AddressFirst for a reason
First Student is the largest school transportation provider in North America with more than a century of experience providing safe and reliable transportation. We work with 1,250 school districts in 39 states and 8 Canadian provinces carrying approximately five million students in 21,000 schools daily.
As the Senior Regional Finance Director, you will assume a strategic leadership role in overseeing and managing the financial operations of our NY Metro region. This position requires a seasoned finance professional with prior experience as a Business Unit (BU) Controller or in a similar capacity in service, contract, or transportation businesses. You will provide financial guidance, ensure compliance, and drive profitability within your region.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Strategy: Develop and execute comprehensive financial strategies aligned with the company's objectives to drive both sustainable and profitable growth within the region.
Budgeting and Forecasting: Lead the budgeting and forecasting process, leveraging your expertise to ensure accuracy and strategic alignment.
Financial Reporting: Prepare and deliver insightful financial reports, analyses, and recommendations to senior management, driving informed decision-making for pricing and cost control activities.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate financial risks and opportunities specific to service, contract, and transportation businesses within the region.
Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to all local and international financial regulations, including taxation, audit, and reporting requirements.
Team Leadership: Direct and in-directly to manage and mentor a team of finance professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment. Leverage past BU Controller or similar experience to efficiently manage the financial affairs of the region's business locations, ensuring alignment with corporate financial goals.
Cost Control: Implement cost control measures tailored to the unique needs of service, contract, and transportation businesses to improve efficiency and profitability, particularly in direct variable cost areas.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate regional VPs and related cross-functional teams to support strategic initiatives and investments, leveraging your industry-specific knowledge specially in capital and technology investments.
Financial Systems: Oversee the implementation and maintenance of financial systems, tools and processes that cater to the specific needs of the region's businesses.
Continuous Improvement: Identify and drive process improvements and efficiency gains within the finance department, aligning with industry best practices.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
Expert knowledge of financial regulations, accounting principles, and industry-specific best practices.
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to address industry-specific challenges related to contract business and CBA environment.
Proven leadership and team management abilities.
Outstanding communication and presentation skills.
Proficiency in financial software such as JDE/Hyperion and Microsoft Office Suite.
Salary ranges from $145,000 - $210,000, based on experience.
In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia’s Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon requesthttps://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.
