the Oracle Time and Labor Timekeeping System.
Supports Cost Analysts, Accountants and Accounting Specialist using GAAP, State Grant compliance, the reporting of Stimulus Grants, Federal and State Tax compliance, and various analyses and accounting functions.
Analyzes and monitors grant costing during the life of an award.
Interpretes, analyzes and insures compliance with Federal and State Regulations, MARTA Policies and Procedures, and the union contract agreement, regarding complex payroll related requirements.
Interfaces Internal Inventory Issues from Oracle Inventory with the Oracle Projects module.
Serves as subject matter expert for the Authority on all policies regarding the capitalizating and reporting of all MARTA assets.
Conducts analysis to determine the labor cost that qualifies as capital versus operating to comply with the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) circulars.
Conducts detailed biweekly and monthly analysis of labor costs, operating and capital costs to assist with budget vs actual variances and to ensure that all costs are properly analyzed and reported according to generally accepted accounting practices.
Develops recommendations between departments with grant and project set ups in the various integrated Oracle financial modules.
Works closely with various departments, including the Office of Information Systems, Office of Budget, Office of Treasury, Office of Grant Management, and the Office of Human Resources, to develop and implement efficiencies and complex system changes.
Monitors and analyzes variances between FTA award amounts and the Authority's financial set ups in the Oracle Grants Accounting integrated system.
Reviews, analyzes and recommends proposed solutions to FTA reports, Federal Financial Reports (FFR), National Transit Database reports, and grant requisitions of federal funds to the Authority.
Implements efficiencies and writes/updates accounting policies and procedures for Labor Distribution, the Cost Allocation Plan, Grants Accounting, Project Accounting, Fixed Assets, and Human Resource Organizational set ups, Payroll Policies, Accounts Receivable and General Ledger, and Oracle System Processes.
Reviews all GL account reconciliations and effect correcting entries as necessary on a timely basis.
Assist managers with the external audit process and works closely with the external auditors, pension and Postemployment Benefits Other than Pension (OPEB) actuarial and departments/offices of the authority to ensure its timely completion.
Participates on the MARTA team during the FTA Triennial Review of the Authority.
Responds to FTA requests and provides supporting documentation during the Financial Management Oversight and Cost Allocation Plan reviews.
Manages the wages and salary information for employees (W2), pension analysis and medical cost analysis.
Performs other related duties as assigned, including Transit Ambassador assignments.