Financial Analyst (Operations)

Description

Help Drive Strategic Financial Decision-Making at the Utah Transit Authority! As the Financial Analyst (Operations), you will play an integral role in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and business analysis for the organization. Working closely with leaders across the organization, you will provide financial insights that support informed decision-making, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen financial performance. This position offers the opportunity to lead financial analysis and process improvement initiatives, and recommend innovative solutions that help business units achieve their operational and financial goals.

About the Role

Support the development, monitoring, and analysis of UTA’s annual operating budget and recurring operating forecasts across departments, funds, and cost centers. Partner with department budget owners and Finance stakeholders to support budget development, submission cycles, and ongoing budget management. Conduct variance analysis to identify trends, explain budget-to-actual differences, and provide actionable insights. Prepare and maintain recurring operating forecasts and recommend adjustments based on changing business conditions. Perform scenario analysis tied to key operating drivers, including labor, purchased services, fuel, and energy costs, to support informed decision-making and financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, monitoring, and analysis of UTA’s annual operating budget and recurring operating forecasts across departments, funds, and cost centers.
• Partner with department budget owners and Finance stakeholders to support budget development, submission cycles, and ongoing budget management.
• Conduct variance analysis to identify trends, explain budget-to-actual differences, and provide actionable insights.
• Prepare and maintain recurring operating forecasts and recommend adjustments based on changing business conditions.
• Perform scenario analysis tied to key operating drivers, including labor, purchased services, fuel, and energy costs, to support informed decision-making and financial planning.

Requirements

• 2–5 years of experience in FP&A, budgeting, or financial analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field.
• Proficiency with Excel and financial modeling; comfortable presenting analysis to non-finance partners.
• Public sector/local government budgeting experience preferred.
• Experience with budgeting systems and/or ERP reporting preferred.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to explain variance drivers clearly.
• Strong organization skills; dependable delivery under tight budget cycle timelines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach with department budget owners.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Proficiency with Excel and financial modeling; comfortable presenting analysis to non-finance partners. Public sector/local government budgeting experience preferred. Experience with budgeting systems and/or ERP reporting preferred. Strong analytical judgment and ability to explain variance drivers clearly. Strong organization skills; dependable delivery under tight budget cycle timelines. Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach with department budget owners.

Skills

• Strong analytical judgment and ability to explain variance drivers clearly.
• Strong organization skills; dependable delivery under tight budget cycle timelines.
• Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative approach with department budget owners.

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 IRA with company matching.
• 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.

Pay

Pay Rate: 73,300.00 or more, depending on experience

Schedule

Full-time

UTA Competencies

• Social Acumen – Exhibiting strong Emotional Intelligence skills (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management).
• 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.
• Maintains Fairness – Concerned with the welfare of others and expressing that concern on a personal level. Distributing resources fairly. Giving others a voice without being defensive. 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 properly 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.

UTA Well

• 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.
• Pet insurance plan options (tailored plan coverage based on pet’s health and needs).

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.