Controller - PMO

Fairbanks Morse Defense, 701 White Ave, Beloit, Wisconsin, United States of America

Posted Friday, October 3, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Fairbanks Morse is looking for a PMO Controller to join our team. The PMO Controller is responsible for establishing, managing, and maintaining the Program Management Office (PMO) governance framework, policies, and processes, with a primary focus on financial control, budget performance, and compliance for a portfolio of complex defense contracts. This role acts as a control function, providing the executive team with a consolidated view of program health, risk, and financial status.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and manage standardized financial tracking and reporting procedures across all programs (e.g., Earned Value Management System - EVMS, Cost Performance Reports - CPR).
• Oversee program budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis to ensure projects remain within authorized funding limits.
• Conduct regular financial reviews and audits of program control accounts and work packages.
• Prepare and present consolidated portfolio-level financial reports, performance metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to senior management and external stakeholders (e.g., government contracting officers).

Governance & Compliance:

• Establish and enforce PMO methodologies, standards, templates, and tools to ensure consistency and repeatability across the defense portfolio.
• Ensure rigorous compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and specific contract requirements.
• Manage the governance structure, including planning and facilitating program review boards, steering committees, and gate reviews.
• Lead the continuous improvement of project management processes, leveraging best practices like CMMI or ISO standards.
• Define and manage the portfolio-level risk and opportunity management process, ensuring all program risks are properly identified, quantified, mitigated, and reported.
• Oversee the formal change control process for program scope, schedule, and budget, ensuring all changes are documented, approved, and integrated into the baseline.
• Collaborate with functional managers to optimize resource capacity planning and allocation across the program portfolio, prioritizing resources for strategic defense initiatives.
• Maintain a master schedule for the portfolio, identifying and managing inter-program dependencies and critical path analysis.
• Serve as the expert and consultant to Program Managers on control processes, compliance requirements, and financial management best practices.
• Provide training and coaching to program teams on PMO standards, tools, and methodologies.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across PMO using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8+ years of experience in a PMO, Program Management, or Finance/Controller role, with at least 5 years specifically within the Defense or Aerospace industry.
• Certifications:
  
  Project Management Professional (PMP), PgMP, or a relevant financial certification is a plus. EVM certification is a significant advantage.
• Defense Industry Knowledge:
  Deep, demonstrable experience with Earned Value Management (EVM) and its implementation on large government contracts is mandatory. Strong understanding of defense contracting, compliance, and reporting requirements (e.g., CDRLs, DD-250s).
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Expert proficiency with project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera, or specialized PPM tools) and expert skills in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling.
• Proficiency in tools like Power BI, or similar analytical/reporting software. Oracle/Visual or other ERPs.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately assess key business metrics and situations from a “general manager’s” point of view, and ability to design, develop, and implement a roadmap for an operating business.
• Proven ability to consistently deliver results while influencing leaders without authority.
  
  Including but not limited to coaching leaders at different altitudes while driving change and leveraging change management best practices.
• Demonstrated success in cross-functional teams with ability to work and execute across boundaries and matrices.

Preferred Traits:

• Exceptional analytical and financial acumen.
• Strong leadership, governance, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to present complex financial and program data to executive leadership.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy and integrity.
• Ability to navigate and influence a complex, matrixed organizational structure.

Travel: