Senior Program Controls Analyst

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Program Controls Analyst to lead cost and earned value management efforts on complex, mission-critical programs within aerospace and defense environments. This role is responsible for driving program financial integrity, ensuring forecasts reflect execution reality, and providing leadership with clear, decision-quality insight. You will operate as a trusted partner to Program Managers and Control Account Managers (CAMs), owning the financial narrative of the program.

What you'll do

• Lead development and maintenance of program cost baselines, including time-phased budgets and control account structures
• Own Earned Value Management (EVM) processes within Deltek Cobra, ensuring data integrity and compliance with EVMS guidelines
• Develop, analyze, and defend Estimates at Completion (EAC) and Estimates to Complete (ETC)
• Perform deep-dive variance analysis and clearly articulate root causes, impacts, and forward-looking risks
• Partner directly with CAMs and program leadership to validate performance, challenge assumptions, and improve forecast accuracy
• Lead monthly program financial reviews, including internal leadership briefings and customer-facing deliverables
• Reconcile cost, schedule, and accounting data across systems (Cobra, ERP, timekeeping) to ensure consistency and audit readiness
• Support baseline change control processes, including BCR development, impact analysis, and implementation
• Ensure compliance with ANSI/EIA-748 EVMS guidelines and support DCMA/DCAA audits and surveillance activities
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and proactively drive mitigation strategies

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in program controls, cost management, or earned value management

• Advanced, hands-on experience with Deltek Cobra (required)

• Strong expertise in EVMS principles and ANSI/EIA-748 compliance

• Proven experience developing and defending EACs/ETCs at the program or control account level

• Experience working directly with CAMs and program leadership in a client-facing environment

• High proficiency in Excel and large dataset analysis

• Strong ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights

• Experience in aerospace and defense required

• Experience with Deltek Costpoint or equivalent ERP systems

• Background supporting DCMA or DCAA audits, IBRs, or surveillance reviews

• Familiarity with integrated cost/schedule environments and cross-functional program controls

• Experience leading or mentoring junior analysts

• Active or eligible for a U.S. security clearance

• About Meridian

• Meridian is a specialized consulting firm focused on program scheduling, program planning, and project controls for complex, high-stakes environments. We support aerospace, defense, and other technical industries by delivering high-quality scheduling, cost management, earned value management, risk analysis, and performance management solutions aligned with industry standards such as EVMS and DCAA compliance.

• As a trusted subcontractor to government and prime contractors, our team provides expert-level support across both schedule and cost disciplines. This includes schedule development, maintenance, and analysis, as well as cost baseline management, EAC/ETC forecasting, variance analysis, and EVMS implementation when required. Our work helps clients improve execution, reduce risk, and maintain compliance across their programs.

• We place a strong emphasis on technical excellence, responsiveness, and integrity. Our consultants bring deep domain expertise and leverage custom-built tools and automation to deliver efficient, data-driven insights across integrated cost and schedule environments.

• Meridian is a growing firm with a collaborative, high-performance culture, offering the opportunity to contribute to meaningful, mission-critical programs.