Business & Finance Officer III (BFO III)

King County Metro Transit’s Facilities Division has an exciting opportunity for a Business & Finance Officer III (BFO III). This position will be a key member of the Director office, help to transform the division financial and business processes through relationship building, curiosity and problem solving.

The ideal candidate will possess the ability to apply the following key leadership traits:

• Motivated self-starter, with a can-do attitude in team environment
• Lifelong learner with a curiosity mindset.
• Effective, open-minded, communicator, and organized.
• Adaptable to change, remaining positive and solutions oriented.
• Resilient and open to feedback.
• Meet people where they are at and grow together.

The Transit Facilities Division maintains all Metro Transit properties, such as bus bases, park & rides, bus shelters, and offices and maintenance shops. Services include bus shelter repairs and replacements, bus shelter cleaning, trolley wire repairs, radio maintenance for buses, environmental spill clean-up, bus sign replacement, graffiti removal, and other facilities maintenance duties. Additionally, the Facilities Division also implements capital improvement and grant-funded projects aimed to enhance the condition of County-owned facilities and to respond to ridership needs based on route usage and customer feedback.

Our BFO III plays a vital role in ensuring our ability to accomplish this work efficiently and in alignment with the approved budget. This position will be responsible for communicating effectively with diverse teammates across the Division, and working collaboratively with leaders, administrative staff, employees, and others to provide strategic planning and support for business and financial management.   Our ideal candidates will have extensive experience conducting complex analysis and synthesizing complex financial issues with an equity mindset that can be easily shared and understood by internal and external partners. In addition to these technical skills, the ideal candidate will have lived experience and demonstrated the ability to design, implement, and practice applying equity and social justice principles within financial policies.

This recruitment will immediately fill one (1) Career Service position, and may be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill future Career Service vacancies that may occur over the next twelve (12) months, at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Candidates selected to advance in the process will first be invited to complete a skills test, currently anticipated to occur between June 23 through June 27, 2025, but dates are subject to change. The most competitive candidates may then be invited to interview; interview dates are still to be determined.

Job Duties:

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices. As the Business & Finance Officer III (BFO III), you will also: 

• Manage the development, implementation, and monitoring of the biennial budget for the Transit Facilities Division, including making data-informed recommendations and providing justification to the Metro Leadership Team and others. Monitor actual expenses and develop spending plans. Support the development of business plans and initiatives through the identification of gaps in resources to accomplish division goals.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships across the agency with an emphasis on superior customer service. Provide guidance on coaching and educating around finance practices for new leaders. Presenting recommendation to senior leadership teams and participating in improvement efforts while holding down the critical functions of BFO.
• Oversee financial reporting for the Transit Facilities Division, including monitoring and reporting on budgets, managing the cost allocation process and purchasing and payment information, and balancing accounts payable/accounts receivable. Provide ad-hoc reporting and analysis with ability to identify trends and perform root-cause analysis. Lead preparation of financial reporting packages, including budget to actual variance analysis and biennial forecast.
• Serve as the financial subject-matter expert and adviser for the Transit Facilities Division, working closely with the Division Director and other division leadership. Serve as the first contact for division staff and leaders with questions about budget and finance activities. Serve as subject-matter expert on budgeted position information in support of the hiring process and related decision-making. Provide guidance and training to leaders and staff related to budget and finance data and systems.
• Conduct complex financial analyses to support operations within the Transit Facilities division. This may include creation, analysis, and presentation of financial and resource models and forecasts for budgeting and business functions, as well as cost-benefit analysis for special projects and programs. Perform analysis and provide recommendations related to contract proposals, grants, and other efforts.
• Present and explain financial concepts to non-financial members of the division or department.
• Provide input into central long-range planning efforts such as staffing and resource models, that will help shape the operational capacity and future finances of the division.
• Actively identify issues, listen to the needs of others, problem solve, and help to develop solutions that advance the needs of the Transit Facilities Division.
• Conduct performance reviews and/or compliance audits, including equity analysis to ensure investments meet County equity guidelines and standards.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills:

To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• One of the following options of relevant work experience and/or education that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position:
  • Option 1: Three (3) or more years of work experience in finance or a related field; or,
  • Option 2: Two (2) or more years of work experience in finance or a related field, with a 2-year degree from an accredited institution in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field of study; or,
  • Option 3: One (1) or more years of work experience in finance or a related field, with a 4-year degree from an accredited institution in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field of study.
• Ability to analyze data to inform decision-making as demonstrated by hands-on experience.
• Ability to design reporting to meet the needs of the audience(s) and explain financial concepts to non-financial members of the division or department.
• Skill in creating analyses based on transaction-level data or through the application of standard financial and/or statistical analysis to inform decision-making business intelligence reporting tools.
• Familiarity with accounting concepts such as fund and grant accounting.
• Experience working with and presenting to senior leadership at a department or division level.
• Knowledge of generally accepted financial, accounting, and budgeting principles and techniques, including auditing and internal controls.
• Proficient in use of advanced data analytics, preferably using business intelligence applications, such as Microsoft Power BI.
• Proficient in use of MS Office suite, i.e., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, and to lead and facilitate meetings with varied audiences.
• Ability to take initiative within the scope of the position, to develop and implement plans, and to prepare recommendations for action.
• Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and complete work in a high-pressure environment with moving deadlines and changing priorities with minimal guidance.

The most competitive applicants will possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of and experience with enterprise financial systems, analytical and reporting tools, such as Oracle EBS, Oracle Business Intelligence, Hyperion/PBCS, Microsoft Power BI, or other related software and/or tools.
• Demonstrated experience with business process mapping and identifying improvements.
• Experience with large-scale capital projects, including project control principles and collaboration with project/program managers, project control staff, procurement, and finance.
• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment that values diverse perspectives.