Client Program Finance Manager

Job-:
Project Management

Location:

IRVINE, CA, United States; LOS ANGELES, CA, United States; SAN DIEGO, CA, United States Workplace:
Hybrid Posted:
To solve complex challenges, you need to challenge the status-quo. At GHD Advisory we are invested in creating sustainable commercial outcomes with clients driving change in water, energy and urbanization. Join a team committed to solving complex challenges across the value chain, from capital deployment to asset management, enabling resilience, growth and sustainability. Who are we looking for?

We are seeking an experienced Client Program Finance Manager to provide financial leadership across a complex, large-scale portfolio of projects. This role is the central point of coordination for program-level financial information, connecting client stakeholders with program leadership, project controls, project services and finance teams.

You will strengthen financial transparency and forecast credibility by translating detailed project data into clear, decision-ready insight. The role combines technical accounting and finance capability with project controls, commercial judgement and confident stakeholder engagement.

Our Hybrid Work Model:

Be part of the dynamic culture!  Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office three days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment. This position can be based in Irvine, Los Angeles or San Diego locations.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:
Client and stakeholder partnership

Build trusted working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and act as a consistent point of coordination for program financial reporting.

Work with stakeholders to shape reporting requirements, clarify assumptions and communicate financial and schedule matters in a clear, credible way.

Support commercial discussions and portfolio-level decision-making with timely analysis of performance, trends, risks and opportunities.

Promote consistency and transparency across client-facing financial information and reporting.

Financial leadership and planning

Lead program-level forecasts, financial projections and scenario analysis across a portfolio of projects.

Independently validate and challenge project forecasts, cost assumptions and financial inputs using fact-based analysis and sound judgement.

Ensure forecasts reflect project schedules, production plans, subcontractor activity, resource requirements and known cost drivers.

Monitor forecast accuracy through forecast-to-actual analysis and drive improvements in forecasting quality and discipline.

Clearly communicate uncertainty, assumptions, sensitivities and the potential financial implications of emerging issues.

Governance and executive reporting

Establish and maintain effective program-level financial governance, controls and reporting processes.

Coordinate monthly financial reviews with project teams, program leadership and finance stakeholders.

Prepare decision-ready dashboards, reporting packs and executive summaries for internal and client stakeholders.

Monitor performance against budget, forecast, schedule and contractual objectives, identifying required corrective actions.

Provide leadership with early visibility of material risks, opportunities, cost trends and performance concerns.

Project controls and commercial performance

Partner with project controls, project managers and operational teams to align financial reporting with execution plans and portfolio priorities.

Provide financial insight into schedule impacts, productivity and production assumptions, resource requirements and key cost drivers.

Support consistent forecasting methodologies and controls across the program.

Analyze profitability, margin performance and program financial trends.

Support contract-related financial mechanisms, including pain/gain calculations where applicable.

Identify opportunities to improve financial outcomes while maintaining client commitments and program objectives.

Continuous improvement

Track key financial and forecast performance measures and communicate the implications of trends.

Identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve forecasting, reporting, governance and portfolio controls.

Establish practical best practices for financial management across large-scale client programs.

Promote accountability for financial outcomes across project and operational…