Capital Financial Manager in Salt Lake City, Utah at Utah Transit Authority

Utah Transit Authority

Description

As the Capital Financial Manager for the Utah Transit Authority, you will have the opportunity to be at the center of how major capital investments are planned, funded, and delivered across one of the largest public transit systems in the region. You will translate funding strategy into execution—aligning appropriations, timing, and constraints across complex capital programs to ensure projects stay on track and financially sound. In this role, your work directly supports both the successful delivery of today’s capital projects and the long-term expansion of transit across the Wasatch Front.

As the Capital Financial Manager, you will:

• Lead financial management of UTA’s current-year capital budget execution and capital forecasting, ensuring consistency with the multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) maintained by Capital Development/Capital Program.
• Partner with Capital Development, Treasury, Accounting/Comptroller, Grants, and project teams to align appropriations, spending plans, funding availability timing (bond proceeds, grant draws, local match, escrow/fund constraints), and forecast updates—preventing spend-ahead-of-funding and improving capital financial transparency.
• Identify and escalate risks related to funding eligibility, grant reimbursement timing, cost escalation, funding shortfalls, and project schedule impacts on financing.
• Provide the financial governance layer that ensures capital projects proceed within approved funding constraints and provides leadership with clear visibility into capital financial performance and risk.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/TRAINING

• 6–10 years of experience in capital budgeting, project financial management, governmental finance, or infrastructure financial planning.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating across capital/project teams and finance functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering Management, Public Administration, Business, or related field.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Strong finance discipline (forecasting, spend pacing, variance/root cause analysis). Knowledge of capital funding structures; familiarity with grant-funded capital programs and compliance (FTA/local match concepts) preferred. Advanced financial modeling; familiarity with ERP capital modules, project accounting, and reporting tools.
• Ability to manage complex funding source constraints and communicate implications clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Strong cross-functional coordination and governance mindset; ability to identify and escalate material risks early. Ability to produce executive-ready materials and support decision forums with clear financial narratives and exhibits.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

UTA Competencies:

• Business Acumen – Maintaining an up-to date understanding of the broader issues affecting field of expertise and organization.
• Managerial Courage – Standing strong in the face of adversity and taking necessary risk to achieve results.
• Change Management – Dealing comfortably with the uncertainty of change. Dealing constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes.
• Communicates Effectively – Creating an open environment in which thoughts are expressed freely and information flows easily.
• Decision Making – Making sounds decisions that consider multiple options, seeking input from others; reaching good decisions in a timely manner.
• Drives Results – Fostering a strong bottom-line orientation; accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; exceeding goals successfully; pushing self and others to achieve results.
• Social Acumen – Exhibiting strong Emotional Intelligence skills (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management). Relating comfortably with people across levels, functions, culture, and geography. Partnering with others to get work done. Navigating conflict. Seeking feedback without being defensive.
• Develops Self & Others – Taking action to continuously improve. Accepting assignments that broaden capabilities. Placing a high priority on developing others. Developing others through coaching, feedback, exposure, and stretch assignments.
• Ensures Fairness – Concerned with the welfare of others and expressing that concern on a personal level. Distributing resources fairly. Giving others a voice prior to reaching decisions that affect them. Reaching decisions through a fair process. Explaining to others why and how decisions were made that impact them.
• Safety – Acting as a Safety Ambassador by working safely, complying with requirements and serving as an example to others. Wearing required personal protective equipment.
• Integrity – Acting with honesty, strong ethics, and accountability and taking responsibility for actions and mistakes.
• Belonging – Creating a culture where employees are seen, heard, valued and safe to be authentic.
• Teamwork – Building strong teams that create an environment where everyone’s unique skills and perspective contribute to shared purpose, connection and achievement of goals.
• Empowerment – Creating a workplace environment where people are proper resourced and motivated to do their best in solving problems and taking ownership of their work.
• Accountability – Taking ownership of Self-actions, decisions and performance.

- OR -

An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

[UTA reserves the right to determine the equivalencies of education and experience.]

Pay Rate: $102,300.00 or more, depending on experience

If interested, apply before: Friday, June 19th, 2026 @ 11:59 PM MST

As a full-time Administrative Employee, your Total Rewards Benefits Package will include:

• Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, with Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts. Choice between Traditional Co-Pay or High Deductible Health Plans for medical coverage. HSA with company match available to employees enrolled in the HDHP. Benefit plans include coverage for domestic partners (eligibility affidavit required for coverage).
• Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost to employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children.
• 22 days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
• 10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per year.
• Retirement options - Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching.
• Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
• Training, development, and career advancement opportunities.
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment).
• Free transit passes for employees, their spouses, and their dependent children.
• Employee assistance program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.
• UTA Well – a comprehensive wellness program designed to support employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
• Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to VASA Fitness and EoS Fitness.
• Discounted cell phone plans with T-Mobile and AT&T.
• Pet insurance plan options (tailored plan coverage based on pet’s health and needs).

PM21

Utah Transit Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, covered veterans, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants needing an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any part of the application process should contact UTA Human Resources at 801-287-2324. A minimum of two work days' notice prior to the need for the accommodation is required.

Utah Transit Authority is a drug-free workplace, subject to federal drug and alcohol testing regulations under 49 CFR Part 40, 655, and 219. All offers for employment are contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug test. If a pre-employment test returns a non-negative result, an application for employment may be rejected. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing for drug and alcohol use. All safety sensitive employees are subject to random testing for drug and alcohol use.

Summary

The Capital Financial Manager leads financial management of UTA’s current-year capital budget execution and capital forecasting, ensuring consistency with the multi-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) maintained by Capital Development/Capital Program. This role partners with Capital Development, Treasury, Accounting/Comptroller, Grants, and project teams to align appropriations, spending plans, funding availability timing (bond proceeds, grant draws, local match, escrow/fund constraints), and forecast updates—preventing spend-ahead-of-funding and improving capital financial transparency. Identifies and escalates risks related to funding eligibility, grant reimbursement timing, cost escalation, funding shortfalls, project schedule impacts on financing. This role provides the financial governance layer that ensures capital projects proceed within approved funding constraints and provides leadership with clear visibility into capital financial performance and risk.