Principal Financial Analyst

Job Title

Financial Analyst

Who We Are

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. Metro Transit Division is one of the country's largest transit systems, employs more than 3,000 people, and provides ridership through an integrated network of buses, light rail and commuter trains, as well as resources for those who carpool, vanpool, walk or bike in the Twin Cities.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region . The Financial Analyst performs fund and project accounting and financial management analysis. The fundamental reason this classification exists is to coordinate the ACFR, Council-wide/division-wide financial management and project management support specific divisions within Metro Transit. Responsibilities include producing regular and ad-hoc financial reports and ensuring compliance with accounting standards. This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

What You Would Do In This Job

• Run reports in the financial systems, reconcile account balances and prepare journal entries for assigned funds and accounts to ensure transactions are accurately recorded in the financial systems.
• Prepare journal entries to record monthly accruals, correct posting errors, etc. Monitors journal entries to properly account for Council activities
• Coordinate all activities of a specialized unit within a divisional department or major functional area to maintain proper control and uniformity and to ensure procedures are established and maintained by evaluating actual to budget activities and expenditures.
• Reconcile department records with accounting reports; analyze and monitor changes in operational trends and make recommendations based on those trends, maintain a set of control accounts to verify accuracy of transaction records.
• Monitor financial control over expenditures and receipts, review monthly reports with management and make adjusting journal entries if necessary.
• Develop, recommend and implement internal procedures; review and research expenditures for accuracy and timeliness, and advise program and activity managers of concerns and/or problems.
• Assist in monitoring, reconciliation, and reporting of activity (monthly, quarterly, yearly) of operating and capital accounts and funds or other project related reporting, to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet department and activity needs by reviewing requests for compliance with federal and state laws, department policies and internal controls; analyze and interpret fiscal data; develop and implement new procedures to solve problems; and monitor cash flows.
• Ad-hoc reporting and internal controls related to the timeliness and accuracy of financial reporting. Prepares financial analysis for customers with varying degrees of financial understanding
• Responds to internal, Federal, and State Audit questions accordingly
• Maintains data within relevant systems including PeopleSoft (Financial and HRMS), Hyperion, TXBase and will be responsible for monitoring all sub-systems and departments with the general ledger to ensure accurate financial reporting
• Helping department managers and project managers understand their budget to actual reports is a daily duty for Metro Transit analysts; this position will deal mostly with department managers and project managers
• Train co-workers, as directed, in specific task and job practices and procedures to improve and maintain performance levels by communicating timetables and quality standards for tasks; and provide instruction on policies and procedures as needed.
• Monitors financial, operational reporting and prepares variance to budget analysis. Coordinates and inputs operating and capital data into Metro Transit financial systems to generate monthly financial statement
• Prepares special administrative management studies, analyzes budget expenditure estimates and accounts, fund and project balances to ensure compliance with federal and funding policies and procedures
• Monitors ongoing Financial and operational results for deviations from plan and recommends corrective actions to decision makers
• Identifies system modifications for improved financial controls and evaluates programs effectiveness and recommends changes
• Other duties assigned or apparent

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

Any of the following combinations of experience in an accounting or finance environment including the development and use of financial or budgeting systems and completed education in accounting, finance, business administration, or closely related field:

• High school diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience in an accounting or finance environment including the development and use of financial or budgeting systems
• Associate degree with six (6) years of experience in an accounting or finance environment including the development and use of financial and budgeting systems
• Bachelor's degree or higher with four (4) years of experience in an accounting or finance environment including the development and use of financial or budgeting systems

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

• Practical experience using a financial system like PeopleSoft
• Experience delivering financial information to coworkers, division program staff and managers, and state/federal agencies
• Experience in accounting practices including problem solving skills to identify and reconcile account, project balances using reports, queries, spreadsheets and available tools and information
• Intermediate computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, graphic presentations, and database management required (Excel, and Access)
• Promotes an equitable, positive, and respectful work environment that values diversity among all employees

What You Can Expect From Us

• We offer the opportunity to make a difference and positively influence the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
• We encourage our employees to develop their skills through on-site training and tuition reimbursement.
• We provide a competitive salary, excellent benefits and a good work/life balance.

Additional Information

Financial Analyst Union(s): Non-Represented Grade G FLSA Status: Exempt Safety Sensitive: No Full Salary Range $41.34- $67.08 Hourly | $85,987.20- $139,526.40 Annually

Principal Financial Analyst Union(s): Non-Represented Grade I FLSA Status: Exempt Safety Sensitive: No Full Salary Range $46.40 - $75.30 Hourly-$96,512.00 - $156,624.00 Annually

What your work environment would be: You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We request your Work Record Evaluation (ATU employees only).
3. We rate your education and experience.
4. We conduct a structured panel interview.
5. We conduct a selection interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then: If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only), and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation. If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position. IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration. The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply. If you have a disability that requires an accommodation during the selection process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io

Benefits

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
<