Our client is a billion-dollar integrated solutions company in the aviation space serving thousands of customers, including airlines, aerospace manufactures, maintenance, repair, and MRO providers.
Our client is seeking a strategic and analytically driven Finance Manager, Aviation Investment & Leasing to support investment underwriting, aircraft leasing strategy, capital structuring, trading economics, debt financing, and portfolio performance optimization. This is an individual contributor role that requires a strong combination of aviation market expertise, advanced financial modeling capabilities, accounting knowledge, and an understanding of treasury, capital markets, and investment processes. The ideal candidate will bring a highly analytical approach and the ability to translate complex financial and market data into sound investment and portfolio management decisions.
Responsibilities
Accounting & Process Oversight
- Partner closely with the accounting team to ensure accurate lease classification, including operating and finance leases, as well as proper revenue recognition for basic and supplemental rent.
- Oversee depreciation, impairment analysis, and other accounting considerations related to the aircraft portfolio.
- Coordinate the monthly close process and ensure timely, accurate, and complete financial reporting.
- Provide support and guidance on technical accounting matters related to aircraft acquisitions, dispositions, and trading transactions.
- Partner with the tax function to evaluate tax implications, optimize tax planning strategies, and support informed investment decisions.
- Enhance internal controls, reporting processes, and financial governance surrounding aircraft leasing and trading activities.
- Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
- Maintain a strong understanding of global lease accounting requirements, including ASC 842 and IFRS 16.
Investment Strategy & Portfolio Management
- Lead asset-level and portfolio-level investment analysis, including unlevered and levered IRR, NPV, cash yield, lease rate factors, MOIC, and other key investment return metrics.
- Analyze market conditions, fleet demand, aircraft lifecycle trends, and leasing cycles to inform investment strategy and portfolio decisions.
- Evaluate investment returns across various lease structures, financing alternatives, capital scenarios, and after-tax return profiles.
- Assess credit risk, counterparty exposure, and overall transaction risk as part of the investment underwriting process.
- Monitor lease performance, portfolio cash flow stability, asset utilization, and aircraft residual value trends.
- Provide actionable insights and recommendations to optimize portfolio performance and maximize risk-adjusted returns.
Financial Modeling, Treasury & Capital Structure
- Build, maintain, and audit sophisticated financial models incorporating debt structures, tax considerations, maintenance cash flows, operating assumptions, and scenario/stress testing.
- Demonstrate advanced Excel capabilities and serve as a resource for developing and mentoring team members on financial modeling best practices.
- Evaluate and structure financing alternatives, including senior and subordinated secured debt, warehouse facilities, ABS structures, term debt, and equity partnerships with upside-sharing mechanisms.
- Partner with corporate treasury to develop funding strategies, manage liquidity considerations, and support refinancing initiatives.
- Analyze capital structure efficiency and recommend strategies to optimize financing costs, cash flow, and shareholder value.
- Evaluate the financial impact of alternative capital structures and funding strategies across the investment portfolio.
Leadership & Other Responsibilities
- Prepare executive-level financial and investment reporting, including presentations and materials for senior leadership and investment committees.
- Present investment recommendations, portfolio performance, and financial analysis to executive leadership and other key stakeholders.
- Mentor, develop, and provide guidance to high-performing finance and investment professionals.
- Support cross-functional strategic initiatives and perform other duties and special projects as required.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; MBA and/or CPA preferred.
- 6+ years of progressive experience in aviation finance, aircraft leasing, structured finance, investment management, or a closely related field.
- Deep understanding of aircraft leasing economics, investment cycles, asset valuation, and secondary market dynamics.
- Advanced financial modeling skills, with exceptional proficiency in Excel and/or specialized financial modeling platforms.
- Strong knowledge of lease accounting standards, including ASC 842 and IFRS 16.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating, underwriting, and executing complex investment and financing transactions.
- Strong understanding of debt structures, capital markets, and alternative financing solutions.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable investment recommendations.
- Strong executive presence, communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work effectively across accounting, tax, treasury, investment, and senior leadership functions.