Principal - Aircraft Finance & Technical Advisory

Icf; Ledston; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking a senior aviation technical adviser to strengthen our aircraft leasing and technical advisory capability. The role requires leading complex engagements across the aircraft lifecycle, directing analytical teams and delivering client-ready technical guidance.

You will shape ICF’s capabilities, work with international teams and advise on leases, maintenance reserves, and lifecycle matters. Travel to client sites will be involved.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in aircraft leasing, aviation finance, and technical advisory.
• Deep knowledge of leases, maintenance reserves, return conditions and lifecycle.
• Proven ability to lead complex analyses and deliver client-ready outputs.
• Experience supervising multi-location delivery teams and mentoring juniors.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery on aviation finance, aircraft leasing, maintenance, valuation support, appraisal and technical due diligence engagements.
• Set the technical and analytical approach on key projects, challenge assumptions and take accountability for accurate, commercially robust and client-ready outputs.
• Lead or directly undertake the most complex elements of assignments where senior technical judgement is required.
• Direct and quality-assure work across lease reviews, maintenance cash-flow analysis, aircraft, engine and inventory valuations, fleet analysis, technical records, lease returns and transaction support.
• Provide end-to-end oversight of key assignments, ensuring clear scope and ownership, appropriate project set-up, disciplined work planning, visible client communications, timely technical review, accurate project documentation and effective management of budget and delivery risk.
• Guide analysts and multi-location delivery teams, resolving technical questions, providing constructive review and strengthening team capability.
• Advise clients on aircraft leasing, maintenance reserves, return conditions, MRO, asset management and aircraft lifecycle matters, resolving or escalating technical and delivery issues promptly.
• Develop, embed and maintain the methodologies, tools, templates and quality standards used across aircraft finance and technical advisory assignments.
• Develop team capability through structured coaching, technical review, practical training and progressive delegation of responsibility.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposals, client development and industry activity.

Skills

Aviation leasing

Aviation finance

Technical advisory

Asset management

MRO planning

Leadership

Client communication

Education

ISTAT Appraiser status or ISTAT Candidate

Job description

ICF is seeking a senior aviation technical adviser to strengthen our aircraft leasing and technical advisory capability.

The role is suited to an experienced aviation professional with deep knowledge of aircraft assets, lease structures, maintenance obligations, technical records and aircraft lifecycle considerations. The successful candidate will have the judgement to challenge assumptions, resolve complex technical questions, translate detailed analysis into commercially relevant advice, direct analytical and delivery teams, and take accountability for the technical quality of client work.

In this role, you will lead fast-paced, complex and recurring engagements across the aircraft lifecycle, spanning leasing, maintenance, appraisals, asset management, technical due diligence and selected expert-witness assignments.

You will have the opportunity to shape ICF’s aircraft technical capability, lead an international delivery team and work across leasing, maintenance, valuation, asset management and transaction assignments.

What you will do

• Lead technical delivery on aviation finance, aircraft leasing, maintenance, valuation support, appraisal and technical due diligence engagements.
• Set the technical and analytical approach on key projects, challenge assumptions and take accountability for accurate, commercially robust and client-ready outputs.
• Lead or directly undertake the most complex elements of assignments where senior technical judgement is required.
• Direct and quality-assure work across lease reviews, maintenance cash-flow analysis, aircraft, engine and inventory valuations, fleet analysis, technical records, lease returns and transaction support.
• Provide end-to-end oversight of key assignments, ensuring clear scope and ownership, appropriate project set-up, disciplined work planning, visible client communications, timely technical review, accurate project documentation and effective management of budget and delivery risk.
• Guide analysts and multi-location delivery teams, resolving technical questions, providing constructive review and strengthening team capability.
• Advise clients on aircraft leasing, maintenance reserves, return conditions, MRO, asset management and aircraft lifecycle matters, resolving or escalating technical and delivery issues promptly.
• Develop, embed and maintain the methodologies, tools, templates and quality standards used across aircraft finance and technical advisory assignments.
• Develop team capability through structured coaching, technical review, practical training and progressive delegation of responsibility.
• Contribute technical expertise to proposals, client development and industry activity.

What we are looking for

• Significant experience in aircraft leasing, lease management, aviation finance, aviation technical advisory, MRO, maintenance planning, asset management, appraisal support or a related aviation field.
• Deep understanding of aircraft leases, maintenance reserves, return conditions, technical records, fleet maintenance obligations and aircraft lifecycle considerations.
• Demonstrated experience leading and quality-assuring complex analysis involving aircraft and engine assets, leases, maintenance cash flows, valuations or technical due diligence.
• Ability to supervise junior team members and multi-location delivery teams, providing clear technical direction and constructive feedback.
• Credibility and confidence to advise senior clients on complex technical and commercial aviation matters.
• Understanding of the requirements of lessors, airlines, lenders, investors and MRO providers in relation to aircraft assets.
• Excellent judgement and attention to detail, with the ability to identify technical risks, analytical inconsistencies and commercial implications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex analysis into clear client advice.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines, locations and cultures.
• Willingness to travel for client meetings, inspections and project work as required.

Preferred experience

• Typically 12+ years of relevant experience in aircraft leasing, aircraft appraisal, asset management, technical advisory, or airline fleet and lease management.
• Experience working with aircraft lessors, lenders, investors, airlines, MROs, OEMs or technical service providers.
• Experience with aircraft appraisals, portfolio valuations, maintenance cash-flow forecasting, lease return and redelivery analysis, technical due diligence, asset-backed financing or aircraft transaction support.
• Experience reviewing lease documents, technical records, maintenance status reports, inspection outputs or maintenance-related assumptions used in valuation or transaction work.
• ISTAT Appraiser or ISTAT Candidate status would be advantageous.
• Professional experience in aircraft engineering, CAMO, maintenance planning, technical records or aircraft asset management would also be valuable.
• Experience developing technical methodologies, training materials, quality-control processes or analytical tools.
• Established network and credibility within the aviation leasing, maintenance, aircraft finance or technical advisory community.