Transportation Program Section Finance Manager

State of North Carolina•Transportation Bldg Wake, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The primary purpose of the position is to serve as the Division’s Primary Finance Manager, reporting to the IMD Finance and Grant Administration Deputy and the Division Director. This position provides advanced accounting management, oversight, administrative support, and overseeing all aspects of the Division’s financial activities while ensuring that all grant requirements are met. This position is the primary contact with FTA and FHWA on all finance related matters. This position recommends and allocates resources to achieve Division and section goals, secures and oversees consultant contracts as needed to augment staff and deliver special projects within the Finance Program and the Division. Interviews and make recommendations for hiring; monitors project, section, and Division budgets via automated reports and manual queries from the SAP system. Creates custom reports as required, performs complex financial analyses, recommends policies and implements actions based on conclusions from analyses. Analysis of budget and accounting is an ongoing task with special reports and statistics run as requested by management or other IMD staff. This financial analysis results in the development of a cash spend plan with revenue projections at the beginning of the fiscal year. Identifies, implements, and monitors appropriate Performance Measures for entire grant administration and fiscal components of programs within the Division. Identifies, recommends, and implements changes to business processes within the Division based on performance metrics and key stakeholder requirements. Coordinates the programming of funds between Division leadership and the respective program managers. Develops budgets for all sections within IMD; present financial information to Deputy Director and Director; makes decisions on escalated financial issues; and confers with Deputy Director as necessary for resolution of higher-level issues. Guides, develops, and implements policies and procedures for efficient and expeditious financial workflows, training for Division staff in coordination with the Deputy Director. This position has purchasing authority for the Division; alongside the IMD Division Director and the Finance and Grants Administration Deputy and is in supervision of and coordination with consultants. This position is responsible for the strategic budgeting of federal and state funds including optimizing cash flows for the state and federal grant programs, management and supervision of grants and financial staff within the Division, planning for future funding to optimize project delivery, and performing research and analysis of financial and policy data for key Division decision making. This position addresses a variety of advanced accounting problems requiring financial data, performing analyses, and making appropriate recommendations to IMD leadership. Regularly engages stakeholders for feedback to improve process and communicates regularly and effectively on behalf of the division with all stakeholders. Work requires complete accuracy and attention to detail and is reviewed by the Deputy Director on a regular basis.

Requirements

Considerable knowledge of accounting practices and procedures.
Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration as applied to government programs.
Demonstrated ability to exercise judgment and discretion in establishing, applying, and interpreting policies and procedures.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency personnel and officials.
Experience in MS Office productivity software including Word, Excel, and Power Point.
Experience in the development, population and management of database applications.
Master's degree in urban and regional planning, transportation planning, engineering, business administration, or economics from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in public transportation planning or administration or community planning or transit management; or, Bachelor's degree in urban and regional planning, transportation planning, engineering, business administration, or economics from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of experience in the collection and analysis of economic and social data, two of which must have been in public transportation planning or transit management; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Division’s Primary Finance Manager.
Provide advanced accounting management, oversight, and administrative support.
Oversee all aspects of the Division’s financial activities, ensuring grant requirements are met.
Act as the primary contact with FTA and FHWA on finance-related matters.
Recommend and allocate resources to achieve Division and section goals.
Secure and oversee consultant contracts for special projects.
Interview and make recommendations for hiring.
Monitor project, section, and Division budgets using SAP system reports and queries.
Create custom reports and perform complex financial analyses.
Recommend policies and implement actions based on financial analyses.
Develop a cash spend plan with revenue projections at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Identify, implement, and monitor Performance Measures for grant administration and fiscal components.
Identify, recommend, and implement changes to business processes based on performance metrics.
Coordinate the programming of funds between Division leadership and program managers.
Develop budgets for all sections within IMD.
Present financial information to Deputy Director and Director.
Make decisions on escalated financial issues.
Guide, develop, and implement policies and procedures for financial workflows.
Train Division staff in financial procedures.
Exercise purchasing authority for the Division.
Supervise and coordinate with consultants.
Manage and supervise grants and financial staff within the Division.
Plan for future funding to optimize project delivery.
Perform research and analysis of financial and policy data for decision making.
Address advanced accounting problems, perform analyses, and make recommendations.
Engage stakeholders for feedback to improve processes.
Communicate regularly and effectively with all stakeholders.
Ensure complete accuracy and attention to detail in all work.