Finance Operations Manager - Defense Manufacturing

Job Description
Job Description
Operations Finance Manager – Aerospace Manufacturer
Los Angeles, CA.

Location

Inglewood, California (Onsite)
Compensation:
$125,000 - $155,000+ Base (flexibility for exceptional candidates)
The Opportunity
Most finance roles report on what happened. This role will help determine what happens next. Seeking an
Operations Finance Manager to partner directly with Operations leadership and build the processes, reporting, forecasting, and cost management infrastructure needed to support a rapidly growing defense manufacturing enterprise. This is a newly created role with significant visibility and influence across the organization.

Reporting into Finance while embedded within Operations, you will work directly with manufacturing leaders, program teams, and executive leadership to establish the operational metrics, cost models, budgets, and performance management systems that drive profitable growth. If you understand manufacturing operations, cost accounting, earned value concepts, budgeting, forecasting, and how production performance ultimately impacts program profitability, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Why This Role Matters
The company is evolving from a traditional manufacturing company into a modern defense technology enterprise supporting some of the nation's most critical aerospace and defense programs. The company has a substantial backlog, expanding facilities, growing production demands, and increasing focus on operational excellence.

To support that growth, the company is investing in a dedicated Operations Finance function that will:
Establish manufacturing cost and performance management processes
Create meaningful operational dashboards and KPIs
Improve forecasting accuracy and Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) methodologies
Develop budget accountability from the program level down to individual work centers
Support capital investment decisions and productivity initiatives
Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations
This is an opportunity to build something rather than inherit it.

What You'll Do
Become the Financial Partner to Operations
Work directly with supervisors, managers, directors, and executive leadership to improve financial visibility throughout manufacturing operations.

Build Cost & Performance Management Systems
Develop reporting and analytics that measure:
Labor utilization
Manufacturing efficiency
Budget performance
Cost performance
Schedule performance
Forecast accuracy
Resource utilization
Drive Budgeting & Forecasting
Lead the development of:
Annual operating budgets
Manufacturing cost center budgets
Labor forecasts
Program support estimates
Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) projections
Improve Operational Decision-Making
Create dashboards and reporting tools that translate complex data into actionable business decisions.

Support Growth Initiatives
Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Business Development teams on:
New business proposals
Capital investment analysis
Productivity initiatives
Cost reduction programs
Manufacturing process improvements
Develop Manufacturing Cost Standards
Help establish and improve:
Engineered standards
Work measurement systems
Labor performance metrics
Time studies
Learning curve analysis
Cost estimating methodologies
What We're Looking For
Required Experience
5+ years of Operations Finance, Manufacturing Finance, Cost Accounting, Industrial Engineering Finance, or Program Finance experience
Experience supporting manufacturing operations in an aerospace, defense, or highly regulated production environment
Strong budgeting, forecasting, and cost analysis background
Experience developing operational KPIs and performance reporting
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
Ability to influence leaders across Operations and Finance
Aerospace & Defense manufacturing
DOD contracting environment
Manufacturing cost estimating
Engineered labor standards
FAR / TINA familiarity
Proposal pricing support
Preferred Experience
Earned Value Management (EVM)
Capital investment analysis (ROI, IRR)
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Operations, Industrial Engineering, or related field
MBA, CMA, PMP, APICS, or related certifications are a plus
What Success Looks Like
Within your first year, you will help the company establish a more integrated approach to operational financial management by:
Creating meaningful manufacturing performance dashboards
Improving budget accountability throughout Operations
Implementing repeatable forecasting and EAC methodologies
Strengthening the connection between Operations, Programs, and Finance
Identifying cost savings and productivity opportunities
Building the foundation for future growth of the Operations Finance function