Job Profile Summary 

This role plans, directs, and oversees the activities and operations of the Finance Department, comprising five divisions – Accounting, Financial Planning & Analysis, Payment Systems & Statistical Reporting, Risk Management, and Treasury. The Vice President, Finance, is directly responsible for developing and administering an annual budget of $1.7 billion and maintaining DART’s sales tax revenue bond ratings by KBRA (AAA/Stable), S&P Global Ratings (AA+/Stable), and Moodys Investors Service (Aa2/Stable), which are among the highest for transit and transportation agencies in the country. Candidates should have a proven track record of managing a culture that drives results, serves customers, and builds successful teams and coalitions within and outside the organization. Additionally, this position is responsible for financial planning and budgeting, treasury functions, revenue administration and collection, grants management, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll for the agency. Reporting to the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, this role is critical in implementing the strategic goals of DART. 

Job Description 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Directs, oversees, provides day-to-day support, and is responsible for the activities of the Finance Department. 

• Establishes and secures approval of goals and policies for the department with broad latitude for decision making. Makes policy recommendations to the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for approval on a regular basis. 

• Understands, executes, enforces, and recommends changes to policies and procedures. Reviews and approves policies and procedures developed for divisions within department. 

• Develops and administers DART’s agencywide Business Plan, Financial Plan, and Annual Budget. Submits Annual Budget and Financial Plan for Board approval. Issues periodic financial and operational reports to evaluate progress against budgets and forecasts. Monitors expenditures and prepares budgetary adjustments as necessary.  

• Coordinates the issuance of debt financing and leveraged lease instruments, changes to fare policy, and submission of Federal grants to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet planned expenditures. 

• Oversees the general accounting and financial reporting activities within the accounting area. Coordinates and issues DART’s Annual Financial Statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Standards and pronouncements issued by the Government Accounting Standards Board. 

• Manages DART’s capital borrowing program and investment portfolio in accordance with the approved financial plan and policies. Researches and adopts policies and strategies to maximize investment earnings to maintain the financial health of DART.  

• Develops, administers, and monitors procedures to ensure sound internal control, compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, satisfaction of contractual obligations, and maintenance of adopted budgets and schedules. 

• Oversees the monitoring of contracts status within department to ensure adherence to work program, budget, and quality of work or services. 

• Interviews, selects, supervises, develops, evaluates, counsels, and if necessary, terminates subordinate personnel in accordance with established policies, procedures, and guidelines. 

• Acts as a resource to and a liaison between department and other DART departments as well as external contacts regarding financial issues. 

• Develops, submits for approval, and monitors department budget. Takes action to correct variances 

• Prepares and makes formal presentations to the DART Board, national conferences, and city and community meetings, as required. 

• Remains current on new industry trends, methods, and technology. 

• Performs other related duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

Note: An equivalent combination of related education and experience may be substituted for the below stated minimums excluding High School Diploma, GED, Licenses, or Certifications. 

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, finance, public policy, business administration, or a closely related field is required. 

• Eight (8) years progressively responsible experience in complex financial management to include experience supervising staff engaged in financial planning, operating and capital budgeting, debt financing, cash management, portfolio management, and/or accounting. 

• Thorough understanding of Government Accounting Standards Board pronouncements and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Federal, State, and local laws and regulations that may impact transit agencies. 

• Proven track record of developing effective partnerships across different groups to organize and facilitate decisions and ensure implementations. 

• Ability to build, develop, and empower diverse teams to successfully advance agency goals and objectives. 

• Substantial interpersonal skills to effectively and sensitively communicate with all levels of employees, contractors, consultants, government entities, elected officials, and others internal and external to DART when discussing or explaining technical and/or financial information, counseling, and instructing staff, interpreting policies and procedures, or interacting in meetings which may have a substantial effect on the short- and long-term success of DART. 

• Strong ability to think and act strategically. 

• High level of analytical and creative skills to facilitate decisions and ensure implementation of solutions to complex interpersonal, legal, technical, financial, and administrative problems. 

• Ability to use rigorous logic, data, and methods to solve difficult problems and achieve desired outcomes. 

• Demonstrated experience leading teams and ensuring a department is a safe environment for all employees to engage, communicate, collaborate, and solve problems. 

• Ability to write and speak clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; ability to read a situation quickly; good at focused listening. 

• Ability to handle materials and information of a confidential nature. 

• Confident and engaging professional with outstanding communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills with a passion for incorporating best practices in a public agency. 

• A strategic and forward-thinking financial advisor with the ability to operate at a high level yet is able to understand and direct day-to-day fiscal operations. 

• Able to motivate others, instilling an eagerness to achieve goals and fostering a culture of inclusion and successfully guiding the financial health of the organization. 

• Ability to champion strategic change and strive for innovation. 

• Ability to act decisively and properly manage resources. 

• Ability to foster a culture of courage within their teams. 

• Ability to manage and work well with diverse populations. 

• Ability to always act with integrity, empathy, and compassion. 

• Ability to build a thought-provoking office environment in which employees feel challenged and that promotes the ability for employees to offer ideas that will continuously improve the department and the agency. 

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP: 
Reports to EVP/CFO * 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

Works in an environment where there is minimum exposure to dust, noise, or temperature. May be moderately exposed to unpleasant working conditions to include dust, noise, temperature, weather, petroleum products, and chemicals while visiting DART's operating facilities, assuming incumbent is observing all policies and procedures, safety precautions and regulations, and using all protective clothing and devices provided. 

Note:?The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may perform other duties as assigned. 

DART is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity in the workplace. M/F/D/V 

DART has engaged K&A, a retained executive search firm, to assist with the recruitment of the VP of Finance. If you are interested in this outstanding opportunity, please contact Gregg A. Moser, Partner at K&A gmoser@kapartners.com.