Project Financial Analyst

Ascent Aerospace•Macomb Township, MI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Financial Analyst provides financial analysis and decision support for tooling and manufacturing projects from quotes through project kickoff. This role partners closely with Estimating, Sales, Manufacturing, Project management, and Finance to ensure estimates are accurate, risk adverse, priced for the market, and maintain a steady cash flow.

Requirements

This position must meet Export Control Compliance requirements, therefore a "US Person" as defined by 22.C.F.R. is required
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or similar field preferred.
2–5 years of experience in financial analysis, project accounting, cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or construction accounting/finance required.
Strong understanding of project budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills required.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to work effectively with both financial and operational teams.
High attention to detail with a strong commitment to accuracy, ownership, and follow-through.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP ECC or S/4HANA is a plus.
Manufacturing, tooling, automation, capital equipment, construction, or other project-based industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with Estimating, Sales, Manufacturing, Project Management, and Finance throughout the quoting process to provide financial analysis and support informed pricing decisions.
Review project estimates for financial accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness, including material, labor, purchased services, subcontracting, engineering, manufacturing, and other expected project costs.
Analyze quoted project cost, selling price, gross margin, and profitability to ensure opportunities meet company financial objectives and are appropriately priced for market conditions.
Identify and quantify financial, operational, scheduling, and commercial risks within project estimates and ensure appropriate assumptions, contingencies, and risk considerations are incorporated into the quote.
Challenge estimating assumptions and investigate significant cost, pricing, or margin variances using historical project performance, current costs, and operational data.
Perform scenario, sensitivity, and ad-hoc financial analysis to evaluate alternative pricing, cost assumptions, scope changes, margin opportunities, and commercial strategies.
Evaluate customer payment terms, billing milestones, and project timing to understand the impact on cash flow and working capital.
Partner with Sales and Finance to develop commercial structures that support healthy project cash flow and minimize unnecessary working-capital exposure.
Compare historical quoted costs and assumptions to actual project results to identify trends and provide feedback that improves future estimating accuracy and profitability.
Support the financial handoff from quote to project kickoff, ensuring approved pricing, estimated costs, margin expectations, assumptions, risks, cash-flow requirements, and commercial commitments are clearly communicated to the project team.
Drive continuous improvement in the quote-to-kickoff process, strengthen financial controls, estimating discipline, pricing consistency, and cross-functional decision-making.
Any additional duties as reasonably assigned by management