Director of Finance at TRANSIT MANAGEMENT OF CHARLOTTE INC – Charlotte, North Carolina

Reports to / Level of Supervision Received:

Supervised by: TMOC Executive Director

Level of Supervision: Receives goal-oriented direction (performs assignments withing broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices)

General Summary:

The Director of Finance serves as a senior executive leader responsible for the financial stewardship of Transit Management of Charlotte (TMOC). Reporting to the TMOC Executive Director, this position provides strategic oversight and accountability for finance, budgeting, accounting, procurement processes, workforce systems, and administrative policies, while providing executive-level guidance and coordination for human resources functions.

The role ensures that TMOC’s financial and administrative operations support safe, reliable, and financially sustainable transit service delivery. The Director provides enterprise-level leadership for financial planning, budgeting, fiscal compliance, and governance. The position also oversees the development of administrative systems and processes necessary for a maturing transit operating organization, including financial systems and procurement frameworks. The Director serves as TMOC’s executive leader for financial stewardship, ensuring that the systems supporting transit operations are financially sound, operationally effective, and aligned with long-term strategic objectives.

The Finance Director provides strategic leadership, establishes performance expectations, and ensures alignment between financial management, workforce policies, and operational priorities. The position serves as a key liaison with the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), the City of Charlotte, and other external stakeholders on financial and administrative matters. He/She exercises executive judgment in financial strategy, administrative governance, risk management, and resource allocation, ensuring that TMOC maintains strong fiscal accountability, regulatory compliance, and organizational capacity while supporting the agency’s long-term operational and strategic objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities: The following duties are standard for this position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.

Financial Strategy and Fiscal Stewardship

· Provide executive leadership and enterprise accountability for TMOC’s financial strategy, fiscal stewardship, and long-term financial sustainability.

· Direct development and management of the TMOC operating and capital budgets in coordination with the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) and the City of Charlotte.

· Establish financial planning frameworks that support operational decision-making, capital investment planning, and long-range organizational sustainability.

· Provide financial forecasting, cost modeling, and strategic financial analysis to support executive leadership decisions.

· Evaluate financial risks, funding constraints, and cost drivers affecting transit operations and administrative functions.

· Provide financial insights and cost analysis supporting labor negotiations, workforce planning, and operational initiatives.

Financial Operations and Compliance Oversight

· Provide executive oversight of accounting, payroll administration, financial reporting, and financial controls through the Director of Finance.

· Ensure compliance with applicable financial reporting requirements, audit standards, and governmental accounting practices.

· Ensure timely preparation and submission of financial reports required by regulatory agencies, including National Transit Database (NTD) reporting.

· Establish and maintain strong internal financial controls and fiscal accountability across TMOC departments.

· Serve as the primary executive liaison with CATS on financial matters affecting TMOC operations.

Organizational Governance and Internal Controls

· Establish and maintain governance frameworks that ensure financial integrity, and accountability across TMOC operations.

· Develop and oversee internal control systems related to financial management, procurement, payroll, and administrative processes.

· Ensure policies, procedures, and administrative practices are documented, consistently applied, and aligned with regulatory and contractual requirements.

· Provide oversight of organizational risk related to financial practices, and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented.

· Support internal and external audits by ensuring readiness of financial records, documentation, and internal control processes.

Procurement and Financial Governance

· Establish and enforce procurement processes, purchasing policies, and financial authorization controls supporting TMOC operations.

· Ensure procurement practices align with CATS, City of Charlotte, and applicable public-sector procurement requirements.

· Provide oversight of purchasing activities, vendor contracting processes, and financial governance frameworks.

· Coordinate with operational leadership to ensure procurement processes support operational needs while maintaining fiscal accountability.

· Promote transparency, compliance, and responsible stewardship of public resources in all procurement activities.

Pension Oversight

· Provide executive oversight of pension programs, retirement plans, and deferred compensation programs administered through TMOC.

· Serve as a senior advisor or oversight authority for pension governance committees and retirement plan administration.

· Ensure pension programs are managed responsibly and aligned with organizational policies and financial sustainability objectives.

· Coordinate with financial advisors, actuaries, and administrative partners supporting retirement benefit programs.

Executive Leadership and Organizational Coordination

· Serve as a senior member of the TMOC executive leadership team, advising the Executive Director on financial strategy, administrative governance, and organizational capacity.

· Provide executive leadership for finance and administrative functions through subordinate managers and professional staff.

· Coordinate with TMOC senior leadership to align financial planning, workforce strategy, and administrative systems with operational objectives.

· Represent TMOC in financial matters with CATS leadership, municipal partners, and external stakeholders.

Leadership and Organizational Accountability: Ability to provide executive leadership within a complex operational organization; establish clear expectations; and ensure subordinate leaders effectively manage staff, resources, and programs while maintaining accountability for organizational outcomes.

• Establishes performance expectations and accountability frameworks for subordinate leadership teams.

