Toll Operations Financial Analyst

SANDAG’s Toll Operations Program budget is derived from revenues generated by toll-paying users of the I-15 Express Lanes and the SR-125 Toll Road, consistent with the FasTrak statewide toll collection system. Both toll road segments provide essential access for travelers while serving to reduce traffic congestion and improve travel reliability. The I-15 Express Lanes is a dynamically priced toll facility utilizing electronic toll collection (ETC) systems. The SR-125 Toll Road is a traditional closed-system toll road utilizing ETCs and allows cash and credit card payments at roadside toll booths. Revenues generated by both toll road segments support ongoing operations, facility maintenance, bond debt service, and other related and future projects.

About the role

The Toll Operations Financial Analyst will track, analyze, and report all financial transactions associated with the I-15 Express Lanes and the SR-125 Toll Road. This position provides technical and financial analyses to validate revenues and expenditures, research and analyze discrepancies, and coordinate with others to rectify and restore expected financial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Gather, review, and analyze financial data associated with toll operations; build and maintain spreadsheet models to track and project revenues, expenses, and expected outcomes; provide technical updates and guidance to senior staff and managers; maintain budget and expense management and support.
• Monitor toll revenues in coordination with established budgets; review and analyze budgets for thoroughness, trends, risks, and opportunities, and report ongoing status to Regional Transportation Services managers; perform budgetary control; coordinate and assist with budget amendments as needed.
• Routinely review budget and financial data by comparing and analyzing actual results with plans and forecasts; conduct quality assurance; ensure financial records align with industry standards, are based on sound methodologies, and are in the best interest of SANDAG and its partner agencies.
• Initiate development or use of improved tools and techniques to comprehensively track and analyze toll revenues and expenses in support of ongoing operations; identify conflicts and inconsistencies in results, address variances and trends in financial data and reporting, and recommend strategies to correct.
• Provide comparative analyses and data interpretation inclusive of the flow of financial transactions to identify possible lapses in revenue generation and allow prompt and timely corrective actions.
• Generate financial reporting to accurately identify areas of lapses, and initiate transaction reconciliation and other corrective actions.
• Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations on financial activities that accurately demonstrate toll transactions from all sources commensurate with trip counts, revenues, violations, gaps, and other problematic issues to translate data into actionable goals.
• Collaborate with other department staff including Finance, Data Science, and Toll Operations to perform regular evaluations to understand and address system challenges to ensure intended financial results are credible and validated.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree with major course work in finance, economics, accounting, business administration, or a related field; a combination of education and recent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• A minimum of three years of professional experience in accounting, finance, or budgeting, preferably supporting business operations and management.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of financial analysis, budgeting, financial planning, revenue projection, and control measures; demonstrated experience consulting and strategizing with senior staff and managers, and development of budgets and financial reports.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local sources of regional transportation funding; demonstrated understanding and ability to interpret laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to toll operations budget development, financial programming, and control.
• Demonstrated experience forecasting, developing, analyzing, and maintaining budgets, preferably for business operations; experience applying control measures and implementing control functions and activities.
• Demonstrated experience providing income and debt financials or budget-related technical analyses, interpreting complex financial data, identifying trends, and assessing risks to provide the economic status of ongoing business operations.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating budgets; ability to perform research and draw sound conclusions and prepare summary reports that communicate budget status; ability to identify existing or potential discrepancies, recommend corrective actions, and communicate results to senior staff and managers.
• Effective written and oral presentation skills and the ability to communicate clearly and concisely with a variety of audiences including teams and elected officials; experience preparing clear and concise administrative and management reports.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including member agencies, city and other government officials, and community groups; ability to gain cooperation and consensus through discussion and persuasion.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage several concurrent activities at various stages; ability to establish and maintain priorities in a fast-paced environment and work independently.
• Demonstrated computer software proficiency using Microsoft Office, advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, and other business intelligence and budget software applications.