Metropolitan Transportation Authority Careers

Please note that this position is only open to MTA employees.

This position is eligible for telework which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Job Summary:

Working in partnership with the Director, Consolidated Analysis, this position coordinates the development of the MTA financial plan and provides leadership with cohesive, coordinated, and accurate financial information in a timely manner to drive strategic decisions that enable the MTA to achieve its mission within existing financial constraints. The position works to ensure collaboration and seamless communication between OMB, MTA leadership, the Board, and State/external entities. The Deputy Director oversees multiple critical corporate-wide analyses of both a short-term and long-term nature, including those related to economic forecasting, fare/toll revenue and ridership/crossing utilization, subsidies, pensions, insurance, health and welfare, electric power, fuel, and extraordinary events such as Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic. The position also conducts strategic financial analyses, oftentimes upon request with little turnaround time, and offers policy recommendations for consideration by MTA leadership. The Deputy Director assists in compiling and analyzing economic, demographic and operational statistics and conducts economic and statistical research as a complement to these activities. This position will represent the Office of Management & Budget in dealings with elected officials, State agencies, the MTA Board, MTA Executive staff and other Headquarters staff and the MTA operating agencies when necessary.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Director, Enterprise Financial Planning in establishing a framework for, and preparation of, MTA and Financial Plans, including the development of budgeting assumptions and the preparation of detailed instructions. To facilitate a cohesive Financial Plan process consistent with MTA policy objectives and statutory requirements that concludes with a Financial Plan based on a solid financial, administrative, and programmatic foundation.
• Direct and oversee the analysis of revenues and expenses on a regular basis. Bring to the attention of the Director, Enterprise Financial Planning, any potential problems or areas of concern to MTA. To keep MTA management informed of actual performance results, highlighting problem areas that need corrective action, making recommendations where appropriate for corrective action, and being able to competently respond to inquiries from external entities. This is critical to ensure that agreements with funding partners are enforced.
• Maintain liaison and interface with Agency, Federal, State, and City personnel, and with the finance community, involved in various aspects of MTA finances. Represent MTA financial and budgetary interests through appointment to task forces, working groups, and committees. To ensure that all parties are aware of key issues and appropriately committed when decisions are necessary.
• Direct, oversee, develop, and recommend cost forecasts for Agency use in the development of MTA Financial Plans. These expenses represent over 25 percent of total MTA expenses, and reasonably derived forecasts are critical to a sound Financial Plan.
• Provide economic, financial, and demographic assumptions for MTA Financial Plans. Facilitates cohesive and consistent budgets and Financial Plans that meet MTA policy objectives and statutory requirements.
• Direct, oversee, monitor, and analyze monthly and quarterly farebox, toll, and subsidy revenue performance for MTA and Agency operations. Informs MTA senior management and the Board of actual financial performance relative to budget, providing critical information needed to develop corrective actions to changing financial conditions. Required for adhering to regulations established by the New York State Comptroller.
• Select, develop, and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates when applicable. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Responsible for discipline/termination of employees when necessary. Review performance of staff. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Expertise should include, but not be limited to, developing complex and sophisticated multi-year financial plans for either government or private organizations, conducting economic studies, and estimating econometric models. A diverse aptitude for, and experience with, applications for economic and statistical analysis and financial management are also necessary.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary, as well as the ability to synthesize complex financial, economic, and legislative information.
• Expertise should include budgeting, revenue and cost analysis, report writing and financial planning.
• Knowledge of economics and econometrics.
• Knowledge of financial planning, analysis, forecasting and control techniques.
• Knowledge of MTA organization, including the detailed relationships with its constituent Agencies.
• Knowledge of the organization and financial structure of MTA constituent Agencies, or of a corporate transit agency.
• Knowledge of State and local financial and political processes.
• Knowledge of government taxation and subsidy funding as they are related to sustaining MTA operations.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• The position requires the ability to effectively interact with all staff levels, especially senior management. It requires strong human relations and verbal and written communication skills, which are critical to maintain an effective liaison with all levels of management. The person in this position must understand complex economic and financial problems and provide explanations and solutions that are understandable to non-economic and non-financial professionals.
• The person in this position must demonstrate a high degree of creativity, initiative, and perseverance regarding problem solving relating to financial and economic modeling and analysis. This position also requires the individual to have a broad knowledge of transit programs, transit financing history and political structures and be capable of developing policy recommendations on a broad range of issues affecting the future direction of MTA’s financial and strategic business plans.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) from an accredited university or college, with a preferred concentration in Business, Finance, Economics, Public Policy Analysis, or related field is required;
• Minimum 8 years of progressive budget, economic and finance experience, performing as an individual contributor in an analytical capacity and reporting to upper management levels is required.
• Minimum 4 years of experience supervising staff.

The Following is/are preferred:

• Master’s degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) in a related field is preferred.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”).

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.