Senior Program Manager - Engineering Financial Services

About the Role

The Engineering Department has an annual budget in excess of $3 billion, which is comprised of engineering support services for the Agency’s Line Departments’ operating and capital programs. Reporting to the Office of the Chief of Operations in the Engineering Department, this position supports the development, oversight and tracking of all financial activities for the Engineering Department, including annual budget preparation and reforecasting, financial performance and analysis, as well as long-range forecasting for staffing, construction and materials and services. This position acts as the primary Departmental liaison to the Agency’s Finance department, namely, Comptrollers, Management and Budget (MBD), and Office of Financial Planning.

This position requires a strong analytical background and a thorough understanding of the Agency’s accounting principles and structure. The candidate should have the ability to analyze and consolidate financial results for reporting to high-level management and be the primary point of contact for the Engineering Department on all Agency accounting matters. The candidate should also identify and action efficiencies in existing processes, workflows and reporting, as well as leverage expertise within the Division to implement efficiencies, eliminate repetitive tasks and optimize the unit’s impact to the Department. Furthermore, the candidate should be highly motivated with a can-do attitude and able to demonstrate sound judgment and versatility in decision-making and problem solving.

Responsibilities

As a member of the Engineering Financial Services Division, the Senior Program Manager will be responsible for: 

• Direct and supervise 5+ professionals comprised of both PANYNJ Staff and consultants. 
• Planning, preparation and oversight of Capital, Operating (AMMP), CG3 and overtime annual budgets, which includes liaising with stakeholders within the Engineering Department and across Line Departments.
• Gather and analyze YTD and YE forecasting, including researching and preparing variance narratives and mitigative actions for MBD Financial Roundtable discussions
• Prepare Overtime reports to present at various Steering and stakeholder committees
• Research and reconcile account codes matters related to miscodes for Engineering/Line Department requests, codes related to GASB-49, Grand Modules and other financial report mechanisms
• Manage Engineering Asset Management (EAM) deferred/amortization schedules/memos to Comptroller’s office
• Management of the Department’s invoicing processes, including performance and reporting of consultant’s prompt invoicing, accruals and payments reporting.
• Preparation of factored rates and Engineering FTE analysis.
• Apply Lean techniques to existing workflows to standardize across department with particular attention to escalation procedures and mitigations. As well as develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for ensuring accuracy and control
• Analyze historical and current financial data to understand the department’s financial status and develop predictive/ forecast financial models.
• Establish benchmarks and metrics for financial processes and reporting and coordinate the development of forecasting tools to automate financial data analysis.
• This position will require the selected candidate to report onsite a minimum of three days per week. Additional time may be required at the discretion of the Office of the Chief Engineer.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in finance, economics, or statistics.
• Three years plus experience in complex financial analysis within a large organization.
• Proven proficiency in spreadsheets, databases, and financial software applications, including the software applications, such as SAP, PeopleSoft, Cognos, etc., based on what your organization currently uses or plans to use in the future. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Excellent reporting, presenting, and communication skills.
• Ability to work with large datasets.
• Strategic thinking and organizational skills
• Proven analytical and financial modeling skills

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Public Administration or related field.
• Thorough knowledge of Port Authority’s financial, operating and capital budget process, and accounting structure, including how these processes impact the Engineering Department
• Ability to quickly understand Engineering’s business and operational structure, as related to their budget and financial performance.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills, including producing what-if scenarios, and an ability to make decisions for complex non-routine problems, to meet deadlines, work independently and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with internal departmental staff and external staff at the individual and group levels.
• Ability to simplify and report on complex financial data and deliver oral and written presentations to senior and executive engineering staff.
• Expertise with desktop applications such as Word, Excel (including Smart View), PowerPoint and experience with Port Authority corporate systems such as SAP, PeopleSoft, Budget PRO, and Cognos.
• Self-motivated, creative and experienced in working in a team environment. 
• Possess the ability to understand and analyze complex staffing requirements to define and develop solutions. 
• Ability to work independently and make decisions within the scope of responsibility along with judgment to avoid problems being escalated to a higher level. 
• Proven ability to communicate technical/complex information in understandable terms to technical and non-technical personnel.

Selection Process

The application process varies by position, but typically includes an initial phone interview for qualified candidates, followed by a more in-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). Selected candidates who are made a conditional job offer will be asked to undergo a background check.

Compensation & Benefits

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package, hybrid work options for many positions, and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.

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