Director of Finance, Revenue

Worker Type

Job Description
 

Summary

Reporting to the Sr. Vice President and Segment Chief Financial Officer, the Director of Finance, Revenue is a key contributor to the Autonomous Systems segment finance team. This role is responsible for driving financial integrity and compliance across segment-level operations, including oversight of revenue recognition, cost accounting, and support for both internal and external audits. The Director of Finance will provide strategic financial insights, ensure adherence to U.S. GAAP and regulatory standards, and partner closely with business leaders to deliver accurate and timely financial reporting.

Primary Success Factors

• Accuracy & Compliance: Zero significant audit findings, consistent adherence to U.S. GAAP, CAS, FAR, and SOX requirements.
• Timeliness: On-time delivery of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting, revenue recognition postings, and audit deliverables.
• Financial Impact: Demonstrated ability to improve segment operating margin through accurate forecasting, disciplined cost accounting, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Leadership & Development: Build and retain a strong finance team; measurable improvement in team capability, engagement, and succession readiness.
• Business Partnership: Recognized by Segment CFO and business leaders as a trusted advisor delivering insights that drive informed strategic decisions.
• Process Improvement: Implementation of measurable process or system enhancements that improve efficiency, accuracy, or compliance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Positive feedback from Program Management, Contracts, and Operations leaders on finance partnership, responsiveness, and problem-solving.

Position Responsibilities

• Revenue Recognition: Oversee segment-level revenue recognition policies and practices in compliance with ASC 606 and government contract accounting standards. Partner with Program Finance, Program Management, Contracts, and Corporate Finance teams to ensure accurate revenue forecasting and reporting. Prepare monthly revenue postings, review program estimate at completes. Conduct training to Finance team on Revenue recognition policy, project / contract setup and intercompany efforts. Assist with technical accounting guidance and resolve complex revenue recognition matters.
• Audit Support: Lead preparation for internal and external audits for key segment controls areas around Revenue Recognition, Estimate at Complete, Variance Analysis, Inventory, Warranty and Aged Receivable reserves, ensuring compliance with corporate policies, SOX, U.S. GAAP, CAS, and FAR requirements. Serve as primary liaison with auditors for segment-related matters. Drive remediation of audit findings and strengthen internal controls. Responsible for key compliance areas and critical business processes needed to operate the business. Establishes and implements policy in assigned financial areas. Review and approve program financial data provided to government customers and auditors. Ensures adequate financial procedures and controls are in place and adhered to
• Cost Accounting: Provide segment-level cost accounting leadership, including establishing and monitoring cost accounting KPIs. Work cross functionally with Accounting, Operations, Inventory Control, Planning to ensure transactions within AV’s Financial Systems are properly performed and in compliance with U.S. GAAP.
• Financial Leadership & Business Partnership: Develop and mentor a high-performing finance team. Partner with Segment CFO to drive financial controls, process improvements and team development. Provides regular and ad hoc financial analyses and information.
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• 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
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP (ASC-606)
• Strong background in revenue recognition and cost accounting within the defense industry
• Experienced with project accounting required
• Experienced with ERP & Financial Planning Systems (Oracle EBS / Fusion / Oracle EPM)
• Experienced reviewing contracts and preparing financial models
• 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.
• 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

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)

Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance

• Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating.

Special Requirements

• U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) required, per ITAR definition

The salary range for this role is:

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

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:  AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.  For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:  http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply.  NO agencies please.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems.  Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

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