Principal Financial Analyst

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Office of Financial Planning (OFP) of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is currently seeking a Principal Financial Analyst, who will work under the supervision of a Supervising Financial Analyst. The selected candidate will be responsible for a) partnering as a financial advisor to Tunnels Bridge and Terminals (TB&T), World Trade Center (WTC) and Real Estate (RE) departments, to analyze and diligence financial forecasts and business strategies, b) analyzing lease and contract terms to ensure the structure of certain PA agreements and transactions matches market value and is in the PA’s interest and c) supporting various other projects on an ad hoc basis, including projects related to debt issuance, compliance, procurement, and economic data.

OFP ensures that business transactions and investment decisions are thoroughly analyzed and structured, impacts of financial transactions and decisions are understood, and investments are prioritized such that the Port Authority’s sound financial position and credit quality is maintained and its capital is deployed to meet the critical transportation needs of the region. In addition, OFP manages the Integrated Financial Model (IFM) for the Port Authority. The IFM is the agency’s comprehensive ten-year financial forecast, which is used to determine the Port Authority's financial capital capacity available to undertake its ongoing capital investment agenda.

§        Line Department Financial Partner:  Provide financial advisory to TB&T, WTC and RE departments through analysis and diligence of long-range financial forecasts (LRF) of core operating business models to be incorporated in the agency’s IFM.  This includes staying abreast of relevant industry fundamentals and business drivers as well understanding and monitoring key sources of revenue, evaluating revenue impact of internal and external policy developments, and tracking capital and operating resource requirements necessary to deliver on the department missions. Focus will be on assessing material impact of departmental LRF quarterly updates, especially as it pertains to capital capacity and the budget, as well as an in-depth understanding of the implications and methodology of forecasting processes, including econometric traffic activity modeling, toll adjustments, toll revenue recovery, and analysis of payments in lieu of taxes and contractual lease agreements.

·          Financial Transaction Specialist:  Maximize the value of agency business transactions and projects, including lease agreements, capital spending, and general business transactions, by validating underlying assumptions, conducting quantitative analysis, identifying key risks, and evaluating credit worthiness.  Candidates must be comfortable assessing lease and contract terms and reviewing financial models, as well as critically assessing and communicating key business terms. On behalf of the CFO, make recommendations and lead day-to-day internal review and concurrence protocols for related capital, transaction, and lease authorizations.

·          Ad Hoc Project Support: Perform analytical tasks across OFP on an as-needed basis. Examples include assisting in the preparation of the Additional Bonds Test required for the issuance of Consolidated Bonds and any auditing requests related to these Tests, assisting in workstreams that ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and audit requirements such as the interstate transportation network (ITN) cash flow and the grandfather payments, assessing procurement-related strategies and bids, and analyzing, compiling, and maintaining general economic data for departmental use. These projects may entail inter-departmental collaboration, especially with other finance departments, and could involve developing a detailed understanding of other departments’ processes and outputs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

§        Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a focus on Finance, Business, Economics, Public Administration, or related field

§        One to three years’ experience assisting in reviewing financial and economic data and transactions, with a focus on public infrastructure.

§        Detailed understanding of financial structures, with exposure to public finance, public-private partnerships, construction contracts, and lease agreements

§        Basic understanding of transportation finance, including tolling policy

§        Strong oral and written presentation skills and the ability to interact effectively with Port Authority staff at all levels.

DESIRED:

Ideal candidates will present the following profile:

§        Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a focus on Finance, Business, Economics, Public Administration, or related field