Project Financial Analyst

Ascent Aerospace; Macomb Township (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

PTO

401k Match

Job summary

Ascent Aerospace is seeking a Project Financial Analyst to provide financial analysis and decision support for tooling and manufacturing projects from quotes through kickoff. You will partner with Estimating, Sales, Manufacturing, Project Management, and Finance to ensure accurate estimates, market-competitive pricing, and healthy cash flow.

The role emphasizes reviewing estimates, evaluating cost and margin, and identifying risks to maintain profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or similar field.
• 2–5 years of experience in financial analysis, project accounting, cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or construction accounting/finance.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to work effectively with both financial and operational teams.
• High attention to detail and ownership.

Responsibilities

• Provide financial analysis and support informed pricing decisions during quoting.
• Review project estimates for financial accuracy and completeness including costs.
• Analyze costs, selling price, gross margin, and profitability to meet objectives.
• Identify and quantify risks in estimates and incorporate contingencies.
• Perform scenario, sensitivity, and ad-hoc analyses for pricing and scope changes.
• Support handoff from quote to kickoff with clear pricing, costs, and cash-flow expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement in the quote-to-kickoff process and cross-functional decision-making.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Export control

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business

Tools

SAP ECC/S/4HANA

Job description

Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned, single-source provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace and defense industry. We provide high-precision advanced automated equipment as well as a full suite of both mold and assembly tooling required for the aerospace manufacturing market, including the largest Invar molds ever made - making us the largest tooling group in the industry. We work with our customers to develop their project and see it through, from process engineering to build and installation, to ensure it is an efficient and cost-effective solution. As a true, single-source integrator, we have proven tools to surpass our customer expectations. We have greater control of timing and schedules, which allows for 100% accountability, and avoids costly mark-ups, ultimately saving our customers money. The result: a group of businesses, each an industry leader within their own discipline, now acting as one truly integrated supply base.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Project Financial Analyst provides financial analysis and decision support for tooling and manufacturing projects from quotes through project kickoff. This role partners closely with Estimating, Sales, Manufacturing, Project management, and Finance to ensure estimates are accurate, risk adverse, priced for the market, and maintain a steady cash flow.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position.

• Partner with Estimating, Sales, Manufacturing, Project Management, and Finance throughout the quoting process to provide financial analysis and support informed pricing decisions.
• Review project estimates for financial accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness, including material, labor, purchased services, subcontracting, engineering, manufacturing, and other expected project costs.
• Analyze quoted project cost, selling price, gross margin, and profitability to ensure opportunities meet company financial objectives and are appropriately priced for market conditions.
• Identify and quantify financial, operational, scheduling, and commercial risks within project estimates and ensure appropriate assumptions, contingencies, and risk considerations are incorporated into the quote.
• Challenge estimating assumptions and investigate significant cost, pricing, or margin variances using historical project performance, current costs, and operational data.
• Perform scenario, sensitivity, and ad-hoc financial analysis to evaluate alternative pricing, cost assumptions, scope changes, margin opportunities, and commercial strategies.
• Evaluate customer payment terms, billing milestones, and project timing to understand the impact on cash flow and working capital.
• Partner with Sales and Finance to develop commercial structures that support healthy project cash flow and minimize unnecessary working-capital exposure.
• Compare historical quoted costs and assumptions to actual project results to identify trends and provide feedback that improves future estimating accuracy and profitability.
• Support the financial handoff from quote to project kickoff, ensuring approved pricing, estimated costs, margin expectations, assumptions, risks, cash-flow requirements, and commercial commitments are clearly communicated to the project team.
• Drive continuous improvement in the quote-to-kickoff process, strengthen financial controls, estimating discipline, pricing consistency, and cross-functional decision-making.
• Any additional duties as reasonably assigned by management

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful job performance will be considered. Typical qualifications would be:

• This position must meet Export Control Compliance requirements, therefore a "US Person" as defined by 22.C.F.R. is required
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or similar field preferred.
• 2-5 years of experience in financial analysis, project accounting, cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or construction accounting/finance required.
• Strong understanding of project budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effectively with both financial and operational teams.
• High attention to detail with a strong commitment to accuracy, ownership, and follow-through.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with SAP ECC or S/4HANA is a plus.
• Manufacturing, tooling, automation, capital equipment, construction, or other project-based industry experience preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• None

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Local, as needed

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions described here are representative of those that may be experienced by an employee on a daily basis while performing the functions of this job.

• Typically sits for extended periods at a computer workstation
• May access and work in the manufacturing plant
• While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes and airborne particles
• The employee may be exposed to vibration
• The employee is occasionally exposed to caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• May be required to travel to other site locations during the work day
• May be required to work weekends to meet department and business demands
• Work with safe manufacturing processes and understand that eyewear is mandatory in the manufacturing area.
• Knows that safety shoes are recommended in the manufacturing area

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

• Must be able to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Must be able to see, talk, hear, touch, feel and reach with hands and arms.
• Must be able to frequently walk and stand for short periods of time
• Must be able to lift and move up to 35lbs, occasionally lift and move objects up to 50lbs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.

This position requires use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder').

Ascent Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please call toll-free [phone]. This phone number is created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response.

BENEFITS

• Medical Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• AD&D Insurance
• PTO
• 401k Match

No Unauthorized Referrals from Recruiters & Vendors

Please note that Ascent Aerospace does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or offers from third party recruiters or staffing agencies associated with any published or unpublished employment opportunities. Any unsolicited information sent to Ascent Aerospace will be considered as unencumbered and free from any fee or charge whatsoever. Only members of our Human Resources Team have the authority to engage or authorize recruiting services, which must be agreed upon before the unsolicited resume or offer is received.