Chief Financial Officer

KCATA has engaged Krauthamer & Associates (“K&A”), a retained executive search firm, to assist with the recruitment of the CFO. Interested parties should contact Gregg Moser, Partner at K&A, via email at to obtain more information or to apply for the position with an attached resume.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for overseeing and serving as the primary decision maker on all financial matters including general finance, procurement, grants, inventory control, self-insurance, audits, salaried and union pension plans, operating and capital budgets, and all federal financial requirements of the Authority.

The CFO serves on the executive management team and is an adviser to the CEO, Deputy CEO and Chief of Staff. Additionally, the CFO presents to the Board of Commissioners with financial reports and oral presentations on the agency’s finances and engages with stakeholders of the Authority as appropriate relating to all financial matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

The CFO:

• Supervises, leads, and mentors staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; providing assignment oversight, conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff training and development opportunities; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions and recommendations. Leads Finance team in developing and maintaining high levels of customer service, professionalism, individual skills, and effective team approach to work.
• Plans, organizes, directs and controls the agency's financial accounting activities; balances revenues, expenditures and debt issuance; provides financial analysis, audit and guidance; assures adequate internal controls, accurate record keeping and timely reporting in compliance with established laws, codes, regulations and policies.
• Develops, analyzes, and makes recommendations to the CEO and Board regarding approval of financial policies and procedures, including reserve policies, to ensure long-term fiscal viability and accountability. Implements approved financial policies. Provides input and assists in the development of strategic plans. Assists with the preparation and review of cash flow forecasts, revenue estimates, and projections.
• Ensures accounting processes are carried out in conformance with Daily Standards set by Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and guidance from the State Auditor's Office (SAO) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
• Assists the CEO in establishing and achieving the KCATA’s financial goals.
• Directs, administers, and formulates policies for complex employee pension, retirement and benefit plans, and makes presentations to the Board regarding adoption of such policies. Provides primary leadership to ensure compliance with State and federal laws and regulations. Chairs the Agency's Pension Management Committee. Performs day-to-day administration of the Agency's deferred compensation plans, including distribution requests, Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, loan processing, etc.
• Oversees, coordinates, and participates in the preparation of the Annual Financial Report and audit; collaborates with staff to ensure timely completion. Coordinates external audits and serves as the audit liaison. Reviews audit recommendations and implements appropriate corrective action as necessary.
• Oversees, coordinates, and participates in the preparation of the annual National Transit Database (NTD) report; collaborates with staff to ensure timely completion.
• Oversees, coordinates, and prepares the annual Operating and Capital Budgets for the Agency.
• Oversees the pursuit of grants and innovative funding sources; maintains up-to-date knowledge of industry opportunities for funding and applies this knowledge to KCATA financial operations.
• Advises the CEO, Department Directors, and the Board regarding the budget preparation process, consequences of fiscal alternatives, and presents and recommends fiscal options.
• Prepares clear, concise, and timely financial reports to the Board, CEO and Executive Team for decision-making purposes.
• Develops, maintains, and implements effective internal controls to safeguard Transit assets.
• Develops, reviews, and approves department policies, procedures, and plans; formulates, recommends, and implements department priorities, goals, and objectives. Continually monitors, evaluates, and implements process improvement within the department.
• Develops and maintains a strong, transparent working relationship with the Board of Commissioners; makes presentations and communicates with the Board on all financial matters.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, technologies, and best practices and procedures for financial management.
• Attends, chairs and conducts a variety of meetings with the Agency and outside entities; serves on committees as requested; represents the Agency and makes oral presentations at meetings, conferences and other events.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level. Must meet regular time and attendance standards.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work requires managing and monitoring work performance of an organizational unit (i.e., Finance) or key work area including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Position has assigned department and/or KCATA-wide fiscal responsibility. Assures that appropriate linkages exist between department and agency-wide budget, funding limitations and services levels, to meet specific department and Agency goals. Monitors progress toward fiscal objectives and adjusts plans as necessary to reach them. May prepare financial statements and budget reports.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Finance, Economics or a related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in the finance or accounting field, with seven of those years being in government, transportation, or other relevant areas. An equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities may be considered.
• Financial statement and budget preparation experience required.

Desired Licenses

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• Master’s degree.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• State Auditor's Office "Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System" (BARS).
• National Transit Database (NTD) Uniform System of Accounts (USOA).
• Federal and State laws, rules, regulations, and statutes related to public transportation.
• Risk management principles and practices.
• Finance theory and principles.
• Contract development practices and administrative requirements, including union contracts and labor agreements.
• Financial management principles and practices.
• Mathematical concepts.
• Budgeting principles and practices.
• Deferred compensation plan rules and regulations.
• Theory and practice of governmental accounting.
• Financial forecasting.
• Principles and practices of effective leadership, management, and supervision.

Skill in:

• Monitoring and evaluating subordinate staff.
• Oral presentations.
• Prioritizing and assigning work.
• Applying contract, grant, and other administrative limitations to project activities.
• Reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Developing and controlling budgets.
• Writing reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Prepare accurate and understandable financial reports; analyze, evaluate, and interpret complex financial data; forecast financial trends; and develop revenue and expenditure estimates.
• Use personal computers and office software including word processing, spreadsheets, and database programs in a Windows-based operating environment.
• Presenting information and responding to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Working with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistics.
• Defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions.
• Dealing with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, elected officials, and the general public sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, vendors, consultants, representatives of other agencies, and the general public.
• Formulate and evaluate policies.
• Develop and implement short- and long-range plans.
• Prepare and direct the preparation of comprehensive budgets.
• Work under pressure, addressing issues and tasks that arise simultaneously and/or unexpectedly.

Ability to:

• Meet schedules and deadlines of the work.
• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.
• Present key business and financial matters to those without a finance background.
• Interact directly and independently with KCATA’s senior management as well as senior management of external organizations and government officials.
• Direct the management of large projects, provide regular updates to senior management and deliver quality work under varied time constraints.
• Disseminate information, evaluate facts, determine alternative solutions to problems, and reach sound management and business decisions.
• Analyze situations, identify problems, implement solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Be responsive to community issues and concerns and external representatives.

POSITION TYPE AND EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

• Will work in a normal office environment. Will sometimes be required to work and/or attend meetings or events in public and at all RideKC locations.
• Monday through Friday 8am until 5pm.
• Occasional abnormal hours are expected and required for specific events and to reach all employees.

TRAVEL

• Travel within the metropolitan area is required.
• Occasional travel outside of the region may be required.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• This position is relatively free from unpleasant environmental conditions or hazards and is generally sedentary. Incumbents may be required to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, a negligible amount of force frequently, and/or constantly having to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
• Positions in this class typically require talking, hearing and seeing.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK AUTHORIZATION/SECURITY CLEARANCE (IF APPLICABLE)

EEO STATEMENT

• KCATA is an equal opportunity employer.