Associate VP Finance, PSDS Group

Associate Vice President of Finance

Reporting to the Vice President and Segment Chief Financial Officer, the Associate Vice President of Finance is the lead of the Precision Strike and Defensive Systems Group and a key contributor to the Autonomous Systems (AxS) 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, EVMS).
• Acquisition Integration Leadership overseeing the financial integration of acquired businesses into corporate / segment systems, processes, and compliance frameworks as well as the integration of Cyber & Mission Services (CMS) group into Oracle Fusion.
• 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 commercialization of products.

The Associate Vice President 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 (where applicable), and variance analyses that enable on-time, on-budget contract delivery.
• Customer Relations Engagement with customers to align on key performance parameters for program compliance to cost, EVMS and performance. Building relationships to ensure customers are receiving a high level of business operations support.
• 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 for both product development and service contracts 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 and Profitability Management Maintaining strong cash positions and achieving profitability targets across the contract portfolio.
• Analyze product costs, manage inventory valuation and turnover, and provide strategic insights around products to leadership.

Locations: multiple locations are acceptable for this role:

• Simi Valley, CA
• Huntsville, AL

Position Responsibilities:

• Oversee all Program Finance activities, serving as the senior liaison between Finance, Program Management, Contracts, and Operations.
• Strong customer relations to provide high level of financial support.
• 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 in publicly traded, fast-paced environment.
• 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 group.
• 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 (Unanet / OneStream / Oracle / Hyperion)
• Experienced managing budgets and the annual planning process
• Experienced reviewing contracts and preparing financial models
• 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

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, per ITAR definition
• You must have a current security clearance, or ability to obtain & hold a Top Secret/SCI security clearance

Clearance Level

• Ability to get cleared, none required immediately

The salary range for this role is:

$224,500 - $329,700

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.