Transit Finance Learning Exchange

Sharepoint website is available for members use TFLEx has created a new website in Sharepoint for its members. It is located at https://tflex.securespsites.com/ (Password required) At this time, we are not creating new accounts on the old site. If you are requesting a new account, visit New Account Registration (Sharepoint) to request an account on the new site.

2008 Transit Ballot Measures

Following is a link to a table which details all of the 26 transportation ballot measures that were decided nationwide during the Nov 4th election. The table was compiled by the Center for Transportation Excellence, a non-partisan research group based in Washington, D.C. A complete list of the all 2008 transportation ballot initiatives is also included. The table can be accessed at: http://www.cfte.org/success/2006ballotmeasures.asp. (Posted by RTA on 11/5/2008)

TFLEx Workshop
Sept. 7 - 9, 2008
Summary Notes

notes by Terry Cordell, posted 10-17-2008

The Fall 2008 TFLEx Workshop was held in Boston MA, and hosted by Wes Wallace and the MBTA. Our sincere thanks go out to Wes and his staff for the wonderful job they did in making this workshop a successful event. Twenty-five people registered for this workshop. Everything was well organized and the presentations were informative. Thanks again to everyone at Boston's MBTA!

The regular Business Meeting was chaired by Joe Costello on Sunday afternoon. Minutes of this meeting are attached as a separate document. All members are encouraged to attend the Business Meeting.

The main topic of this workshop was capital planning and programming. Jon Davis, Deputy General Manager/CFO of the "T" in Boston, welcomed participants and gave an overview of the MBTA's current and planned capital projects. Grace Gallucci, Deputy Executive Director of Research, Analysis and Policy Development, Chicago RTA, presented that agency's new role in oversight of the region's capital improvement program. Michelle Caldwell, Los Angeles MTA, Micael Ocbahanes, DART, and Victor Rivas, MBTA Boston, then shared their agency's approach to capital planning.

After lunch, Peter Butler, Director of the FTA's Region I Office of Planning and Program Development shared his agency's perspectives on working with transit agencies in developing capital programs.

The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to Needs and Leads. Attached is a table of all the Needs and Leads discussed in this session.

The morning of day two of the Workshop was devoted to Succession Planning. Lydia Grose, Manager of Track and Civil Engineering, SEPTA Philadelphia, gave a fascinating presentation developed by the 2007 Leadership APTA class on strategies for attracting young talent from Generations X and Y to public transportation. There was a great deal of discussion on the differences between the generations and how they communicate differently. This was followed by Mary Ann Collier, Director of HR, San Joaquin RTD, facilitating a discussion of the need for every agency to build a foundation for effective succession planning. Irene DeMers, DART, presented her agency's initiative on succession planning. DART has developed a solid program to create an internal pool of talent from which to draw DART's future executive leaders. Irene's presentation is available on the TFLEx website and she can be reached at idemers@dart.org for further information on their leadership development program.

The afternoon session began with a conference call with representatives from Morgan Stanley discussing the current and long-term prospects of diesel and CNG fuel costs. Members shared their agency's initiatives regarding how they control fuel costs.

The Workshop wrapped up with Ray Garton showing members a preview of what the new TFLEx website will look like and how it will work. The new website was approved at the Business Meeting and will be developed by Ray over the next several months.

The Spring 2009 Workshop will be held in Chicago on April 6-8. The topic of the workshop will be Public Private Partnerships in transit. The RTA will be hosting the event and we will be reaching out to the entire transit industry for the second day of the workshop. More information will be forthcoming shortly but please mark your calendars now to attend this workshop.

All presentations from the Fall Workshop are available on the TFLEx website at www.tflex.org.

TFLEx Accomplishments

Bi-Annual Workshops

TFLEx members meet twice annually to share best practices and "needs and leads," learn from industry experts and work together to develop and maintain the ongoing TFLEx Business Plan. These are facilitated workshops where all members are able to participate in roundtable discussions.

