Director of Finance, Accounting & Grants (Internship)
Ft Wright, Kentucky • Intern
Posted on Fri, Jul 10, 2026
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in accounting, budgeting, finance, economics, or public administration, or any equivalent combination of education and experience that would provide the above-noted knowledge, skills, and abilities. MBA or an MS in Financial Management is highly preferred.
- Minimum seven (7) years of experience in progressively responsible positions within the functional financial management areas, including accounting, budgeting, auditing, or financial or fiscal analysis.
- Minimum five (5) years of management experience.
- Experience in governmental, nonprofit, transportation, or other publicly funded environments preferred.
- Strong knowledge of governmental accounting principles, budgeting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
- Knowledge of grant administration, compliance requirements, and public funding processes.
- Ability to analyze complex financial information and communicate findings clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to ethical financial stewardship and public service.
- Leader with a proven record of success in managing staff within a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to provide effective leadership and develop cooperative working relationships with staff, department heads, the public, and contract service providers.
- Ability to manage confidential information and documents.
- Strong problem solving and conflict management skills.
- Ability and experience to apply effective management principles and practices.
- Strong computer and standard business/office software skills.
- Desire to continue professional development.
- Serves as the organization’s financial leader and strategic advisor to the General Manager, leadership team, and Board of Directors.
- Develops and implements financial strategies that support organizational goals, sustainability, and responsible growth.
- Provides analysis, recommendations, and financial forecasting to support operational and capital planning decisions.
- Monitors financial trends, risks, opportunities, and emerging challenges; recommend solutions to leadership.
- Leads the development of annual operating and capital budgets, including long-range financial planning.
- Evaluates financial impacts of service changes, operational initiatives, contracts, and strategic investments.
- Supervises the Manager of Financial Accounting and thereby direct all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll coordination, fixed assets, cash management, and financial reconciliations.
- Prepares monthly financial statements, variance reports, dashboard materials and financial narratives for TANK management and Board of Directors.
- Develops and analyzes key financial and operational performance indicators, including revenue trends, labor costs, fringe benefits, medical expense trends, materials, services, claims, and other major cost drivers.
- Acts as liaison to the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise reporting system.
- Establishes and maintains strong internal controls, financial policies, and procedures while maintaining compliance with governmental accounting principles and reporting requirements.
- Provides long-term financial planning, scenario analysis/modeling, and funding analysis and projections to assist leadership in evaluating agency priorities and financial sustainability.
- Supports annual audit activities, Uniform Guidance compliance, internal control documentation, grant testing, and preparation of schedules or supporting documentation requested by auditors.
- Leads the annual budget process, including departmental coordination, financial modeling, revenue and expense forecasting and presentation materials.
- Monitors budget performance and provide regular variance analysis and recommendations.
- Maintains alignment between the general ledger, chart of accounts, budget worksheets, financial systems, and department-level reporting to ensure accurate budgeting and reporting across the organization.
- Partners with department leaders to improve financial accountability and resource allocation and to monitor spending trends and variances.
- Develops financial dashboards and reporting tools to support transparency and informed decision-making.
- Communicates operating budget information to various regulatory agencies through web portals, email, formal reports, and other required submission methods.
- Manages all grant administration activities, including federal, state, and local funding programs.
- Maintains the Capital Project master list and supports downstream activities to include procurement, integration into the grant planning process and creation of an annual capital budget.
- Manages all functions of the federal grant process: project compliance, application, follow-up, cash disbursements in accordance with the FTA regulations/guidance, required reporting and record-keeping.
- Ensures compliance with grant requirements, reporting deadlines, allowable costs, procurement requirements, and documentation standards through maintenance and accurate tracking of all grants.
- Maintains grant records and supporting documentation to ensure audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and accurate financial reporting.
- Oversees grant applications, amendments, budgets and budget revisions, reimbursement requests, drawdowns, and closeout processes, in accordance with KYTC, FTA and other funding agency requirements.
- Maintains strong working relationships with funding agencies and external partners regarding grant applications, reporting, compliance, and financial documentation.
- Monitors changes in grant regulations and funding opportunities that may impact the organization.
- Responsible for FTA Triennial Review readiness and annual National Transit Database (NTD) financial reporting and compliance.
- Supports capital planning processes, including funding strategies, project development and budgets, and financial/grant reporting.
- Monitors capital expenditures and ensure alignment with approved plans.
- Partners with operations and leadership teams on asset lifecycle planning and financial sustainability.
- Leads, mentors, and develops finance and accounting staff.
- Establishes a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and operational excellence.
- Develops processes that improve efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness across the organization.
- Promotes collaboration among departments and foster strong internal partnerships.
- Leads or supports implementation and improvement of financial systems, budgeting tools, reporting processes, and internal workflows.
- Manages budgeting software implementation activities, including vendor coordination, chart of accounts alignment, workflow design, user testing, training, and transition from spreadsheet-based processes.
- Identifies opportunities to improve financial reporting, budget development, grant tracking, data accuracy, and cross-departmental financial processes.
- Develops, updates, and documents finance-related policies and procedures to support compliance, consistency, transparency, and audit readiness.
- Supports the development and maintenance of policies, procedures, tracking tools, and internal controls related to grants, budgeting, procurement, capital assets, leases, subscription-based technology arrangements, cash management, and federal compliance.
- Partners with internal departments and external technical support teams to improve financial system functionality, reporting accuracy, and process efficiency.
- Prepares and presents financial information, reports, and recommendations to the Board of Directors and executive leadership.
- Supports transparency and accountability as a steward of public funds.
- Represents the organization with auditors, financial institutions, governmental agencies, funding partners, and community stakeholders.
- Sitting in a normal seated position for extended periods of time.
- Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
- Finger dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, such as using a keyboard.
- Correctable ability to see and hear within a normal range.
- Ability to move about the office to obtain files and other objects.
- Lift and carry objects up to 30 pounds within an area of 50 feet radius.
- None
- Directly supervises Manager of Financial Accounting
- TANK Board of Directors Committee Lead/presentations
- General Manager Financial direction/support
- Federal Transit Administration Federal Funding & Other Compliance
- Kentucky Transportation Cabinet State Funding & Other Compliance
- Vendors & Suppliers Various project & commercial issues
- Department Directors Financial direction/support
- Various Auditing Firms Financial / Pension / NTD Audits
- Kentucky Dept for Local Government SPGE Reporting