Belcan

Business Manager (Head of Business Operations & Program Control)

Belcan$145K — $155K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA/CMA preferred.
  • 8+ years of experience in government contracting, including Program Control, FP&A, or Business Operations.
  • Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS, CAS, and project financial management.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams in a compliance-driven environment.
  • Advanced proficiency in financial systems like Unanet, Deltek Costpoint, and Excel-based modeling.
  • Excellent communication skills to influence executives and guide teams.
  • Ability to build scalable processes and drive operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop the Program Control / Project Financial Control team for accurate project management.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between Business Operations and cross-functional departments.
  • Establish department goals and performance metrics aligned with corporate strategy.
  • Drive continuous process improvement for scalable growth and efficiency.
  • Oversee financial management throughout the project lifecycle, including EACs and revenue recognition.
  • Ensure compliance with government regulations and internal policies.
  • Provide financial guidance and analysis for decision-making and risk management.

Benefits

  • Health care, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company contributions.
  • Education assistance for ongoing professional development.
  • Paid time off including vacation, holidays, and other mandatory leave.
Full Job Description
Job Summary:

The Business Manager serves as the head of the Business Operations department, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across Program Control, Financial Planning & Analysis, Contracts, Accounting, and Business Development support. This role ensures the company's government contracting portfolio is managed with accuracy, compliance, and forward-looking financial insight.

The Business Manager leads the Program Control team, partners closely with executive leadership, and drives the financial and operational rigor required to support growth, profitability, and audit readiness in a federal contracting environment.

Job Duties:

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Department Oversight
  • Lead and develop the Program Control / Project Financial Control team, ensuring accurate project setup, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
  • Serve as the primary liaison between Business Operations and Accounting, Finance, Contracts, HR, Operations, and Business Development.
  • Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance standards aligned with corporate strategy.
  • Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and reporting to support scalable growth.

Program Control & Project Financial Management
  • Oversee project lifecycle financial management, including baseline development, EACs, revenue recognition, indirect rate application, and variance analysis.
  • Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, CAS, internal policies, and customer requirements.
  • Provide financial guidance to Program Managers, including risk identification, mitigation strategies, and margin optimization.
  • Lead monthly program reviews and ensure timely, accurate reporting to leadership.

Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
  • Partner with Finance to develop annual operating plans, multi-year forecasts, and indirect rate models.
  • Consolidate program-level financials into enterprise-level reporting for executive decision-making.
  • Analyze trends, identify drivers, and recommend actions to improve profitability and cash flow.
  • Support corporate initiatives such as pricing strategy, cost optimization, and investment planning.

Contracts & Business Development Support
  • Collaborate with Contracts on contract setup, funding, modifications, and compliance requirements.
  • Support Business Development with pricing inputs, cost volumes, BOEs, and financial modeling for proposals.
  • Ensure smooth transition from award to execution, including project setup, staffing alignment, and baseline establishment.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance
  • Partner with Accounting to ensure accurate month-end close, revenue recognition, and audit support.
  • Work with HR and Operations to align staffing plans, labor forecasting, and resource utilization.
  • Lead or support internal and external audits (DCAA, DCMA, financial audits).
  • Maintain strong internal controls and ensure audit-ready documentation across all business functions.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field; MBA or CPA/CMA preferred.
  • 8+ years of experience in government contracting, including Program Control, FP&A, or Business Operations.
  • Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS, CAS, indirect rate structures, and project financial management.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams in a fast-paced, compliance-driven environment.
  • Advanced proficiency in financial systems (Unanet, Deltek Costpoint, or similar) and Excel-based modeling.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence executives and guide cross-functional teams.
  • Proven ability to build scalable processes, drive operational efficiency, and support organizational growth.


Compensation:

We provide a competitive pay and benefits package. This position is offering a salary range of pay range of $145,000-155,000. Belcan considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to education, experience, geographic location, and discipline. Benefits offered may include health care, dental, vision, life insurance; 401(k); education assistance; paid time off including PTO, holidays, and any other paid leave required by law.

www.belcan.com

About Belcan

Belcan, LLC is a global supplier of engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting and information technology services to customers in the aerospace, defense, automotive, industrial and government sectors. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Belcan has over 10,000 employees in 50 locations around the world.
Learn more about Belcan
Industry
Founded
1972

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