Lead, Program Finance (r4707)

Shield AI Shield AI · Defense · Melbourne, Australia · Finance

This role is for a Finance Lead supporting the Hivemind business unit at Shield AI, a deep-tech company focused on intelligent systems for defense. The candidate will be responsible for financial modeling, operational finance, and data analysis, with a focus on driving business performance and strategic decision-making. Experience in the Aerospace & Defence industry and government contracting is required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Supporting our fastest-growing Hivemind business unit, this is a high-visibility, high-impact role where your insights will directly shape strategy and fuel innovation.
  2. In this fast-paced, constantly evolving environment, you won’t just crunch numbers—you’ll influence decisions, uncover opportunities, and partner with leaders across engineering, operations, and product to deliver actionable financial intelligence.
  3. Your work will help optimize performance and steer one of our most critical business areas toward sustained growth.
  4. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in financial modeling, operational finance, and data analysis, as well as a solid grasp of IFRS/AASB/GAAP, government contracting, and both hardware and software businesses.
  5. If you're energized by complexity, motivated by results, and ready to make a real impact, we want to hear from you.

Skills

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field
  • 8+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&A
  • Experience working in the Aerospace & Defence industry, ideally supporting government or defence programs
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis
  • Strong understanding of IFRS/AASB/GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting
  • Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP)
  • Solid understanding of financial statements and business metrics
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally in a fast-moving environment
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex financial data to non-financial stakeholders

Nice to have

  • MBA or Master’s degree in a related discipline
  • Experience supporting operations or customer-facing teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or tech environment
  • Experience with ERP and planning systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Costpoint, or comparable tools)
  • Track record of being a high performer with a bias for action, intellectual curiosity, and attention to detail
  • Passion for using data to tell a story and drive strategic decisions

What the JD emphasized

  • 8+ years of progressive experience in financial analysis, corporate finance, or FP&A
  • Experience working in the Aerospace & Defence industry, ideally supporting government or defence programs
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel, financial modeling, and data analysis
  • Strong understanding of IFRS/AASB/GAAP, with practical experience applying accounting principles in a government contracting
  • Familiarity with cost accounting concepts and government contract structures (e.g., T&M, CPFF, FFP)