BATA Hiring : Finance Director

Undisclosed; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) in Northern Michigan is seeking an experienced Finance Director to lead accounting, budgeting, treasury, grants, procurement oversight, and long-term financial planning. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving on the Leadership Team, this role shapes financial strategy for the Grand Traverse region.

The ideal candidate brings strong public sector finance expertise, collaborative leadership, and strategic judgment.

Job description

Help Shape the Future of Public Transportation in Northern Michigan

Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic financial leader to serve as its next Finance Director.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a member of BATA's Leadership Team, this executive leadership position provides strategic financial leadership for a growing public transit agency committed to delivering safe, reliable, and customer focused transportation throughout the Grand Traverse region.

The Finance Director serves as a trusted strategic advisor to the Executive Director by providing financial leadership, analysis, and recommendations that support organizational decision-making and the Executive Director's responsibilities to the Board of Directors. The Finance Director is an integral part of BATA's leadership team and plays a key role in supporting BATA's financial stewardship and long-term success.

This is more than a traditional finance position. The Finance Director leads the Authority's accounting, budgeting, treasury, financial reporting, grants administration, procurement oversight, internal controls, audits, and long-range financial planning while helping strengthen organizational resiliency, development of future financial leaders, and support long-term succession planning within the Finance Department.

BATA provides more than 500,000 passenger trips annually, connecting residents and visitors throughout the Grand Traverse region to employment, education, healthcare, shopping, and recreation. In 2024, BATA completed a state-of-the-art $30 million operations headquarters, reflecting the Authority's long‑term investment in its employees, customers, and future growth. With a strong financial foundation, expanding mobility services, and a reputation for innovation and continuous improvement, BATA is well positioned for its next chapter of growth.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership style, along with the ability to build relationships across the organization and with employees, leadership, funding partners, auditors, local governments, and community stakeholders.

Experience with governmental accounting, budgeting, grants administration, procurement, and federally funded programs is highly desirable. Public transit experience is welcomed but not required for candidates with comparable experience in local government, public agencies, airports, utilities, higher education, or other publicly funded organizations.

BATA offers a competitive compensation ($120,000-$160,0

Salary/Compensation: $120,000 - $160,000 per year