Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA); Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) seeks a dynamic Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst to join the FP&A team in Richmond, VA. The role supports budgeting, cash forecasting, revenue management, and reporting for VPRA's rail operations and capital program.

The ideal candidate has at least 2 years in finance/accounting, GAAP knowledge, and strong MS Office skills, with preferred CPA and experience in Dynamics 365, Power BI, and Tableau.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years' experience in finance or accounting with progressive growth.
• Knowledge of revenue, expenditures, appropriations, assets & liabilities.
• Knowledge of GAAP and financial policies.
• Ability to use accounting/financial systems for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel advanced, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Adobe.

Responsibilities

• Assist in annual budget process for Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative.
• Compile monthly budget-to-actual reporting for VPRA Board.
• Support cash forecasting and liquidity monitoring for four state-sponsored routes.
• Assist cash collections and reimbursement submissions.
• Prepare regular reports for funding partners.
• Perform revenue reconciliations across diverse sources.
• Maintain and monitor projects/budgets in Dynamics 365.
• Provide data-driven insights and strategic storytelling for decisions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Time management

Big-picture thinking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) is a political subdivision established by Chapter 1230 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. VPRA is responsible for promoting, sustaining, and expanding the availability of passenger and commuter rail services in the Commonwealth, including all administrative and fiduciary responsibilities for Virginia's state-supported passenger rail services. VPRA also is a funding partner on many Virginia Railway Express (VRE) initiatives and administers capital expansion projects, infrastructure, and land acquisitions related to the multi-billion-dollar Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, which will double Amtrak and VRE service in Virginia over the next decade. The VPRA acts as a "responsible public entity" for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, or operation, or any combination thereof, of a "qualifying transportation facility" under the Public Private Partnership Act of 1995.

Are you ready to grow your finance career and support meaningful, high‑impact projects? If so, VPRA is looking for you! The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) seeks a dynamic Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst to join the Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) team, a key function supporting the VPRA's passenger train operations and capital infrastructure program. This role is ideal for a professional seeking to build on foundational accounting/finance knowledge by expanding into financial planning, cash management, and revenue management. This position will involve day-to-day financial tasks and support for strategic and operational projects. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a knack for problem-solving and a desire to expand their finance career.

This full-time position will be based in VPRA's office in Richmond, Virginia.

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, the FP&A Analyst will:
• Participate in the annual budget process for the Authority, which includes a multi-billion-dollar Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative, Capital and Operating Grants, and operational expenditures for four state-sponsored train routes.
• Compile monthly budget-to-actual reporting and analysis for the Authority's Board of Directors
• Support short-term cash forecasting and liquidity monitoring by managing and analyzing the financial database for four state-sponsored train routes, including detailed evaluation of revenue receipts, pricing trends, and development of internal forecasts to inform financial planning.
• Assist with the cash collections and cash management process, including preparing reimbursement submissions as needed.
• Assist with the preparation of regular reporting as required by funding partners.
• Perform detailed revenue reconciliations across diverse sources, ensuring accuracy in collections and allocation tracking.
• Assist in the maintenance and monitoring of projects and budgets within Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Provide decision support through value-added financial analysis, insights development, and strategic storytelling, while proactively identifying and leveraging innovative tools and methodologies to enhance data analytics and reporting capabilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Engineering & Construction, Rail Services, Fiscal divisions, and other teams, to drive scalable analyses and insights.
• Assist with ad hoc strategic and operational projects as required.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field from an accredited college/university.

Preferred Education

• Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Required Experience

• Minimum 2+ years' experience in finance or accounting with progressive career growth.
• Knowledge of financial structures involving areas of revenue, expenditures, appropriations, and assets & liabilities.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and financial accounting policies and procedures.
• Ability to utilize various accounting and financial systems for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail and ability to understand the big picture.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively, independently, and with flexibility in a fluid environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel (advanced knowledge), PowerPoint, and Outlook) and other commonly used office software, including Adobe.

Preferred Experience

• Public accounting experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Experience with Data Analytics Software (Power BI, Tableau).

Are you interested in this position, but you don't meet every single requirement? At VPRA, we are dedicated to building a talented team and an inclusive, authentic workplace. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for this or other positions.

Applicants must fully and accurately represent their qualifications and work history on the application or resume. The decision to interview an applicant is based on the information in the application, resume, or other relevant documents; therefore, applicants must supply detailed information. Submitting an incomplete application/resume or an application/resume lacking in detail may impact your interview eligibility. This website will confirm receipt when the application is submitted successfully. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. VETERANS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AMERICORPS, PEACE CORPS, AND OTHER NATIONAL SERVICE ALUMNI ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Equal Opportunity Employer