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Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

Reporting to the Sr. Vice President and Segment Chief Financial Officer, the Senior Director of Finance is a key contributor to the Autonomous Systems segment finance team. This role has three primary focus areas:

Program Controls & Finance Leadership – ensuring contract execution meets cost, schedule, and performance objectives while complying with U.S. Government contracting regulations (FAR, DFARS, CAS). Acquisition Integration Leadership – overseeing the financial integration of acquired businesses into corporate / segment systems, processes, and compliance frameworks. Financial Modeling for New Business – delivering robust financial models and analysis to support strategic growth initiatives for the segment, including new market entry, technology investments, and competitive proposals.

The Senior Director will drive disciplined financial management, contract performance, and long-term profitability while enabling data-driven decision-making across the enterprise.

Primary Success Factors

• Program Performance Excellence – Accurate, timely, and compliant EACs, EVMS reporting, and variance analyses that enable on-time, on-budget contract delivery.
• Acquisition Integration Effectiveness – Smooth transition of financial processes, systems, and compliance standards for acquired businesses without disruption to program execution or cash flow.
• Strategic Business Enablement – High-quality financial models and analyses that directly inform executive decisions on new market entry, technology investments, and inorganic opportunities.
• Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness – Lead audits and consistent adherence to FAR, DFARS, CAS, and GAAP standards as it relates to Program Finance.
• Financial Leadership & Team Development – Building and leading via a matrix organization, a high-performing program finance organization that delivers proactive insights and drives operational efficiency.
• Cash Flow & Profitability Management – Maintaining strong cash positions and achieving profitability targets across the contract portfolio.

Position Responsibilities

• Oversee all Program Finance activities, serving as the senior liaison between Finance, Program Management, Contracts, and Operations.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of EAC (Estimate at Completion) and ETC (Estimate to Complete) reports for all programs.
• Maintain compliance with Earned Value Management System (EVMS) requirements and support program managers in analyzing performance against baseline plans.
• Drive proactive variance analysis, identifying risks and recommending mitigation strategies to keep programs on schedule and within budget.
• Support strategic decision-making for contract changes, scope modifications, and program closeouts.
• Partner with Program Management to ensure accurate forecasting of program revenue, costs, and cash flow.
• Review and approve program financial data provided to government customers and auditors.
• Lead the financial integration of acquired companies for the segment, ensuring alignment with corporate accounting policies, indirect rate structures, and government compliance requirements.
• Oversee the transition of acquired program finance, accounting, and reporting systems into the corporate ERP and Financial Planning Systems.
• Align acquired contract portfolios with corporate program finance processes and compliance frameworks.
• Develop integration plans that mitigate disruption to contract execution and cash flow.
• Partner with Accounting, Corporate Finance, Operations, Contracts, HR, and IT to ensure seamless cultural and operational integration.
• Lead acquisition financial modeling and due diligence for potential targets as identified by Product Line General Managers or Executive Leadership Teams.
• Support teaming agreements, business to business initiatives, partnerships, or joint venture establishments for assigned segment
• Responsible for key compliance areas and critical business processes needed to operate the business. Establishes and implements policy in assigned financial areas.
• Provides regular and ad hoc financial analyses and information.
• Ensures adequate financial procedures and controls are in place and adhered to
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Accounting is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum 12+ years of finance experience required within the Aerospace and Defense / Technology field with minimum 8+ years of direct managerial experience
• Experienced with project accounting required
• Experienced with ERP & Financial Planning Systems (Oracle / Hyperion)
• Experienced managing budgets and the annual planning process
• Experienced reviewing contracts and preparing financial models
• Experienced with financial modeling of acquisition, new venture initiatives
• Experienced in a public company

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• MBA / CMA or advanced degree preferred
• Demonstrates strong written and analytical skills with experience presenting financial information to executive level management.
• Demonstrates competency work cross functionally and influence others through strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience in Project Management and financial transactions within a programs-based business, with outstanding commercial skills in profitably managing contract/program execution.
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity
• Frequently required to travel outside the U.S. to various Emerging business sites and or customers

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) required, per ITAR definition
• Frequently required to travel outside the U.S. to various Emerging business sites and or customers

The salary range for this role is:

$183,501 - $259,875

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.