Strategic Advisor Air Force PBES

Kearney & Company; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 103,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life

401(k) and Education Savings Plan

Flexible Spending & Health Savings

Employee Assistance Program

Paid holidays and leave

Job summary

Kearney & Company seeks a Senior Consultant to join our team. The Strategic Advisor (Air Force PBES) will provide subject-matter expertise in the Air Force planning, programming, budgeting, and execution processes, supporting SAF/FM and AF/A8.

This role drives governance, data quality, and decision support across the Department of the Air Force. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in DAF budget/PPBE, strong leadership, and a track record of cross-agency collaboration.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 10 years of DAF budget, PPBE, or financial management experience, including PBES.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives and organizational change management.
• Thorough understanding of the DAF Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process and governance.
• Experience developing executive briefings and decision-support products for senior leaders.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate activities across multiple DAF organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with briefing senior leaders.
• Active secret clearance and U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior Air Force PBES SME supporting SAF/FM and AF/A8.
• Coordinates with Headquarters Air Force organizations to ensure timely PBES execution.
• Provide strategic oversight of enterprise PBES processes and improvements.
• Ensure consistency of budget submissions and data standards across MAJCOMs.
• Advise senior leaders on POM, PB, BES, and budgeting milestones.
• Develop executive briefing materials and decision-support documents.
• Lead PBES education and training programs.
• Support organizational change management during modernization.

Skills

PBES expertise

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder coordination

Executive briefing

Change management

Communication

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Kearney & Company is seeking a Senior Consultant to join our team! The Strategic Advisor (Air Force PBES) will provide subject-matter expertise in the Air Force Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PBES) process. This work supports the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller (SAF/FM) and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs (AF/A8) by providing strategic advisory services, process oversight, and enterprise integration across the Department of the Air Force (DAF) resource allocation processes. This role helps shape DAF programming and budgeting decisions by improving governance, data quality, decision support, and consistency across Headquarters Air Force (HAF), Major Commands (MAJCOMs), Field Commands (FLDCOMs), Direct Reporting Units (DRUs), and Field Operating Agencies (FOAs). Additional skills and responsibilities are defined below:

• Serve as a senior Air Force PBES Subject Matter Expert (SME) supporting SAF/FM and AF/A8 on planning, programming, budgeting, execution, and resource management initiatives.
• Coordinates with Headquarters Air Force organizations, Commands, Combatant Commands, and other stakeholders to ensure timely execution of PBES activities.
• Provide strategic oversight of enterprise PBES business processes and recommend improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, and decision quality.
• Ensure consistency of budget submissions, program documentation, data standards, and business rules across MAJCOMs and other Air Force organizations.
• Advise senior leaders on Program Objective Memorandum (POM), President's Budget (PB), Budget Estimate Submission (BES), execution reviews, and other programming and budgeting milestones.
• Support enterprise governance by evaluating resource requirements, analyzing impacts of policy changes, and developing recommendations for senior leadership decision-making.
• Develop executive-level briefing materials, analytical products, decision papers, and strategic communications supporting SAF/FM and AF/A8 priorities.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts among financial management, programming, manpower, logistics, acquisition, personnel, and operational communities to resolve complex resource issues.
• Lead development and delivery of PBES education and decision-support training using instructor-led, virtual, and computer-based learning methodologies.
• Support organizational change management initiatives associated with modernization of DAF resource management processes, systems, and governance.
• Develop performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools that improve visibility into PBES execution and strategic outcomes.
• Provide oversight of contractor personnel, ensuring quality, schedule, and customer satisfaction while maintaining strong relationships with Government stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 10 years of DAF budget, PPB&E, or financial management experience, including significant experience supporting Air Force PBES.
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives and organizational change management efforts.
• Thorough understanding of the DAF Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process and associated governance.
• Experience developing executive briefings, policy recommendations, and decision-support products for senior leaders.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate activities across multiple DAF organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience briefing senior military and civilian leadership.
• Ability to manage customer relationships while ensuring deliverables meet schedule, quality, and mission objectives.
• Must have an active secret clearance (requires U.S. citizenship)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within Headquarters Air Force, Secretariat Staff, Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of War (OSW), or other DoW organizations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting SAF/FM, AF/A8, or equivalent headquarters organizations.
• Experience working at a Command level or higher.
• Knowledge of Air Force resource management systems, budget data environments, and decision-support tools.
• Familiarity with Air Force Corporate Structure, Program Objective Memorandum (POM) development, Program Decision Memoranda (PDMs), and budget execution processes.
• Experience supporting enterprise business transformation, digital modernization, or data analytics initiatives within Air Force Financial Management.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CDFM, CGFM, or equivalent.

Overview

Exclusively focused on the Government, Kearney & Company provides financial services, including auditing, consulting, and technology services. Our commitment to our employees and clients as well as to dedication and trust, critical values to our Firm, have led to Kearney’s recognition as one of the leading accounting firms in the country. Based on our employees’ feedback, we are also consistently rated a Best Place to Work. Employment at Kearney means a flexible, collaborative, and open-minded work environment. We hope it is your “first easy decision.” Learn more at www.kearneyco.com/careers.

The expected salary range for this position is between $103,000 and $180,000. This range is representative of base pay only and does not include straight time pay for hours worked over 40 per week, company contributions towards paid benefits, and/or bonuses. Actual compensation (meeting or exceeding the range) will be determined based on specific experience, education, work location, clearance level, and other factors permitted by law. This position is eligible for bonuses (when applicable).

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and 529 Education Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Account
• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity Insurances
• Legal Insurance and Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program, fitness and wellness benefits, and other firm benefits.
• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time

EEO Notice

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws

EEO Notice

Work location is subject to change based on client requirements.

Kearney & Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, genetic information, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, any medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association to a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulation. Click here for more information on Kearney’s EEO Policy.

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Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. Kearney & Company provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year. Military family leave is available for up to 26 weeks under FMLA. Click here to learn more.

Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)

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