Description
The Principal Financial Analyst – Treasury plays a strategic role in managing the financial planning, analytics, and reporting functions for all agencies: San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans), the Peninsula Joint Powers Board (Caltrain), the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA), and the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority (SMC-ELJPA). The incumbent will collaborate with finance and business leaders to lead high-impact analysis and reporting, deliver recommendations on critical decisions, and manage long-term financial projections. The role will design, analyze, and implement management reports to turn analysis into action and insight.
Essential Functions & Duties:
- Lead and perform advanced treasury functions across cash management, debt administration, investment oversight, and liquidity planning for SamTrans and related agencies (Caltrain/PCJPB, TA, ELJPA).
- Develop, maintain, and analyze short-term and long-term cash-flow forecasts to support operating needs, capital programs, debt service, and liquidity risk management.
- Support and lead activities related to debt issuance, refunding, and ongoing debt compliance, including preparation of financing analyses, debt service schedules, covenant monitoring, continuing disclosure, and arbitrage/rebate coordination.
- Prepare and review Board-level reports, presentations, and staff reports related to treasury, debt, investments, and cash-flow matters, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and compliance with governing policies and disclosure standards.
- Oversee and perform investment analysis and reporting in compliance with California Government Code, District investment policies, and best practices; monitor portfolio performance, market conditions, and interest-rate trends.
- Coordinate with external stakeholders including bond counsel, municipal advisors, underwriters, trustees, banks, rating agencies, auditors, and investment managers.
Examples of Essential Duties:
- Perform advanced, independent treasury analysis in the areas of cash management, debt administration, investment oversight, and liquidity planning to support the District’s financial operations.
- Lead and support debt-related activities for a bond issuance, including preparation of financing analyses, monitoring debt service and covenant compliance, and coordinating continuing disclosure and post-issuance requirements.
- Manage and reconcile banking, trustee, and investment accounts, ensuring accuracy, proper authorization, and adherence to internal control standards.
- Serve as a technical subject-matter expert on treasury-related matters; provide guidance and direction to staff and cross-departmental partners on complex financial issues.
- Coordinate and communicate effectively with external parties including banks, trustees, municipal advisors, bond counsel, investment managers, rating agencies, and auditors.
- Support year-end close and annual audit activities related to cash, investments, debt, and restricted funds, including preparation of schedules and responses to audit inquiries.
- Manage and reconcile banking and trustee accounts, monitor balances and activity, and ensure proper controls, authorizations, and segregation of duties.
- Provide technical guidance on treasury processes, financial analysis, and reporting; may serve as a lead analyst on complex or cross-agency initiatives.
- Support annual audit and year-end close activities related to cash, investments, debt, and restricted funds; respond to audit inquiries and implement recommendations as needed.
- Evaluate and improve treasury policies, procedures, internal controls, and reporting tools, including process automation and system enhancements.
- Conduct special studies and ad-hoc financial analyses related to capital financing, interest-rate risk, liquidity strategies, and funding alternatives, and present findings to management.
- Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, bond covenants, and internal policies, and maintain accurate and well-documented records.
- System administrator of all agencies bank accounts.
- Identify, evaluate, and implement process improvements related to treasury systems, reporting, policies, and procedures to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, bond covenants, policies, and disclosure requirements, maintaining thorough and well-documented records.
- Perform related and other duties as assigned in support of the Finance Department and District-wide financial objectives.
Minimum Qualifications:
Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, finance, accounting or closely related field.
- Four (4) years of full-time relevant and progressive experience in leading financial analysis, financial forecasting/budgeting/planning, and operation/business analysis.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or closely related field.
- Advanced skills in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; experience/knowledge in business intelligence systems (Tableau, Power BI, Hyperion, TM1, etc.).
- Two (2) years of supervisory experience
- Experience in the public sector, ideally public transportation.
- Working knowledge in accounting processes and ERP systems (e.g. PeopleSoft).
- Outstanding analytical and quantitative skills, experience resolving complex business problems with well-structured analysis.