Finance Manager- Aviation Investment & Leasing

Aston Carter•Fort Lauderdale, FL

13d•$145,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Finance Manager, Aviation Investment & Leasing is a highly visible individual contributor supporting aviation investment, leasing, and portfolio management. The role partners closely with executive leadership and finance teams to evaluate aircraft investment opportunities, optimize capital deployment, and improve the performance of a global aviation asset portfolio. It combines aviation industry expertise, advanced financial modeling, structured finance knowledge, and accounting acumen to support investment decisions and financial governance. The position supports lease accounting and monthly close activities; evaluates accounting implications of aircraft transactions; and partners with accounting and tax teams on compliance and tax-efficient decisions. It also analyzes aircraft investment opportunities, asset- and portfolio-level returns, market conditions, and counterparty credit risk. The Finance Manager builds and audits complex financial models, evaluates financing alternatives, supports treasury and refinancing initiatives, and provides forecasting and strategic decision support. The role prepares executive materials, advises senior leaders, and mentors finance professionals. This is a permanent, fully onsite position in a corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with exposure to executive leadership and cross-functional teams. The annual pay range is $145,000–$150,000, with individual compensation dependent on factors including qualifications, experience, and location.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in aircraft leasing, aviation finance, aviation investments, or structured finance.
Strong understanding of aircraft leasing cycles and lease economics, including lease structures, pricing, and return dynamics.
Knowledge of aviation fleet demand trends, residual values, and secondary market dynamics.
Expert-level Excel proficiency, including building and auditing complex financial models.
Experience modeling debt structures, tax impacts, maintenance reserves, and lease structures.
Ability to conduct IRR, NPV, MOIC, cash yield, and comprehensive return analyses at asset and portfolio levels.
Experience evaluating senior and subordinated debt, warehouse facilities, asset-backed securitizations, term financing, and equity partnerships.
Strong understanding of capital deployment strategies and capital structure optimization in a financing or investment context.
Working knowledge of ASC 842 and/or IFRS 16 lease accounting standards.
Experience supporting lease classification, revenue recognition, depreciation, impairment, and transaction accounting for leasing activities.
Experience assessing portfolio performance and investment returns for aviation or related asset classes.
Experience in credit risk analysis and counterparty evaluation, particularly in aviation leasing or financing.
Experience providing forecasting and strategic decision support for investment and portfolio decisions.
Strong business-partnering skills and ability to collaborate across finance, accounting, tax, treasury, and operational teams.
Experience presenting investment recommendations and financial analyses to executive leadership or investment committees.
Understanding of global leasing and financing structures in the aviation industry.

Nice To Haves

MBA, preferably focused on finance, accounting, or a related discipline.
Experience at aircraft leasing organizations, aviation asset managers, investment firms, airlines, MRO organizations, or aviation finance groups.
Knowledge of aircraft valuation methodologies and secondary market trends, including residual value analysis and remarketing dynamics.
Treasury management experience, including evaluating financing options and supporting refinancing initiatives.
Experience in financial control, including oversight of internal controls, governance frameworks, and compliance processes.
Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to translate complex financial analyses into actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide finance professionals and promote best practices in modeling, analysis, and structured finance.

Responsibilities

Support lease accounting, including classification of operating versus finance leases under applicable standards.
Coordinate monthly close activities and ensure accurate, complete, and timely financial reporting related to aviation investments and leasing.
Evaluate accounting implications of aircraft acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing transactions, including revenue recognition, depreciation, impairment, and transaction accounting.
Partner with accounting and tax teams to support reporting compliance and tax-efficient decision-making.
Strengthen internal controls and financial governance for aviation investment and leasing activities.
Ensure compliance with applicable accounting and regulatory standards, including lease accounting frameworks.
Analyze aircraft investment opportunities and assess asset-level and portfolio-level performance.
Evaluate investment returns using methodologies such as IRR, NPV, MOIC, and cash yield.
Monitor fleet trends, market demand, residual values, and leasing cycles to inform investment and portfolio decisions.
Assess counterparty credit risk and exposure and incorporate findings into investment and leasing strategies.
Develop and present recommendations to improve investment performance, capital allocation, and portfolio returns.
Build, maintain, and audit financial models incorporating debt structures, tax impacts, maintenance reserves, and lease structures.
Evaluate financing alternatives, including senior and subordinated debt, warehouse facilities, asset-backed securitizations, term financing, and equity partnerships.
Support treasury and refinancing initiatives by analyzing financing options and their impact on capital structure and cash flow.
Analyze capital structures and recommend strategies to maximize shareholder value, optimize capital deployment, and enhance cash flow.
Prepare executive reporting materials, dashboards, and presentations for investment committees and senior leadership.
Provide senior leadership with data-driven insights on investments, portfolio performance, and capital structure.
Mentor finance professionals and promote best practices in financial modeling, portfolio analysis, and structured finance.
Provide forecasting and strategic decision support for aviation investments, leasing activities, and portfolio management initiatives.