• Delegates authority appropriately while maintaining oversight of organizational outcomes.

• Promotes transparency, consistency, and integrity in leadership decisions.

Strategic and System Thinking: Ability to understand how financial, operational, workforce, and regulatory considerations interact within a large transit organization and apply that perspective to guide strategic decision-making.

• Anticipates financial and organizational risks affecting agency performance.

• Guides the organization toward long-term sustainability and operational effectiveness.

Fiscal and Financial Management: Ability to oversee complex financial operations; guide budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes; and ensure fiscal accountability across the organization.

• Uses financial analysis and forecasting to guide strategic decisions.

• Ensures financial resources are allocated effectively to support operational priorities.

• Maintains strong financial controls and oversight practices.

Organizational Governance and Risk Management: Ability to ensure administrative systems, policies, and governance structures support effective operations, compliance, and responsible management of public resources.

• Establishes administrative frameworks that support transparency and accountability.

• Identifies operational and financial risks and ensures mitigation strategies are considered.

• Promotes sound governance practices within the organization.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build productive working relationships with executive leadership, operational departments, regulatory agencies, and external partners.

• Works collaboratively with internal departments and external stakeholders.

• Builds trust and credibility across organizational leadership levels.

• Navigates complex organizational relationships and competing priorities constructively.

Communication and Executive Reporting: Ability to communicate complex financial and administrative information clearly to executive leadership and external stakeholders.

• Communicates financial and operational information in a clear and accessible manner.

• Presents complex issues in ways that support informed decision-making.

• Represents the organization professionally in internal and external forums.

Supervision Given to:

• Finance Manager(s)
• Procurement Manager
• Payroll Manager

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field and ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, administration, or public-sector operations, including experience supervising professional or managerial staff, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and fiscal management functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field.

• Experience in public transit, municipal government, or public-sector financial management.

• Experience providing strategic advisory support to executive leadership on financial, administrative, or organizational matters.

• Experience implementing financial systems, or ERP Systems

• Experience overseeing procurement processes and administrative governance frameworks.

• CPA, CGFM, or other relevant financial certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Public-sector financial management practices, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, and audit compliance within municipal or government-supported transit operations.

• Principles of governmental accounting, internal financial controls, and fiscal stewardship in publicly funded or contract-operated organizations.

• Financial planning methods including multi-year operating forecasts, capital financial planning, and cost modeling for complex operational environments.

• Procurement and contract administration practices, including development of purchasing policies, vendor management frameworks, and financial authorization controls.

• Payroll administration systems.

• Pension administration practices, retirement benefit structures, and governance considerations related to defined benefit and deferred compensation plans.

• Public transit funding structures, financial reporting requirements, and regulatory reporting frameworks such as National Transit Database (NTD) reporting.

• Organizational governance practices applicable to public-sector or quasi-public transportation agencies, including relationships between operating contractors, municipal governments, and public transit authorities.

• Administrative systems used to support complex operating organizations, including financial systems, and enterprise resource planning tools.

• Principles of labor cost analysis and financial considerations related to collective bargaining agreements and workforce compensation structures.

Skill in:

• Financial forecasting, budget development, and cost analysis for large operational organizations.

• Evaluating financial performance data and translating complex financial information into strategic recommendations for executive leadership.

• Developing operational processes that support organizational growth and efficiency.

• Leading cross-functional collaboration between finance, human resources, operations, and external stakeholders.

• Designing and implementing procurement and financial governance frameworks that ensure transparency, compliance, and fiscal accountability.

• Analyzing operational and financial risks and developing mitigation strategies that support organizational sustainability.

• Implementing financial management systems.

• Preparing and presenting financial reports, budget briefings, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and external stakeholders.

• Managing multiple administrative functions simultaneously while maintaining strong internal controls and operational alignment.

• Interpreting regulatory and contractual requirements affecting financial management, workforce administration, and procurement practices.

Ability to:

• Provide executive leadership for complex financial and administrative functions within a public-sector or transit operating environment.

• Evaluate financial risks, operational needs, and organizational priorities when making strategic decisions affecting agency resources.

• Establish administrative frameworks and financial governance structures that support transparency, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.

• Balance financial discipline with operational realities when evaluating funding priorities, workforce needs, and organizational initiatives.

• Maintain productive working relationships with executive leadership, municipal partners, regulatory entities, and internal departments.

• Guide subordinate managers and professional staff in the execution of complex financial and administrative programs.

• Communicate complex financial, administrative, and operational issues clearly to diverse audiences including executive leadership, governing bodies, and external stakeholders.

• Exercise independent judgment in addressing high-impact financial and organizational issues affecting agency operations.

Working Environment and Physical Demands:

· Work is performed primarily in an office environment.

· Requires extended periods of computer use and participation in meetings with internal and external stakeholders.

· Occasional travel may be required for meetings with partner agencies or regulatory entities.

Other Requirements and Conditions:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.