Senior Program Finance Analyst (R6483)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Senior Program Finance Analyst to support financial execution, forecasting, and analysis across key programs. The role partners with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business Development, and Finance leadership to provide visibility into program performance and turn execution data into reliable forecasts and useful financial analysis. It combines program finance execution and financial modeling support in approximately equal measure and is a hands-on individual contributor position. The analyst maintains financial models, analyzes actual performance against plan, identifies financial risks and opportunities, and supports process improvements. Execution responsibilities include accurate inputs, dependable deliverables, and timely visibility into changes. Modeling work connects program execution information to broader product lifecycle economics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field.
3+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, independent cost estimating, corporate finance, or FP&A.
Experience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or technology environment.
Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contracting structures such as T&M, CPFF, and FFP.
Familiarity with product lifecycles from design through execution, production, and sustainment.
Solid understanding of financial statements and business metrics.
Ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders.
Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis.
Ability to obtain Secret clearance.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master’s degree in a related discipline.
Strong understanding of US GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting or manufacturing environment.
Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Power Query, DAX, or other data transformation and modeling tools.
Familiarity with ERP systems such as Costpoint and planning tools such as Anaplan.

Responsibilities

Own assigned program finance deliverables through completion, with appropriate review of significant changes and leadership-facing conclusions.
Maintain recurring forecasts and Estimate at Completion (EAC) schedules using validated inputs from Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and other functional owners.
Coordinate input deadlines, follow up on missing information, and investigate incomplete or inconsistent assumptions.
Analyze actuals against forecasts and budgets; explain cost, timing, and schedule-related changes; and prepare clear program reporting.
Investigate variances with stakeholders, resolve routine discrepancies, and escalate material risks, assumption changes, or unresolved questions.
Translate program actuals, forecasts, milestones, and operational assumptions into inputs for product lifecycle financial models.
Reconcile program-level information with assumptions across RDT&E, Production, and Sustainment, maintaining traceability to source data.
Help explain differences between an individual program’s performance and broader product economics, and work with team members to assess whether results warrant changes to longer-term assumptions.
Develop and maintain Excel templates, supporting schedules, and moderately complex analyses, including analyses that begin with incomplete inputs.
Use transparent formulas, consistent structures, documented assumptions, and checks to make analyses understandable and reviewable.
Conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses with guidance, communicating findings, uncertainties, and implications clearly.
Improve recurring spreadsheets and workflows to reduce manual effort and strengthen reliability.
Build, maintain, and scale financial models used for forecasting, budgeting, and long-term planning.