Principal Project Controls Analyst

The Principal Project Controls Analyst serves as the San Mateo County Transit District (Sam Trans) expert for project financial oversight and controls, supporting capital and operating programs. This role assists with developing and leads the implementation of standardized tools, procedures, and reporting to improve fiscal transparency and accountability. The Principal Analyst partners with project managers, finance staff, and executive leadership to ensure effective financial planning, monitoring, and compliance across all project portfolios.

• Create Sam Trans project controls framework by informing the development of standardized tools, processes, and performance measures to ensure effective financial oversight of capital and operating projects.
• Act as a project manager, aligning work and driving processes for Project Controls.
• Serve as the primary liaison between Finance, Capital Planning, and Project Management staff, ensuring alignment of budgets, forecasts, and expenditures with funding requirements and agency goals.
• Working with the Financial Reporting department in Finance, refine and formalize the process for financial reporting against projects and programs.
• Develop and, in certain instances, present reports and executive summaries to Agency leadership.
• Provide expert-level guidance, mentoring, and training to project managers and analysts on financial management best practices, cost forecasting, and compliance standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in project financial systems and analytics to enhance transparency, efficiency, and data accuracy across departments.
• Advise executive leadership on financial risks, trends, and funding strategies to support informed decision-making and optimize the agency’s financial resources.

• Direct work of more junior staff in support of executing ongoing project controls
• Develop and maintain standardized project financial forms, templates, and analysis checklists.
• Prepare and present quarterly project financial reports to the Board, as needed.
• Schedule and facilitate regular Project Controls meeting with project managers and leadership.
• Analyze project data to identify variances, risks, and funding needs; recommend funding changes or expense reclasses.
• Monitor project budgets and forecasts to ensure compliance with internal policies and grant requirements.
• Manage the financial close-out of completed projects.
• Coordinate with Finance, Grants, and Capital Planning to reconcile project financial data.
• Support audits, capital plannings efforts, and annual budget development.
• Provide subject matter expertise on financial systems and recommend process improvements.
• Evaluate job performance of staff, which also includes professional development through the identification of on-the-job and other development opportunities.
• Perform all job duties and responsibilities in a safe manner to protect oneself, follow employees, and the public from injury or harm. Promote safety awareness and follow safety procedures to reduce or eliminate accidents.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Sufficient experience, training and/or education to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. In lieu of a degree, work-related experience that demonstrates the skills and experience necessary to perform this role will be accepted. Development of the required knowledge and abilities is typically obtained through but not limited to:

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, construction management, or a directly related field.
• Four (4) years full-time progressively responsible experience in transportation or urban planning, economics and finance, public policy, public administration, or related field.
• Two (2) years full-time experience supervising technical and professional staff.

• Experience with project financial management principles, budgeting, cost control, and funding compliance.
• Strong analytical, presentation, and communication skills with the ability to synthesize and…