Director of Finance - LMS

AeroVironment, Inc.; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 252,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental and vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. seeks a Director of Finance to provide financial leadership to the Product Line, partnering with General Managers and senior leadership.

The role covers budgeting, forecasting, performance reviews, and internal controls, driving working capital and cash flow to meet budget commitments. Responsibilities include directing financial reporting, pricing strategy, contract reviews, and strategic investments while building finance capability and ensuring SOX/compliance across the

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Accounting or equivalent.
• Minimum 12+ years of finance experience in Aerospace/Defense/Technology.
• ERP/Financial Planning experience with Oracle/Hyperion.

Responsibilities

• Direct financial assurance and control across reporting and budgeting.
• Lead pricing strategy, bid reviews, and long‑term financial plans.
• Develop financial strategy at the Product Line level and drive capital decisions.
• Manage staff, performance reviews, hiring, training and development.
• Coordinate with Corporate accounting and external audits for SOX/compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Pricing strategy

Financial analysis

Budgeting and forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance or Accounting

MBA or CMA preferred

Tools

Oracle

Hyperion

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary Reporting to the VP of Finance, the Director of Finance will provide financial leadership to the assigned Product Line General Managers, operating as a business partner and trusted advisor. This role will have direct responsibility for all financial matters, including review and challenge of the budgets/forecasts and performance of the business. Primary success factors will be meeting or exceeding the Product Line business performance as reviewed by senior leadership, ability to improve the effectiveness of the internal financial and business control environment and driving working capital and cash flow performance to achieve budget commitments.

Position Responsibilities

• Direct financial assurance and control, all aspects of financial reporting, including but not limited to:

financial plan supporting business area Strategic Growth Plan; developing and implementing the monthly forecasts and annual budget, providing sound financial decision-making, and proactively identifying business issues and driving resolution in a timely manner

• Oversee and provide day-to-day leadership to assigned Product Line Business Managers and associated staff
• Lead and actively engage in pricing and proposal activities; to include participating in pricing strategy and bid reviews, negotiations with customers, developing financial strategies for long-term agreements, and monitoring/reporting margin performance as part of program reviews
• Lead the development and implementation of financial strategy at the Product Line business level
• Identify opportunities to increase Finance capability within the Finance team and take action to lead that capability building. With specific focus on leading Finance improvement initiatives which deliver planned financial position in a more effective manner
• Responsible for key compliance areas and critical business processes needed to operate the business. Establishes and implements policy in assigned financial areas
• Performs a wide variety of highly complex financial / business analyses with regard to monthly, quarterly and annual submissions of financials
• Provides regular and ad hoc financial analyses and information
• Ensures adequate financial procedures and controls are in place and adhered to
• Responsible for hiring, assigning responsibilities, reviewing performance, training, counseling, developing and evaluating management staff within assigned team of senior financial managers and their staffs. Has authority to take action and make decisions regarding personnel matters
• Develops and manages functional operating plans and budgets
• Actively participates in Product Line leadership team
• Supports the Product Line on approving, tracking and forecasting of investments such as IR&D, sustaining, capital and other direct projects
• Review and validate Estimate at Completes are prepared timely on direct projects
• Works with Corporate accounting and the external auditors on the Product Line financials for the annual audit
• Supports the Operations organization (Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality) with financial analysis, transaction processing, and cost and inventory data
• Supports Corporate Accounting on any compliance projects such as SOX and Gov’t audits

Basic Qualifications

• 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 5+ years of direct managerial experience
• Experienced with project accounting required
• Experienced with ERP & Financial Planning Systems (Oracle / Hyperion)
• Experienced managing budgets and the annual planning process
• Experienced reviewing contracts and preparing financial models
• Experienced in a product-based company with inventory and warranty accounting experience
• 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

Other Requirements

Frequently required to travel outside the U.S. to various Emerging business sites and or customers

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, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required Clearance Level No Clearance

Compensation

The salary range for this role is: $165,580 - $252,160

ITAR Requirements

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.

Benefits

• medical
• dental vision
• 401K with company matching
• a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology – we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian – we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you’re ready to build technology that matters – with speed, scale, and purpose – there’s no better place to do it than AV.

EEO / Inclusion

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR U.S. Citizenship required