Innovation Financial Manager

AECOM•Sacramento, CA

16h•$140,000 - $220,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AECOM is seeking an Innovation Financial Manager for one of our offices in Sacramento, CA. This role leads the financial strategy and quantitative analysis supporting alternative delivery, funding, and commercial optimization initiatives for the California High-Speed Rail nationally significant infrastructure program. Reporting to the CFO, the role develops complex financial models and value-for-money analyses to guide executive decisions on procurement, capital structuring, and risk allocation, while collaborating with internal leadership, funding partners, and external stakeholders.

Requirements

BA/BS + 10 years of relevant or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education, including 2 years of leadership
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in project finance, infrastructure investment banking, public sector financial management, P3 advisory, or commercial advisory on megaprojects
Demonstrated experience leading or substantially contributing to at least one large infrastructure transaction, such as a P3, design-build-finance procurement, federal credit program loan, or major discretionary grant award
Advanced financial modeling proficiency, including risk-adjusted discounted cash flow, Monte Carlo simulation, capital stack waterfalls, and value-for-money analysis
Working knowledge of federal credit programs (RRIF, TIFIA, PABs), federal discretionary grant programs relevant to passenger rail, and California state funding sources including Cap-and-Trade and Proposition 1A
Strong command of P3 commercial structures, including availability payment, revenue risk, and hybrid models
Ability to translate complex financial analyses into briefings and recommendations that non-financial executives, board members, and elected officials can act on
Strong written communication and presentation skills, with comfort presenting to executive and board-level audiences
Ability to work across program delivery, legal, federal initiatives, and external advisor teams to build consensus on financial recommendations
High proficiency in Excel and standard financial modeling tooling.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a closely related field. MBA, MPP, or a master’s degree in a quantitative discipline preferred.
Public sector or government consulting experience strongly preferred
Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or Python for financial analytics is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead Financial Modeling for Alternative Delivery and Innovative Procurement: Develop, maintain, and stress-test financial models that evaluate alternative delivery structures, including Public-Private Partnerships (P3), progressive design-build, and co-development agreements. Quantify the financial implications of risk transfer, payment mechanisms, and performance regimes across delivery options. Partner with the Commercial Advisor on value-for-money (VfM) assessments that compare alternative delivery against conventional delivery baselines. Produce procurement-stage financial inputs for project agreements, affordability ceilings, bid evaluation criteria, and negotiation positions.
Drive Alternative Funding and Capital Stack Strategy: Analyze and recommend blending strategies across Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds, Proposition 1A bond proceeds, federal formula and discretionary grants (including FSP, CRISI, and Mega), and alternative debt instruments such as RRIF, TIFIA, and Private Activity Bonds. Build multi-year capital stack scenarios that align funding availability with construction package sequencing and program cash flow requirements. Develop the financial analyses and briefing materials that support federal grant applications, state funding requests, and capital market engagements. Track market conditions, peer agency transactions, and emerging financing tools relevant to passenger rail and large public infrastructure.
Develop Revenue and Monetization Models: Build and maintain models that forecast farebox, ancillary, and concession revenues across operating scenarios. Evaluate transit-oriented development (TOD), station-area land monetization, joint development, and air-rights opportunities. Quantify revenue risk, ramp-up assumptions, and sensitivity to demand and macroeconomic variables for use in program and corridor-level decisions.
Advise the CFO and Executive Leadership on Financial Strategy: Translate model outputs into briefings, Board materials, and decision memos for the CFO, the CEO, and the Board of Directors. Coordinate with the Office of Federal Initiatives, Legal, Program Delivery, and the Enterprise Risk and Controls Branch on integrated financial recommendations. Represent the CFO’s office in working sessions with external financial advisors, underwriters, federal agencies, and oversight bodies as assigned. Support the development of standards, playbooks, and analytical tooling that make financial evaluation repeatable across future procurements.