Program Finance Manager

Blacksky Holdings LLC; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off (PTO) and holidays

Employee stock purchase program

Professional development

Job summary

BlackSky Holdings LLC seeks a Program Finance Manager to lead the creation of a new program finance function. You will oversee budgets and EAC forecasts for a portfolio of customer-facing and internal programs, guiding best practices and driving reliable forecasts to support BlackSky operations.

You will mentor analysts, coordinate cross-functionally with Program Management, Operations, and People, and present clear dashboards to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business management, or related field.
• Minimum 8 years in financial management or program/project finance in a professional services/government contracting environment.
• Strong business acumen with excellent verbal and written communication.
• Proficiency with Excel modeling and data visualization tools (Cognos, SQL, Tableau, Power BI).
• Experience identifying automation opportunities to improve efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of initial program budgets and EAC forecasts for portfolio.
• Support annual planning with staffing guidance and risk analyses.
• Conduct monthly/quarterly variance analyses to identify cost drivers and actions.
• Monitor revenue recognition, client billing, and fund utilization across deliverables.
• Build complex financial models to evaluate profitability and cash flows.
• Serve as primary financial advisor to Program Managers translating goals into fiscal targets.
• Coordinate between FP&A, Program Management, Operations, and People for budget management and staffing.
• Coach analysts to develop critical skills and prioritize tasks.
• Prepare and present data-driven dashboards and memos for leadership.
• Maintain internal controls and GAAP/commercial guidelines.

Skills

Financial analysis

Leadership

Communication

Forecasting

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance/economics/business

Tools

Microsoft Excel modeling

Cognos

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Job description

Program Finance Manager

About Us

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers with satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand, and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused, and fun.

The Program Finance Manager will report to the VP, FP&A and will be integral to the creation of a new program finance function. As team leader, you will provide robust financial oversight to optimize the fidelity of BlackSky's internal and external technical programs. You will be responsible for leading a collaborative analytical team that produces reliable and actionable forecasts to support BlackSky operations and will act as the financial subject-matter expert guiding best practice adoption.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of initial program budgets and production of reliable forecasts of program Estimates at Completion (EACs) for BlackSky's portfolio of customer-facing and internal programs.
• Support annual corporate operational planning efforts by providing guidance on staffing requirements for existing and proposed programs and performing risk & opportunity analyses at the program and overall portfolio level.
• Conduct monthly and quarterly budget‑vs‑forecast‑vs‑actual variance analyses to identify cost drivers and suggest corrective actions to the program manager.
• Monitor revenue recognition, track client billing, and ensure optimized utilization of funds across program deliverables.
• Build and maintain complex financial models to evaluate program profitability, spotlight anomalous portfolio performance, and project capital expenditures & cash flows.
• Serve as the primary financial advisor to Program Managers, helping them translate operational goals into fiscal targets.
• Act as a key liaison between BlackSky FP&A, Program Management, Operations, and People providing budget management, resource acquisition, and staffing recommendations.
• Strengthen BlackSky's program finance function by coaching staff analysts to develop critical skill sets and prioritizing tasks to optimize team performance.
• Prepare and present clear, data-driven financial dashboards and narrative memos for leadership and stakeholders.
• Maintain robust internal financial controls and ensure program expenditures strictly adhere to the BlackSky Fiscal Authority Matrix, GAAP, and contractual guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in finance, economics, business management, or related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of financial management or program/project finance experience in a professional services and/or government contracting environment.
• Strong business acumen with top‑notch verbal and written communication skills along with the ability to build professional rapport with colleagues and external partners.
• A proficiency with Microsoft Excel modeling and familiarity with data query/data visualization tools (e.g., Cognos, SQL, Tableau, Power BI).
• A track record of identifying automation opportunities and improving efficiency via best practice adoption
• The ability to work and make decisions with a high degree of independence.
• Excellent attention to detail to support our best‑in‑class team.
• Eligibility to obtain a US Security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Program Management Professional (PMP) or similar accreditation or certification is helpful but not required
• Experience in the SaaS, satellite/space, or related technology industry is helpful.
• TS/SCI Clearance highly preferred.

Life at BlackSky for full‑time benefits‑eligible employees includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  
  • BlackSky pays 100% of employee‑only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out‑of‑pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro‑rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre‑tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Awesome swag

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $135,000 - $150,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi‑state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/Pay Transparency Statements

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf