Director of Finance

Director Of Finance

Salary : $160,513.60 - $321,048.00 Annually

Location : Minneapolis, MN

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 2025-00326

Division : Metro Transit

Department : MT Finance Admin

Opening Date : 09 / 26 / 2025

Closing Date : 10 / 10 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

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.

What You Would Do In This Job :

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.

What Education And Experience Are Required For This Job (Minimum Qualifications) :

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.

• Metropolitan Council Employees Only. Successful completion of any one of the following four Metropolitan Council Leadership / Supervisory training programs will substitute for lead / supervisory experience. You must attach your certificate(s) as proof of completion of the program to your application. Only completion of one of the four programs listed below will substitute credit (6 months or 1 year) for lead / supervisory experience.

Program Number of years of supervisory experience program counts for

Metro Transit Leadership Academy 1 year

Project Management Development Program-12-month session 1 year

Project Management Development Program-6-month session 6 months

Four Learning Institute Certificates - You must obtain all four certificates listed below to receive credit for 6 months supervisory experience.

Leading Self-Personal Effectiveness Certificate

Leading Self-Communication Certificate

Leading Self-Business Skills Certificate

Leading Others-Preparing for Supervisor Certificate

What Additional Skills And Experience Would Be Helpful In This Job (Desired Qualifications) :

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 :

Knowledge of Financial Practices and Financial Techniques

Knowledge of principles, practices and procedures of business administration

Knowledge of policy analysis, development and implementation

Knowledge / Understanding and able to explain complex financial issues

Knowledge of Financial Systems, Accounting Best Practice, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Knowledge of management / supervisory practices, performance management including coaching, counseling, staff development, performance improvement and discipline.

Organizational, administrative and analytical skills including continuous process improvement and performance measurement skills.

Development, motivation and fostering of collaborative relationships both inside and outside of the organization.

Project management, financial strategic development and strategies, presentation skills, and presentation to senior management, staff, and leadership boards.

Proven leadership and management skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships.

Strategy Development and ability to provide strategic timely identification of financial analysis for relevant issues and provide