Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Job Description

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is a political subdivision established by Chapter 1230 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. VPRA is responsible for promoting, sustaining, and expanding the availability of passenger and commuter rail services in the Commonwealth, including all administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for Virginia's state-supported passenger rail services. The VPRA also funds Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and administers all capital expansion projects, infrastructure, and land acquisitions related to the $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which will double Amtrak and VRE service in Virginia over the next decade. The VPRA acts as a "responsible public entity" for acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining, or operating a "qualifying transportation facility" under the Public­ Private Partnership Act of 1995.

Are you ready to drive the financial vision behind Virginia's most ambitious rail transformation? If so, VPRA is seeking a dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead financial strategy, operations, and stewardship across a multi-billion-dollar statewide initiative. As a core member of VPRA's executive leadership team, the CFO will oversee budgeting, investments, grants, compliance, and long-term financial planning. This role offers the chance to shape the future of passenger rail in Virginia, manage high-level partnerships and negotiations, and foster a culture of transparency and excellence in a fast-paced, impact-driven environment. This position will work in VPRA's office in Richmond, VA.

Financial Planning, Strategy, and Budgeting

• Direct annual budget development for the $5.7+ billion Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, $500+ million in capital and operating grants, and operational expenditures for state-sponsored intercity passenger trains.
• Forecast capital, facility, and staffing requirements; identify and secure necessary monetary resources.
• Develop and evaluate financial plans, reserve strategies, and investment practices to ensure long-term financial stability.
• Forecast revenues and evaluate expenditures; manage the work of finance staff in conducting variance analyses.
• Engage internal stakeholders to understand financial needs and provide sourcing support aligned with departmental priorities.

Financial Operations, Reporting, and Compliance

• Plan, organize, and direct the activities of the Finance Department.
• Direct management of the Authority's $500+ million in cash and investments, including forecasting liquidity needs and maximizing earning potential.
• Lead the development and monitoring of organizational, project, contract, and grant budgets.
• Oversee federal and state grant opportunities to secure sustainable funding for current and future projects.
• Oversee the preparation and issuance of the agency's annual audited financial statements in accordance with GASB, GAAP, and other applicable governmental accounting standards.
• Maintain strong internal controls and continue implementation of fiscal policies and procedures that promote accountability and transparency.
• Oversee the monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on project and grant effectiveness, expenditures, and progress.

Strategic Leadership and Executive Support

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, advising the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Finance Committee on all financial matters.
• Participate in high-level negotiations involving large construction contracts, rail asset purchases, and partnership agreements.
• Collaborate with VPRA executives, managers, and departments to achieve agency-wide financial and strategic objectives.
• Participate in cross-functional teams to support broader organizational strategies, initiatives, and process improvements.
• Monitor and develop legislation related to assigned areas of responsibility; evaluate and report on the impact on VPRA operations.
• Promote a culture of transparency, collaboration, feedback, and continuous improvement to support VPRA's mission and values.

Team Leadership and Talent Management

• Design, establish, and maintain an effective organizational structure and staffing plan to meet departmental and agency goals.
• Monitor and evaluate staff performance to identify development and training needs.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, supervision, and performance evaluation of Finance Department staff.
• Foster a high-performing team culture focused on collaboration, service excellence, accountability, and professional growth.
• Provide guidance to the VPRA team that works closely with Amtrak to promote ridership and ticket revenues, ensuring a strategic balance between these priorities.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.

Preferred Education:

• CPA or advanced degree (MBA, MPA).

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible financial management experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with debt financing.
• Experience in a start-up environment or highly adaptive setting.

Are you interested in this position, but you don't meet every single requirement? At VPRA, we are dedicated to building a talented team and an inclusive, authentic workplace. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other positions.

Applicants must fully and accurately represent their qualifications and work history on the application or resume. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information in the application, resume, or other relevant documents; therefore, applicants must supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete application/resume or an application/resume lacking in detail may impact your interview eligibility. This website will confirm receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Equal Opportunity Employer