Chief Financial Officer (52369)

Job Details
Job Location: Alexandria, VA 22314
Position Type: Full Time
Education Level: 4 Year Degree
Travel Percentage: Up to 10%
Job Shift: Any
Job Category: Finance

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) develops, organizes, and manages all financial functions for Alexandria Transit Company (ATC) and its employer subsidiary corporation, Transit Management of Alexandria, Inc. (TMA) (collectively referred to as the “Company”), including budgeting, grants and capital projects, accounting, payroll, treasury, financial reporting, procurement and contract administration, risk management, and internal controls.

The Company’s operations and capital program are funded by federal, state, regional, and local dollars. The CFO is entrusted with the stewardship of those public funds and is accountable for ensuring they are budgeted, obligated, spent, recorded, and reported in accordance with the requirements of each funding source, applicable law, and the public trust.

The CFO is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and a strategic advisor to the GM/CEO and the Board of Directors. This is also a working leadership role in a small finance department that requires direct engagement in daily approvals, reviews, reconciliations, and deadlines. Under the direction of the GM/CEO, the CFO develops financial policies, procedures, and programs to ensure the Company operates in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities / Essential Functions

Leadership and Strategy

• Provides overall leadership, guidance, and vision for the Finance Department, directly supervising the Accounting Manager (who oversees the Payroll Specialist, and the Financial Specialist), the Fiscal Analyst, and Operations Payroll Specialist.
• Sets goals and priorities, establishes policies and procedures, coaches and counsels staff, and holds the team to performance standards. Directs the work of the Company’s data team as it relates to financial and regulatory reporting.
• Serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team. Translates the Company’s strategic goals into sound financial plans and advises the GM/CEO on the financial implications of service, capital, and workforce decisions.
• Presents financial updates and reports to the GM/CEO, ATC Board of Directors, City leadership, City Council, and other City boards and commissions.
• Provides training and development for staff across the Company on finance, procurement, and compliance, and resolves sensitive matters requiring positive employee‑relations skills, such as payroll and benefits disputes.

Budget, Financial Planning, and Reporting

• Develops the annual operating budget and ten‑year rolling capital improvement program (CIP) for the GM/CEO, working within the City of Alexandria’s budget process. Projects personnel and non‑personnel expenditures, revenues, and capital cost estimates, and prepares budget presentations and materials for the GM/CEO, Board of Directors, City Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other stakeholders.
• Produces recurring and ad hoc budget reports for the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, monitoring actual revenue and expenditures against budget and projecting year‑end results on a continuous basis.
• Exercises budgetary authority for the Company, ensuring spending remains within budget by authorizing personnel requisitions and purchase orders.
• Advices departments throughout the year on budget priorities and cost‑effective ways to achieve them, including the long‑term implications of proposed staffing changes, in coordination with Human Resources. Provides the GM/CEO with follow‑up analysis on whether implemented changes achieved their intended financial result.

Grants and Capital Funding

• Serves as the Company’s main liaison with grantor agencies, including the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), and Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), as well as appropriate City staff. Facilitates compliance with grantor policies, procedures, and specific grant conditions.
• Ensures grant funds are expended only for eligible, allowable, and properly documented purposes, and that reimbursements are processed timely and accurately.
• Leads the identification and pursuit of new external funding to support strategic investments, facilitating competitive grant applications aligned with grantor priorities. Champions sound project management and grant compliance across the Company, including regular training for TMA Project Managers.
• Maintains regular engagement with the City Department of Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) on grants for which the City is the recipient but ATC has involvement, assisting with management, reporting, compliance, and timely reimbursement, as this reflects on ATC as well.

Accounting, Payroll, and Treasury

• Oversees the Company’s accounting operations, including payroll processing, ensuring all transactions are recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Supervises the Accounting Manager and coordinates closely with the City Finance Department.
• Prepares monthly and annual financial statements that fairly present the operations of the Company in accordance with GAAP, as a blended component unit of the City of Alexandria, along with ad hoc financial reports for the GM/CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and City stakeholders. Prepares finance‑related reports for the FTA’s National Transit Database (NTD) accurately and timely.
• Reviews and approves the payroll register each pay period and authorizes payroll wire transfers and related tax, benefit, and deduction remittances, ensuring that preparation, review, and approval remain appropriately separated.
• Manages the Company’s banking relationships and cash position, including cash flow forecasting and the timely draw of grant reimbursements. Authorizes disbursements and wire transfers within delegated authority under dual control.
• Administers the Company’s corporate credit card program, including the AMEX and JP Morgan accounts. Approves cardholders and limits, sets allowable‑use rules, ensures monthly reconciliation with supporting documentation, and reviews cardholder activity for compliance and appropriate use of public funds.
• Serves as the primary administrator of TMA’s 401(k) retirement plans, coordinating closely with Human Resources and the plan’s third‑party administrator, fiduciary advisor, and recordkeeper/custodian. Approves participant loans, hardship withdrawals, and distributions; ensures timely remittance and reconciliation of contributions; supports annual compliance testing and required filings; and ensures employees are provided appropriate service, information, and notices regarding the plan.
• Acts as the primary Company liaison for financial matters to the Union representing select TMA employees, including processing dues deductions. Participates in TMA’s collective bargaining process and projects the fiscal impact of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provisions.
• Maintains the Company’s Accounting Manual, policies, and procedures, ensuring that all Company and City accounting standards are met. Oversees the Company’s Record Retention Policy and supports FOIA compliance for financial records.

