Budget Director

Description

As the Budget Director for the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), you will provide strategic financial leadership for the agency's operating and capital budgets, long-range financial planning, and forecasting activity. Your work directly influences both day-to-day operations and the future of transit expansion.

About the role

This is a highly visible leadership role where your work directly influences both day-to-day operations and the future of transit expansion. You will translate strategy into funded action—balancing operational needs, capital investment, and long-term fiscal sustainability while supporting safe, reliable service and major system growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the annual operating budget and current-year capital budget
• Lead short- and long-term financial planning
• Provide timely, accurate financial information and analysis to the Chief Capital Services Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Executive Team, and other internal stakeholders
• Oversee analysis of operating expenses, current-year capital expenditures, personnel and non-personnel costs, sales tax and other revenue streams, and grant-funded programs
• Lead finance data modeling to support decisions related to service levels, capital budget execution, workforce planning, and budget sustainability
• Coordinate closely with Accounting, Procurement, the Contract Management Office (CMO), Grants, Treasury, Capital Development, Service Planning, and the People Office
• Note that post-award contract administration, vendor performance management, and amendment workflow governance are led by the CMO; this role retains responsibility for the budget and financial impact of contract decisions

Requirements

• 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial planning, or related finance functions (public sector/transit/local government/infrastructure preferred)
• 3–5 years of supervisory/management experience leading professional staff
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of operating and capital budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning in a public or quasi-public environment
• Strong financial modeling, scenario analysis, and data visualization skills; experience with enterprise financial systems, budget models, and reporting tools
• Understanding of public sector/transit finance including dedicated funding sources (sales tax), grants, and capital funding structures; knowledge of fund accounting/GASB and grant compliance preferred
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to internal leadership and stakeholders
• Ability to establish budget governance discipline across multiple departments while partnering effectively with Treasury, Accounting, Grants, Procurement, and the Contract Management Office
• Demonstrated leadership, team building, and change-management skills; high integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to fiscal stewardship
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance

Skills

• Business Acumen
• Managerial Courage
• Change Management
• Communicates Effectively
• Decision Making
• Drives Results
• Social Acumen
• Develops Self & Others
• Ensures Fairness
• Safety
• Integrity
• Belonging
• Teamwork
• Empowerment
• Accountability

Benefits

• 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
• Roth 401(k) Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching
• Tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD)
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment)
• Employee Assistance Program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.

Pay

The pay rate is $117,700.00 or more, depending on experience.

Schedule

Full-time position.

Benefits

• 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
• Roth 401(k) Plan with 5-year vesting schedule and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions and company matching
• Tuition reimbursement for higher education, available for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD)
• Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement (after 12 months of employment)
• Employee Assistance Program – includes counseling, legal services, financial planning, etc.

Qualifications

• 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
• All offers for employment are contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug test
• 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

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.