Principal Financial Analyst

About the Role

The Management and Budget Department (“MBD”)—located in the Chief Financial Officer’s finance suite—is a collaborative team of approximately 25 team members who: 1) coordinates the development and consolidation of the agency’s annual $9.4+ billion Budget to ensure sound fiscal stewardship of the agency’s resources; 2) leads monthly financial performance reviews and analyses to ensure appropriate use of the agency’s resources; 3) analyzes and reviews resource requests to ensure their highest and best use; and, 4) manages and operates the agency’s enterprise budgeting system BudgetPro, including the associated Smart View Excel-based add-on. As part of the MBD team you will gain an in-depth knowledge of the agency’s financial structure and processes, as well as knowledge of the operations of various lines of business, ultimately providing you with extensive opportunities for a long-term career at the Port Authority. We value collaboration, innovation, and a continuous improvement mindset to ensure that we provide the agency with a best-in-class Budget and financial reporting

Responsibilities

• The Principal Financial Analyst is a key member of the MBD team who is responsible for providing exemplary customer service and overseeing and analyzing the resources—both fiscal and physical—of the agency’s Aviation Department. The Aviation Department represents the largest airport network in the world serving more than 140 million passengers in 2023 and 2024. John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK”) serves as the region’s chief international gateway, while Newark Liberty International Airport (“EWR”) serves both national and international markets. LaGuardia Airport (“LGA”) serves as the premier short-haul facility in the region. New York Stewart International Airport (“SWF”) provides short-haul and low-cost international service while Teterboro Airport (“TEB”) serves general aviation clients. This position will work on a team of three within MBD’s Budget Performance and Analysis division, reporting to the Supervising Budget Analyst who oversees the Aviation, Port, and WTC Departments. You will serve as the lead liaison and customer service representative for the Aviation Department Financial Services team to problem solve and provide financial expertise, particularly as it relates to Budgeting, financial reporting, and reviewing resource requests and authorizations. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Reviewing and analyzing annual Budget submissions in close coordination with the client department Financial Services teams—including Operating Expenses and Gross Operating Revenues—to ensure that the Budget conforms to agency guidance, corporate goals and objectives, and are fiscally responsible. This review includes identifying Budget issues and challenges, developing appropriate analyses and recommendations, and collaborating with the Department to problem solve issues and challenged as needed;

• Verifying Budget submissions are properly consolidated in BudgetPro to help prepare the annual Budget Book, Budget presentations, and briefings for the Board of Commissioners and executive leadership; 

• Reviewing, evaluating, and presenting monthly financial results and variances to Budget, including recommending management actions to address variances to plan where necessary; 

• Analyzing resource requests and authorization documents to ensure the optimal use of the agency’s resources and consistency with approved annual Budget; 

• Coordinating with various Departments across the Agency, including (but not limited to) Comptroller’s, Office of Financial Planning, and Office of the Chief Operating Officer, to develop Budget recommendations, ensure accurate accounting transactions, and monitor the impact of economic conditions; 

• Evaluating financial impacts from new programs, capital projects, and other operational and business changes at the airports; 

• Supporting Senior Financial Analysts across MBD’s Budget Performance and Analysis division, particularly the review and presentation of Agency authorization documents; and, 

• Participating on RFP committees and task forces to represent the agency’s financial interests as required

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Finance, Accounting, or a related field or a minimum of 6 years of experience in performing complex financial analy