Procurement, Contracts, and Risk

• Serves as the Company’s Purchasing Agent and Contracting Officer under the authority of the GM/CEO, ensuring compliance with applicable procurement laws and regulations, namely the Virginia Public Procurement Act and applicable federal requirements, for all purchases made under the Company’s authority. Develops and updates the Company’s Purchasing Manual.
• Oversees the purchase order process and approves purchase orders and requisitions within delegated authority, supervising the Financial Analyst in managing day‑to‑day purchasing procedures. Collaborates with ATC departments to assess procurement needs and evaluate potential suppliers.
• Manages vendor contract relationships and negotiates contracts to ensure favorable terms for ATC, in collaboration with the GM/CEO, and ensures that agreements carry appropriate insurance and indemnification requirements.
• Manages the Company’s insurance program, including annual coverage renewals, the broker relationship, evaluation of limits and retentions, certificates of insurance, and premium budgeting. (non‑health related plans).
• Partners with Human Resources on the selection of annual health benefits, self‑funded claims cost analysis, and overall cost subsidy strategy.
• Works with Safety and Human Resources on liability, property, auto, and workers’ compensation claims, providing financial oversight, reserve and loss‑run analysis, and reporting. The CFO does not adjudicate or administer claims directly.

Internal Controls, Audit, and Stewardship of Public Funds

• Designs, maintains, and continuously improves a system of internal controls sufficient to safeguard Company assets and public funds and to ensure compliance with federal requirements, including the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and FTA requirements, as well as Commonwealth of Virginia requirements and City of Alexandria policy.
• Designs and oversees a program of recurring internal audits and verifications, including parts and materials inventory counts, fuel, and purchasing card review. Works across departments to ensure these audits are scheduled and conducted by staff in compliance with Company policy, and reports the results and any corrective actions to the GM/CEO.
• Manages all Company finance and compliance audits, including supporting the City’s annual financial statement audit and responding to grantor, state, and federal reviews.
• Exercises fiduciary duty to the Company, the Board of Directors, and the public. Discloses and avoids conflicts of interest and complies with the Company’s ethics standards and the Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act.
• Promptly reports material control weaknesses, suspected fraud, misuse of public funds, or significant financial risk directly to the GM/CEO and, when circumstances warrant, to the Board of Directors.
• Cooperatively and efficiently performs other related tasks and duties as assigned.

Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent knowledge of the principles, techniques, and practices of transit and/or local government finance and accounting, including GAAP, internal control theory, and relevant laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the administration of public funds, including federal grant requirements under the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and state and local funding and reporting requirements.
• Knowledge of public sector procurement, cash and disbursement controls, and commercial insurance programs.
• Ability to operate at both a strategic and a hands‑on level, moving comfortably between long‑range financial planning and daily transaction review and approval.
• Ability to collect and analyze large amounts of data, with strong attention to detail in a deadline‑driven environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 Suite and related standard web‑based systems.
• Experience with one or more general ledger accounting systems and web‑based payroll/HRIS systems. Prior experience with Tyler Technologies Munis ERP and Paycom is a plus, but not required.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare accurate, clear, and concise reports for executive and elected stakeholders.
• Ability to develop, write, and implement policy, procedures, guidelines, and plans.
• Ability to coach, supervise, and manage employees with professionalism and dedication to their success.

Emotional, Psychological, and Physical Requirements

Ability to:

• Make quick, independent decisions within the scope of responsibility.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships, including with emotional or stressed employees and with members of the public and the community.
• Concentrate on priority tasks despite frequent interruptions.
• Deal with occasional long hours and high levels of stress.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion.

Physically:

• Extended periods of sitting in an office environment.
• Occasional attendance of lengthy meetings at various hours, including nights and weekends, in locations throughout the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Occasional business travel is required.

Education and Experience:

• A Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years in financial administration with progressive growth in responsibility.
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in local government, transit finance, or any related governmental/public related field with experience in budgeting, accounting, leadership, and managing grants and capital projects.
• Minimum of five (5) years in a senior leadership role.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred. The Company will reimburse costs for the continuation of accreditation once hired.
• Experience with public sector procurement is strongly preferred but not required.
• Experience in a union environment is preferred.