Lead Program Finance & Forecasting Analyst

Shieldai; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity opportunities

Bonus potential

Benefits package

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Lead Financial Analyst to drive financial planning, forecasting, and business partnership across key programs and operations. This role will collaborate closely with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to improve visibility into performance and strengthen forecasting discipline.

The successful candidate will build scalable models, deliver insights, and support EAC and risk/opportunity processes in a hands-on role with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&A.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP, with gov contracting or manufacturing experience.
• Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP).
• Strong working knowledge of Power BI and data visualization tools.
• 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.
• MBA or Master's degree in a related discipline (preferred).
• Experience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in manufacturing, aerospace, or tech.
• Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Power Query, DAX, or other data transformation and modeling tools.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (Costpoint/Oracle) and planning tools (Vena/Anaplan).
• Track record of high performance with bias for action, curiosity, and attention to detail.
• Passion for using data to tell a story and drive strategic decisions.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and scale financial models used for forecasting, budgeting, and long-term planning.
• Analyze data trends to develop business insights and deliver actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Partner closely with Program Management and Aircraft Ops teams to provide financial support on program health, spend trends, and headcount planning.
• Develop reporting cadences and dashboards to track KPIs and business performance using Power BI and Excel.
• 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.
• Partner with inventory and supply chain teams to monitor material movement, usage, and cost trends.
• Collaborate with program managers to monitor actuals vs. plan, flag risks/opportunities, and support EAC updates.
• Ensure financial alignment of day-to-day operations with long-term strategic goals through regular operational reviews and ad hoc analysis.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business/Economics

MBA or Master’s degree

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Costpoint/Oracle ERP

Vena/Anaplan

Job description

Shield AI is seeking a Lead Financial Analyst to drive financial planning, forecasting, and business partnership across key programs and operations. This role will collaborate closely with Program Management, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to improve visibility into performance and strengthen forecasting discipline.

The successful candidate will build scalable models, deliver insights, and support EAC and risk/opportunity processes in a hands-on role with