Strategic Finance Associate
About the role
Critical Materials Group (CMG) is a federally licensed energetics manufacturer rebuilding America's defense industrial base, and is building its finance function from the ground up. The Strategic Finance Associate owns the forward view and answers the question: what should CMG do next? Working directly with the CEO, this analyst builds and maintains the operating model, budget, and rolling forecast, supports proposal pricing, and turns operating data into the analysis behind decisions on capital, capacity, and programs. This is an early career role, open to new graduates and candidates with 1 to 3 years of experience, with direct exposure to executive and board level work. Accounting, the close, and government compliance sit with CMG's Senior Controller; FP&A builds on that foundation. Based in Austin, TX, working closely with the CEO, with occasional travel to CMG sites, including the Ballinger, TX facility. Site visits may include manufacturing and laboratory areas where personal protective equipment and site safety protocols are required.
Responsibilities
- Operating Model, Budget & Forecast
- Build and maintain CMG's operating model, annual budget, and rolling forecast, including cash runway.
- Compare actuals to budget and forecast each month and explain variances, using closed books from the Senior Controller.
- Track KPIs for production, program margins, headcount, and cash, and keep leadership dashboards current.
- Proposal Pricing & Bid Support
- Build pricing models and bid estimates for government proposals, using indirect rates set with the Senior Controller.