Director of Financial Planning & Analysis

Overview

Aether Aerospace is a defense technology platform formed by JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA, backed by Falfurrias Management Partners. The organization delivers high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services, and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and national security customers, with deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force programs.

Full-time, permanent position. Locations: Washington, DC; Pax River, MD; Huntsville, AL; Tidewater/Newport News, VA (open to remote). Start date: Immediate.

Responsibilities

• Own the annual budget, monthly forecasts, and long-range plan across business units; establish timelines, consistent assumptions, and accountability for inputs
• Enhance and maintain driver-based revenue, gross margin, adjusted EBITDA, and cash flow forecasts, including base, upside, and downside scenarios and working capital assumptions
• Lead monthly performance reviews and variance analysis; explain revenue, volume, rate, mix, labor utilization, and indirect cost drivers and recommend corrective actions
• Challenge and validate forecast assumptions with business unit leaders and Project Control, including staffing, backlog conversion, pipeline timing, and program margins; incorporate program estimates at completion into the platform outlook
• Prepare executive and board reporting, including forecast bridges, KPIs, and concise commentary explaining business performance and decisions required
• Standardize forecast templates, planning tools, dashboards, and management reporting across business units; use ERP data and Controller-approved actuals to improve forecast accuracy and reporting efficiency
• Lead FP&A processes and develop team capabilities; partner with the Controller, Project Control, Contracts, Pricing, and Operations to connect operating decisions with financial outcomes

Requirements

• Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, corporate finance, or program finance, including at least 3 years leading budgeting, forecasting, or financial planning processes
• Substantial FP&A or program finance experience in government contracting, preferably in defense or aerospace, with responsibility for consolidated or multi-business unit financial performance
• Experience with firm-fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, and time-and-materials contracts; understanding of indirect cost pools, allocation bases, provisional rates, and their effects on revenue and margin
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills, including integrated forecasts, sensitivity analysis, and clear reconciliation of actual results to forecasts
• Demonstrated ability to challenge assumptions, identify forecast risk, and translate complex financial information into practical recommendations for senior leaders
• Experience partnering with Accounting and program teams on revenue and margin forecasts, estimates at completion, working capital, and cash planning
• Ability to consolidate and validate data from multiple systems and improve planning processes in an evolving organization
• Strong communication, organization, and leadership skills, with the ability to influence operational leaders, meet deadlines, and personally build and maintain detailed analyses

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a private equity backed organization, including board reporting, adjusted EBITDA analysis, and debt covenant forecasting
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, JAMIS, Unanet, Power BI, or comparable ERP and reporting tools
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations, product development, acquisition integration, or investment return analysis
• MBA, CPA, CMA, or a related advanced degree or certification