Client Program Finance Manager

GHD • Irvine, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

GHD Advisory is seeking an experienced Client Program Finance Manager to provide financial leadership across a complex, large-scale portfolio of projects. The role serves as the central point of coordination for program-level financial information, connecting client stakeholders with program leadership, project controls, project services and finance teams. It strengthens financial transparency and forecast credibility by translating detailed project data into clear, decision-ready insight, combining technical accounting and finance capability with project controls, commercial judgement and stakeholder engagement.

The position is based in Irvine, Los Angeles or San Diego and follows a hybrid work model, with three days a week in the office. The manager leads program-level forecasting, projections, scenario analysis, financial governance and executive reporting; partners with stakeholders on commercial and portfolio decisions; monitors performance and risks; and helps improve forecasting, reporting and portfolio controls. Success means trusted, timely forecasts, clear reporting, early identification of financial issues and stronger accountability across the portfolio.

Requirements

• A degree or equivalent experience in finance, accounting, business, commerce or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience managing portfolio- or program-level forecasting, budgeting, cost management and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of how financial management and project controls frameworks work together.
• Experience with project finance, commercial pricing, profitability and margin analysis.
• Advanced analytical capability, including scenario modelling, sensitivity analysis and forecast-to-actual review.
• Ability to independently test, challenge and defend financial information, assumptions and forecasts.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience working across internal and external teams to define and improve reporting requirements.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial information to non-financial audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in finance, FP&A, project accounting, project controls or commercial finance within a project-based environment is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and coordinate program financial reporting.
• Shape reporting requirements with stakeholders, clarify assumptions, and communicate financial and schedule matters clearly.
• Support commercial discussions and portfolio-level decisions with timely analysis of performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Promote consistency and transparency in client-facing financial information and reporting.
• Lead program-level forecasts, financial projections and scenario analysis across a portfolio of projects.
• Independently validate and challenge project forecasts, cost assumptions and financial inputs using fact-based analysis and sound judgement.
• Ensure forecasts reflect project schedules, production plans, subcontractor activity, resource requirements and known cost drivers.
• Monitor forecast accuracy through forecast-to-actual analysis and improve forecasting quality and discipline.
• Communicate uncertainty, assumptions, sensitivities and potential financial implications of emerging issues.
• Establish and maintain program-level financial governance, controls and reporting processes.
• Coordinate monthly financial reviews with project teams, program leadership and finance stakeholders.
• Prepare decision-ready dashboards, reporting packs and executive summaries for internal and client stakeholders.
• Monitor performance against budget, forecast, schedule and contractual objectives and identify corrective actions.
• Give leadership early visibility of material risks, opportunities, cost trends and performance concerns.
• Partner with project controls, project managers and operational teams to align financial reporting with execution plans and portfolio priorities.
• Provide financial insight into schedule impacts, productivity and production assumptions, resource requirements and key cost drivers.
• Support consistent forecasting methodologies and controls across the program.
• Analyze profitability, margin performance and program financial trends.
• Support contract-related financial mechanisms, including pain/gain calculations where applicable.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial outcomes while maintaining client commitments and program objectives.
• Track key financial and forecast performance measures and communicate trend implications.
• Identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve forecasting, reporting, governance and portfolio controls.
• Establish practical best practices for financial management across large-scale client programs.
• Promote accountability for financial outcomes across project and operational teams.

Benefits

• 401(k) participation eligibility beginning on the first day of the month following three months of service.
• Paid time off for rest, sick and personal time; starts at 16 days per year and increases with years of service.
• Holiday pay for eligible employees; GHD observes nine holidays per year.
• Wellness reimbursement for eligible regular full-term employees: 50% reimbursement up to a maximum of $250 annually for eligible items and programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed