About Marin County Transit District

Marin County Transit District (Marin Transit) is responsible for funding, planning, and management of all local public transit services operating within Marin County, including fixed route, community shuttle, supplemental school, and paratransit services. Marin Transit works closely within the community to develop and deliver the most strategic, effective, and efficient local transit system in northern California. For additional information about Marin Transit, please visit www.marintransit.gov.

Located just across the Golden Gate Bridge, and minutes from downtown San Francisco, Marin County is a dynamic, economically, and culturally diverse community of 260,000 informed and involved residents. Marin County is marked by beautiful beaches, groves of redwoods and oaks, rolling foothills, and scenic valleys. Marin County is known for its combination of rural and suburban lifestyles and is a recreation destination for the entire Bay Area with more than 140,000 acres of federal, state and county parkland, county open space and water district lands. The mild year-round climate is highlighted by cool, coastal fog tempering the warm inland temperatures of summer.

The Role

Under the administrative direction of the General Manager, the Director of Finance serves as the District's executive-level financial leader, responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all finance programs, long-range financial strategy, and high-impact fiscal initiatives.

This position provides authoritative analysis and recommendations on major financial decisions, leads development of the annual operating and capital budgets, oversees accounting operations and internal controls, ensures audit readiness, directs financial systems, and manages complex grant funding strategy and compliance.

The Director of Finance serves as a key member of the Executive Team, contributing to District-wide strategic planning, organizational development, and executive decision-making.

Ideal Candidate Profile

A seasoned public-sector finance leader with experience in transit, transportation, or another public agency environment with grant-funded programs. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical expertise in budgeting, accounting, audits, internal controls, financial reporting, forecasting, financial systems, and grants strategy and compliance, along with the ability to serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the General Manager, Executive Team, and Board of Directors.

Because Marin Transit is a lean agency, the ideal candidate must be more than a strategic finance advisor. They must be willing and able to own the finance function at both a leadership level as well as a practical operating level. Candidates from larger agencies should be able to demonstrate that they have personally managed or deeply understood these functions, not only overseen them through multiple management layers.

The District is especially interested in candidates with meaningful experience managing FTA or comparable federal, state, and local grant programs, including funding strategy, eligibility, match strategy, compliance, and audit readiness. The successful candidate will be a practical, collaborative, and hands-on leader who can support and develop a small finance team, partner effectively across departments, represent the District in grants and finance forums, and communicate complex financial information clearly to a variety of audiences.

This is an excellent opportunity for a steady, solutions-oriented finance professional who wants to make a meaningful impact in an evolving public transit organization and who can balance strategic judgment with practical execution.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Oversight

Plan, direct, and oversee the District's finance programs, including accounting, cash management, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, financial systems, and internal controls.
Lead development and Board adoption of the annual operating budget; ensure alignment with funding constraints and Board direction.
Prepare consolidated materials supporting adoption of the annual capital budget, coordinate closely with Capital Projects and other departments.

Financial Reporting & Forecasting

Monitor and report on financial status through monthly, quarterly, and year-end reporting.
Develop and maintain multi-year financial models (e.g., 10-year operating model) to support strategic planning and sustainability.
Conduct executive-level financial analysis, including scenario modeling for service levels, contracts, long-term commitments, and strategic initiatives.

Grants & Funding Strategy

Lead strategy development for identifying and securing grant funding.
Support development of grant applications, match strategy, and financial eligibility.
Oversee post-award financial compliance, reporting, reimbursement processes, and drawdowns.

Audit, Compliance & Controls

Direct external audits and financial reviews; ensure timely and accurate submissions; implement corrective actions when necessary.
Improve financial and grant-related policies, procedures, and internal controls to support compliance and efficiency.

Contract, Capital, and Agency Coordination

Provide financial analysis and support for contract negotiations and cost evaluations.
Participate in capital procurement and coordinate funding strategy and eligibility.
Represent the District in coordination with partner agencies and funding organizations.

Leadership & Staff Development

Select, supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff.
Establish work plans, priorities, and performance measures.
Lead complex, high-impact initiatives and resolve sensitive or escalated issues.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Typical qualifications include:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business/public administration, planning, or a closely related field.
At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public-sector finance, budgeting, financial reporting, and grants administration.
At least two (2) years in a management or supervisory role.
Additional directly related experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, consistent with District Policy.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation to be determined based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity. The salary range for this position is $176,265 - $237,946.

Employer paid premiums for employees' medical insurance and 95% of base HMO premium for families.
Employer paid dental and vision insurance.
Employer paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Employer paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
Optional flexible spending account.
Transit benefits.
Two weeks of vacation increased with seniority.
11 ½ holidays.
5 days of management leave.
Deferred compensation plan.
Employer contribution of 10%-15% of salary to 401(a) retirement account based on years of service.

Marin County Transit District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status. The District will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Director of Finance