Program Finance Manager

The Aerospace Corporation•Chantilly, VA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Program Finance Manager to lead organizational and program analytics, financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, and planning for the Ground & Communications Division (GCD) and Systems Integration & Launch Division (SELD). The role reports to the National Systems Group (NSG) CFO and supports the GCD and SELD General Managers as primary customers. It serves as a trusted financial advisor to leaders across the divisions, providing financial data, trend analysis, and predictive analytics to support customer delivery and corporate goals. The position is full-time and onsite at the company’s Chantilly, Virginia location. The manager oversees baseline management, direct delivery analysis, customer interaction, funding tracking, annual and multi-year budgeting, financial forecasts and planning scenarios, financial and operational metrics, dashboards, and expenditure planning. The role also improves financial and business processes and works with the NSG CFO to support consistent financial and program-control policies and practices across the company. As part of the Finance organization and corporate management teams, the manager advises senior leaders, contributes to strategic and administrative planning, and implements near- and long-term strategies. Responsibilities include developing KPIs tied to professional technical staff (PTS) and financial goals; interfacing with senior-level customers; monitoring funding and billing; preparing reports, analysis, and contractual financial deliverables; and implementing corporate-standard financial processes, tools, and cadence. The manager develops and maintains program baselines and forecasts/EACs, manages direct and indirect delivery and financial plans, analyzes budgets and variances, drives corrective actions, and reports organizational performance. The role also supports strategic projects, advises leaders on performance trends and corrective actions, facilitates value-informed procurement and investment decisions, and helps train new technical managers in financial acumen.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or a related field.
Eight or more years of experience in financial strategy, budgeting, and forecasting.
Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to analyzing data and variances to inform future performance.
Outstanding leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with peers, direct reports, customers, and leadership.
Experience with baseline management and planning, forecasting/EACs, estimating, and/or cost-schedule integration techniques.
Detail-oriented approach and commitment to producing accurate reports.
Experience in program management reporting and briefing, risk management tracking, and/or corrective action plans.
Expertise in strategic planning and deployment of comprehensive finance services for a geographically dispersed organization and multiple customers.
Ability to develop resourceful and creative solutions while considering potential impacts on divisions, the group, and the corporation.
Ability to establish rapport and build trust quickly at all levels of an organization.
Cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills, including the ability to make critical decisions and influence others.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to organize complex material clearly and persuasively and build consensus.
Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance with SSBI and counter-intelligence polygraph; additional customer security requirements may apply.
U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

MBA, CPA, and/or an advanced degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, or a related field.
Prior experience as a Financial or Program Control Manager, or equivalent.
Prior experience in a research or federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) environment.
Two or more years of experience in a U.S. government Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) contracting environment.
Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to changes as needed.
Experience with Tableau, SAP 4HANA, Fiori, and advanced Excel skills.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trusted working relationships with stakeholders and geographically dispersed teams.
Knowledge of governmental and government-contractor budgeting systems and practices.
Knowledge of cost accounting standards (CAS) and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Applies critical thinking to determine which ideas to pursue and implement, anticipates customer needs, and influences others to adjust course when warranted.

Responsibilities

Advise senior leaders and organization managers on financial performance, strategy, and business-related processes.
Contribute to administrative strategic plans and implement near-term and long-range strategies.
Establish standard corporate processes and provide leadership in developing policies and procedures.
Develop Key Performance Indicators tied to Professional Technical Staff (PTS) and financial goals.
Serve as the primary business interface with senior-level customers and maintain strong customer relationships.
Monitor funding and billing; develop reports, perform analyses, and provide program financial contractual deliverables.
Process at-risk memoranda when needed.
Implement corporate-standard financial processes, tools, and cadence across the GCD and SELD organizations.
Direct the development and maintenance of baselines and forecasts/EACs aligned with program and company financial plans and Statements of Work.
Develop and manage delivery (PTS) and financial plans and forecasts for direct and indirect funded activities at organization and project/program levels.
Track and analyze budgets and variances, drive corrective action, and report organizational statistics and metrics.
Generate accurate contractual financial deliverables for customers and support internal financial performance business reviews.
Support strategic projects at the Group and corporate levels.
Inform the NSG CFO and GCD and SELD General Managers about financial trends and reporting-unit performance, and recommend corrective actions.
Track, facilitate, and recommend value-informed procurement, investment, and delivery decisions to the General Manager.
Assist with financial acumen training for new technical managers.
Improve financial and business processes and support consistent financial and program-control practices across the company.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
401(k) plan with company-paid benefits of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
Flexible spending accounts.
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
Relocation assistance.
Professional growth and development programs.
Education assistance programs.
Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.