Director of Financial Planning & Analysis
EXPANSIA · Washington DC Area · onsite
USD 170,000 to 200,000 · period not stated
Start Date: Immediate
JHNA, CTSi, and EXPANSIA have come together to form a Defense Technology platform named Aether Aerospace focused on delivering high-impact technologies, technology-enabled services and advanced manufacturing solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense and related national security customers. Backed by Falfurrias Management Partners, the platform brings together deep domain expertise across Army, Navy, and Air Force and Space Force programs, digital engineering, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing capabilities.
The combined organization operates as a multi-entity aerospace and defense technology and tech-enabled services and manufacturing enterprise positioned for scalable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.
OVERVIEW
Full-time/Permanent Employee
Location:The ideal candidate will be located in Virginia or Maryland
Aether Aerospace is seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of Marketing & Communications to build and lead our corporate marketing and communications function.
This role is responsible for shaping how Aether is presented to employees, customers, partners, and the broader defense market. The Director will lead the company's internal and external communications, corporate brand, marketing collateral, conferences and events, executive messaging, and overall marketing strategy.
This is a unique opportunity to build a function from the ground up. The successful candidate will initially execute much of the work personally while establishing processes, managing external partners, and building a scalable marketing organization over time.
The Director will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team while partnering closely with Human Resources, Growth, Operations, and Technical Leadership.
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.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
- 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 ADDITIONAL 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.
Aether Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic.