Project Financial Analyst

About the role

Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned, single-source provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace and defense industry. 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-averse, priced for the market, and maintain a steady cash flow.

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.
• Perform any additional duties as reasonably assigned by management.

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.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Working Conditions

• Typically sits for extended periods at a computer workstation.
• May access and work in the manufacturing plant.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, and airborne particles.
• The employee may be exposed to vibration.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• May be required to travel to other site locations during the workday.
• May be required to work weekends to meet department and business demands.
• Work with safe manufacturing processes; eyewear is mandatory in the manufacturing area.
• Safety shoes are recommended in the manufacturing area.

Physical Demands

• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to see, talk, hear, touch, feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Must be able to frequently walk and stand for short periods of time.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 35 lbs, occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 lbs.

Special Requirements

• Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.
• This position requires use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR (U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident).

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• AD&D Insurance
• PTO
• 401k Match