Training and Professional Development

TFLEx members identified a need to educate finance staff in the field of transit without extensive costs. Transit 101 was developed as a web-based instructional tool to bring information regarding the transit field to the desktops of staff members whether in finance or other departments. Modules deployed to date include Federal, State, and Local Funding; Procurement; Paratransit Operations: Fare Policy; and Regulatory Framework. Others are in development with a total of 26 planned.

Financial Operations Best Practices

Sharing management tools such as benchmarking, activity-based costing, process mapping, balanced scorecard, key performance indicators, and best practices has been an ongoing activity of members attending the bi-annual workshops. Transit systems taking the lead in these practices share their successes and "opportunities" with their fellow members.

Website Services

Membership in TFLEx provides access to entire TFLEx website. Here members share such information as:

• Posting of templates for finance policy and procedure manuals, RFPs, MOUs, etc.
• "Needs and leads" forum, members post questions that they are researching and request any available information from other members.
• Workshop agendas and presentations.
• Information directory of all TFLEx member contracts.
• Members have access to the complete website, while visitors may only view certain areas.

TFLEx Membership

TFLEx has a goal of 30-35 members. While membership is filling up fast, we still have room for additional members. Annual membership dues are determined by agency size

Membership includes attendance at the twice yearly workshops for a nominal fee. Click here for more information on how to join.

Division Manager
External Audit
(Search Re-Opened)

(Posted 12-29-2008)

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), located in downtown Chicago, is currently accepting applications to fill the position of Division Manager, External Audit.

Under the general direction of the Deputy Executive Director, Research, Analysis & Policy Development (RAP), the incumbent is responsible for developing and directing the performance of financial, compliance, management, and operational audits and reviews of the Service Boards (CTA, Metra, and Pace) to evaluate specific programs and systems, as well as overall organizational performance. Responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling the daily operations of the External Audit division to ensure that all functions are performed effectively and efficiently. Prepares and delivers reports and presentations to the RTA Board of Directors, management and staff; counterparts at the Service Boards local, regional and national governmental and planning agencies and other public transportation related entities.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Directs and coordinates the overall operations of the External Audit division in accordance with established goals and objectives, and performs other related duties as required or assigned.
2. Develops, maintains and oversees the compilation of a complete, accurate and coordinated division level workplan for integration with the department's annual workplan and that supports the RTA's strategic goals and objectives.
3. Develops and implements a financial, compliance, management, and operational audit and review program to evaluate specific programs and systems, as well as overall organizational performance of the Service Boards including: a) identifies appropriate audits and reviews to perform; b) directs and conducts specific audits and reviews; c) coordinates oversight, audit, and review activities with Service Board staffs to ensure their understanding of and cooperation with these activities; d) prepares and presents comprehensive reports and analyses of audits and reviews; e) ensures that findings and/or recommendations are thorough, comprehensive, accurate, and clear; f) provides follow-up reports and/or develops action plans to ensure implementation of recommendations.
4. Supports, assists, and facilitates the Program Compliance and Performance Management Divisions in carrying out their objectives and mission including a) coordinates with various organizational units to identify and prioritize area for audit and review; b) performs audits and reviews in partnership or at the request of the Program Compliance and Performance Management Divisions.

The ideal candidate must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Auditing, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Operations Analysis or a related field. Professional certification as a public accountant (CPA) and/or internal auditor (CIA) or an advanced degree preferred.

The ideal candidate must possess a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience focused on financial analysis, accounting, operational analysis, oversight and/or auditing, including negotiations and consensus building in a project team environment. Experience in a public transit environment desirable particularly those with passenger rail mode. Also must have demonstrated supervisory/management and project management experience. Strong technical, quantitative and communication skills are essential.

Minimum Starting Salary: $81,875

The RTA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. Relocation is not available.

For more information about the RTA, visit our website at www.rtachicago.com.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and salary history to:

Regional Transportation Authority
Human Resources, Attn: 08-DMEA(R)
175 W. Jackson, Suite 1550
Chicago, IL 60604

To apply online, go to: https://www.rtachicago.com/jobposting/?job=37

An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer