About this Director, Aerospace Defense & Government Advisory role at Aprio
Aprio · Hybrid · Arlington, VA
Work with a Top 20 CPA and advisory firm that Accounts for Anything. Aprio has 40 U.S. office locations, as well as international office locations and more than 3,200 team members that speak 60+ languages across the globe. By bringing together proven expertise, deep understanding, and strategic foresight for fast-growing industries, Aprio ensures clients are prepared for wherever life or business may take them. Discover a top-rated culture, vast growth opportunities and your next big career move with Aprio.
Job Summary
Aprio is seeking a Director to join its Aerospace, Defense, and Government Advisory (ADGA) practice — a growing team focused on strategy, M&A advisory, and business development in the defense, aerospace, and national security markets. In this role, you will serve as the engagement lead for client strategy work, owning projects from initial scoping through final delivery while building and guiding high-performing teams. You will expand existing client relationships, originate new business, and contribute thought leadership that advances the practice's growth and market presence. This is a senior-level opportunity to help shape a dynamic, entrepreneurial practice solving complex challenges for leading private equity firms, Fortune 500 defense and aerospace OEMs, and government service contractors.
What You'll Gain/ Impact
Lead high-impact strategy and M&A advisory engagements that shape growth and investment decisions across the aerospace, defense, and national security sectors
Build and develop a high-performing team in a collaborative, flat-hierarchy culture with meaningful room for growth and advancement
Engage directly with C-suite executives and senior financial stakeholders at some of the most established names in defense and aerospace
Author and publish thought leadership that positions you and the practice as credible voices in the ADG market
Access the full breadth of Aprio's multidisciplinary portfolio — including accounting, tax, transaction advisory, and government contract compliance — to deliver integrated value to clients
Key Responsibilities
Own client strategy engagements end to end, including scoping, staffing, project planning, delivery, and client presentation
Lead high-impact strategy projects evaluating growth and investment opportunities across U.S. government and commercial aerospace sectors
Provide oversight and quality assurance of data collection, research, and analysis across macroeconomic, policy, financial, industry, and technology trends
Synthesize insights from team workstreams into coherent, client-ready messaging and own the storyline and structure of final deliverables
Review and challenge the team's financial and market models for structure, assumptions, and accuracy
Manage engagement economics — including budget, staffing, realization, and margin — and be accountable to practice leadership for engagement outcomes and quality
Source and shape new client opportunities, lead proposal development, and coordinate pricing with practice leadership
Develop repeatable strategy offerings, methodologies, and intellectual property that scale the practice beyond individual engagements
Author external-facing thought leadership, including market perspectives and published research, that supports practice marketing and business development
Identify cross-sell opportunities and integrate other Aprio service lines into ADGA engagements where they add client value
Serve as a career advisor to Managers and Associates, providing performance feedback and supporting their growth and development
Leverage AI tools to accelerate workstream execution and extend client insights, while maintaining ownership of validation, analytical rigor, and approval of findings
Candidate Qualifications
10+ years of total professional experience, including 6+ years in a management consulting firm, investment bank, or a corporate strategy, M&A, or business development/capture role in the defense, aerospace, or national security sector
Demonstrated record of leading client engagements end to end, including scoping, staffing, project management, delivery, and client presentation
Demonstrated record of originating or expanding client relationships, with specific examples of work personally sold or accounts personally grown
Demonstrated ability to build market models and conduct financial projections
Ability to analyze and forecast U.S. government budgets and/or commercial aerospace spending
Ability to develop clear, concise, and persuasive deliverables for strategic decision-making
Excellent presentation skills and client-facing disposition; comfortable engaging C-suite and senior-level stakeholders
Experience managing projects and leading teams in the execution of short-turnaround deliverables
Experience developing and retaining team members
Preferred: MBA or relevant advanced degree
Preferred: Familiarity with U.S. government budgets and/or commercial aerospace market dynamics
Preferred: Experience leveraging AI tools in advisory or analytical workflows
Leadership Skills
Building Relationships
Adaptability
Client Focus
Driving Execution
Continuous Improvemen
tCommunication
Change Leadership
Coaching and Developing Others
Leading Teams
Technical Skills
Why work for Aprio:
Whether you are just starting out, looking to advance into management or searching for your next leadership role, Aprio offers an opportunity to grow with a future-focused, innovative firm.
Perks/Benefits we offer for full-time team members:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance on the first day of employment
- Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Account
- 401k with Profit Sharing
- 9+ holidays and discretionary time off structure
- Parental Leave – coverage for both primary and secondary caregivers
- Tuition Assistance Program and CPA support program with cash incentive upon completion
- Discretionary incentive compensation based on firm, group and individual performance
- Incentive compensation related to origination of new client sales
- Top rated wellness program
- Flexible working environment including remote and hybrid options
What’s in it for you:
- Working with an industry leader: Be part of a high-growth firm that is passionate for what’s next.
- An awesome culture: Thirty-one fundamental behaviors guide our culture every day ensuring we always deliver an exceptional team-member and client experience. We call it the Aprio Way. This shared mindset creates lasting relationships between team members and with clients.
- A great team: Work with a high-energy, passionate, caring and ambitious team of professionals in a collaborative culture.
- Entrepreneurship: Have the freedom to innovate and bring your ideas to help us grow to become the CPA firm of choice nationally.
- Growth opportunities: Grow professionally in an environment that fosters continuous learning and advancement.
- Competitive compensation: You will be rewarded with competitive compensation, industry-leading benefits and a flexible work environment to enjoy work/life balance.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Aprio is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; national origin; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity and/or expression; age; disability; genetic information, citizenship status; military service obligations or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
Aprio, LLP and Aprio Advisory Group, LLC, operate in an alternative business structure, with Aprio Advisory Group, LLC providing non-attest tax and consulting services, and Aprio, LLP providing CPA firm services.
Ready to apply to Aprio?
Apply to Aprio
