25-CFO
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is seeking a civic-minded **Chief Financial Officer interested in working with a dynamic financial team that is passionate about its work. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a chief financial officer with ten years of experience. You’ll play an important role in advancing public transportation in the region by working with departments across the agency to support financial initiatives.
A new era has begun for transit in the Chicago region. On October 31, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB 2111, a landmark transit funding and reform bill. The legislation includes an estimated $1.2 billion in new annual operating funding for CTA, Metra, and Pace. This sustainable funding means riders will not experience service cuts or fare increases in 2026 and instead will benefit from continued improvements to service frequency, reliability, and safety in the coming years.
The bill reorganizes the transit system under a new regional authority, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA), transforming the RTA to take on new responsibilities including setting fares, enhancing and coordinating service, overseeing long-term capital planning, and leading implementation of unified rider-focused tools such as more seamless mobile ticketing. More information can be found here regarding the legislation.
As the RTA transitions over the next year to NITA, we will continue the work of the agency and begin to take steps towards setting NITA up for success. The 2026 regional operating budget totals $4.352 billion.
Critical to this success is a financial executive who can help guide the transformation of Chicago’s public transit. The regional transit system is at an inflection point, requiring a visionary and strategic financial leader. This high-impact role offers the chance to shape long-term funding solutions, drive system-wide transformation, and provide expert counsel to the Agency’s leadership and Board during a period of unprecedented change and opportunity. We are seeking a seasoned, collaborative professional ready to make a significant and lasting impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the region's transit system.
Under the direction of the Executive Director, the incumbent will provide strategic leadership in guiding the regional response at a pivotal moment for the region’s transit system.
Oversees a group of highly skilled professionals and provides counsel to leadership as the Agency and its partners develop and implement long-term funding solutions while supporting and advancing system-wide transformation and improvement. Success in this role will require experience and willingness to manage change thoughtfully and collaboratively. This work encompasses financial planning including the development of budgets, financial plans, accounting, treasury operations, information technology, and capital project management oversight.
The incumbent conducts and leads the clear communication of financial analysis and policy recommendations to provide the Agency’s management and Board with information to make sound management and budgetary decisions. Working across departments, the incumbent will ensure that staff has access to finance administration and operations information that will assist the Agency in achieving cost effective, cost efficient, and service effective performance desired for a coordinated and seamless transit system.
Finally, the incumbent provides the technology vision for the Agency by leading IT strategy and regional technical initiatives. Provides direction to staff and consultants in the performance of their respective duties.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. Play a key role in transitioning the agency to NITA by identifying additional accountabilities in the legislation, facilitating organizational change, and working towards implementation in various activities that are aligned with the CFO responsibilities.
2. Develop, in conjunction with the Executive Director, senior staff and Service Boards (Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace Suburban Bus), policy recommendations to the Agency Board on transit finance administration and operations issues that align with state legislation and as stated in the position summary. Ensure that the Department’s planned activities meet related strategic goals and priorities of the Agency.
3. Direct the development and monitoring of the operating budget and multi-year plans of the Agency and the Service Boards. Strategize alternatives to budgetary pressures and present recommendations to the Agency Board. Facilitate adherence to state legislative mandated budget requirements.
4. Direct all cash and debt management activities including investments, accounts payable, and payroll. Oversee the financing process of obtaining funding for capital projects. Collaborate with internal and external parties to coordinate the timing of expenditures with debt availability. Issue bonds and other debt instruments and determine use, amount, and timing. Secure short-term borrowing to fund operations as needed.
5. Manage and coordinate the development of sound financial statements and review the work of auditors, ensuring that financial statements and reviews are issued on time. Improve the analysis and reporting timeliness of agency spending with the implementation of updated software, data input enhancement, and process improvements.
6. Ensure information systems and technologies, as well as all necessary associated hardware and software, cybersecurity, and information assets are well managed and support all areas of the organization in achieving the agency’s business objectives.
7. Direct the project management office providing oversight of capital projects at the Service Boards.
8. Plan the activities of the Department and develop the objectives and policies for the Department. Develop, implement, and monitor Department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
9. Identify the need for new procedures, reports, and computer systems to improve the management and work of finance and overall operations. Direct and coordinate the implementation of new procedures, reports, or computer systems.
10. Direct and coordinate staff and consultant resources to ensure that the planned activities are performed in an accurate and efficient manner, coordinated with appropriate internal and external parties, and in accordance with Agency and Departmental policies. Also ensure that findings and/or recommendations (whether presented in writing or verbally) are thorough, accurate and clear.
11. Prepare and present comprehensive analyses and reports in a clear and concise manner to the Executive Director and the Chairman and Board, staff, Service Boards, and other interested agencies.
12. Under the guidance of the Executive Director and other senior staff, convene task forces drawing on personnel from other departments to address priority issues relating to Service Board transit finance administration and operations.
13. Direct the development of Ten-Year Financial Plan, with input and collaboration from Service Boards.
14. Direct and coordinate the human resource management function of the Department. Ensure that all Department selection, training, performance appraisals, promotions, and related personnel actions are handled in a fair and consistent manner and are consistent with agency policies and procedures. Conduct performance appraisals for the Department staff.
15. Act in a manner which is consistent with the agency’s strategic goals and objectives as approved by the Board of Directors, while providing service of the highest level to our customers - both internal and external.
16. Perform other related duties as required or assigned.
The candidate has graduated from an accredited school with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Public Administration, Operations Research, Operations Analysis, or a related field required.
- Advanced degree is a related field preferred: MBA, MPA, or MPS preferred.
The ideal candidate must have the following:
- More than ten (10) years of related experience in government or public finance required, gained through increasingly responsible positions: finance administration and operations, research and analysis, treasury, budgeting, project management, and oversight/auditing.
- Experience in several finance administration and operations related positions with exposure to a variety of aspects of policy development is helpful.
- Previous experience working in a senior management role and managing information technology staff is also preferable.
- A competent performer should have strong knowledge and analytical skills as well as skills in plan development, project management, systems planning, operations analysis and accounting.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret complex transit finance administration and operations documents required.
- Experience acting as an agency spokesperson is desirable.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain as well as support recommendations to both internal and external contacts.
- Ability to manage a diverse staff and programs.
- Proven expertise in leading organizational change within complex, multi-stakeholder environments to meet strategic goals through effective communication, change management principles, and problem-solving.
Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities that align an organization's work with an evolving strategic direction by anticipating what is structurally needed.
The RTA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. Relocation is not available.
For more information about the RTA, visit our website at https://www.rtachicago.org/.
This role typically offers salaries near $187,068, and the RTA offers competitive salaries with the possibility of a higher offer for highly qualified candidates.
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An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
* * Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-RTA employment while employed at the RTA, or within one year immediately after ending RTA employment, the employee may be required to notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine. **
