Lead Program Finance

Founded in 2015, Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software and V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield AI’s technology actively supports operations worldwide. For more information, visit www.shield.ai. Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and YouTube. What you'll do: • Build, maintain, and enhance financial models to support budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning • Analyse financial and operational data to generate insights and provide clear, actionable recommendations to senior leadership • Partner closely with Program Management and Engineering teams to support program financial health, cost tracking, and workforce planning • Support the development and execution of Earned Value Management (EVM) or equivalent program performance frameworks • Collaborate with program managers to monitor actuals vs. plan, flag risks/opportunities, and support EAC (Estimate at Completion) updates • Participate in the month-end and quarter-end close process, including variance analysis and executive reporting • Assist with financial operational planning cycles, business reviews, and investment decision-making processes • Support data transformation initiatives and basic modeling efforts in collaboration with analytics or data engineering teams • Drive continuous process improvement by identifying automation and efficiency opportunities within financial reporting and analysis • Ensure financial alignment of day-to-day operations with long-term strategic goals through regular operational reviews and ad hoc analysis Required qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field • 8+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&A • Experience working in the Aerospace & Defence industry, ideally supporting government or defence programs • Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis • Strong understanding of IFRS/AASB/GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting • Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP) • Solid understanding of financial statements and business metrics • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders Preferred qualifications: • MBA or Master’s degree in a related discipline • Experience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or tech environment • Experience with ERP and planning systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Costpoint, or comparable tools) • Track record of being a high performer with a bias for action, intellectual curiosity, and attention to detail • Passion for using data to tell a story and drive strategic decisions Our international teammates receive a comprehensive total rewards package aligned to your country office location. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.