Senior Budget & Labor Analyst, Operating Budget in Boston, Massachusetts at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

The Senior Budget and Labor Analyst provides financial reporting and analysis in the support of the Authority’s Operating Budget. The Senior Budget and Labor Analyst supports the development, preparation, evaluation, and submittal of the annual operating budget of the MBTA for approval by the MASSDOT Board of Directors and Fiscal Management and Control Board. The Senior Budget and Labor Analyst will monitor and track spending of the Authority's annual operating budget; create forecasts and projections; present reports, recommendations, or findings to senior staff; implement and maintain various planning, control reporting mechanisms and presentations related to the Authority's operating budget and capital plans; coordinate projects among the analyst team; and prepare statistical and background data for labor negotiations and interest arbitration.

• Work with the Budget Director, DCFO, CFO, budget, and finance teams to track, analyze, and report on budget trends and variances.
• Train and mentor fellow budget and labor analysts on variance analysis and IT applications.
• Coordinate projects among the budget team that impact all operating departments.
• Support cross-functional projects and functions among the broader finance group.
• Manage and develop data and relevant key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Serve as the budget lead for authority-wide projects or exercises.
• Perform special studies and participate in projects related to budget, revenue, personnel, and management decisions.
• Develop analysis, recommendations and decisions regarding staffing levels, subcontracting, outsourcing, and purchasing including interpretation and impact on collective bargaining agreements.
• Develop and implement MBTA policies.
• Maintain all aspects of the operating budget on the Authority's Financial Information Management Systems (PeopleSoft).
• Edit, revise, and maintain a series of custom reports, charts, tables, and presentations to track and monitor departmental and line-item spending.
• Identify issues that require further analyses (including cost benefit analysis), providing early notice of problem areas at a high level and at the departmental level.
• Ensure departments conform to their approved budgets and propose efficiencies and cost control measures.
• Work with department heads and their designated representatives to develop, monitor, and evaluate management plans and practices.
• Review operating budget requests submitted by various departments and provide analysis and recommendations on these requests and policy issues.
• Examine and approve purchase requisitions and journal entries in coordination with the accounting office.
• Develop, maintain, and implement methods of analyzing and modeling financial information, responding to requests for both internal and external data.
• Respond to inquiries from various constituencies both internal and external in a courteous and professional manner consistent with the Authority's "Driven by Customer Service" quality standard.
• Act as a liaison to encourage use of technological resources and assisting with the training on new systems.
• Improve various budget related processes and reporting techniques.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.

Supervision

• No direct reports.

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Business, Finance, Mathematics, Economics, or related field.
• Four (4) years of experience in budgeting and/or financial analysis.
• Effective organizational, analytical, quantitative, multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Proven proficiency with FMIS (Peoplesoft or other financial systems).
• Proven proficiency with standard office applications) (Microsoft applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
• MBTA Excel assessment may be required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of financial modeling, analysis, and analytics.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Substitutions

• A High School Diploma or GED with an additional seven (7) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• An associate degree from an accredited institution an additional three (3) years of directly related experience substitutes for the bachelor’s degree requirement.
• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

• Experience with public sector and/or transportation industry.
• A master’s degree from an accredited institution in Business, Data Analytics, or other related field.