Denise Ibsen

Finance leadership. Portfolio governance. Global operating cadence.

Driving strategic financial performance across defense, private equity and global markets

A senior finance leader delivering long-term value by aligning budgets, portfolios, risk and strategy across complex organizations. Disciplined stewardship paired with practical decision support for leaders and teams.

$375M
Discretionary budget supported
40%
Division profitability contribution managed
Global
International finance coverage
View highlights Board readiness
Denise Ibsen professional headshot
Denise Ibsen, MBA
Senior finance leadership
Operating focus
Monthly reviews, planning alignment, disciplined variance analysis.
Portfolio lens
Metrics-driven oversight to support return, priority and governance.

Core professional identity

  • Corporate finance executive with multi-decade experience across corporate reporting, FP&A, and portfolio oversight.
  • Recognized leader in discretionary research and development finance, process standardization, and stakeholder reporting.
  • Partner to engineering and business development teams to translate financial signals into decisions.

Industries supported

  • Aerospace and defense
  • Private equity and real estate investment
  • Automotive and manufacturing
  • Healthcare insurance
  • IT consulting
  • Consumer products and hospitality ventures

Scale of responsibility and scope

  • Executed a $375 million discretionary budget supporting space systems and technology programs.
  • Consolidated budgets for divisions contributing a material share of enterprise profitability.
  • Directed P&L, tax and banking operations for early-stage ventures.
  • Oversaw financial reporting and planning for international business units and emerging markets.
  • Provided portfolio analysis for private equity investments and real estate assets.

Value delivered

Financial stewardship

  • Aligns significant budgets with strategic goals through recurring reviews and clear governance.
  • Leads income statement planning and variance analysis to support FP&A and leadership reporting.
  • Delivers full-cycle reporting across budgeting, forecasting, cash flow and variance analysis.
  • Coordinates audit responses and supports compliant cost accounting practices.

Risk, process, and execution

  • Builds decision-ready models that quantify exposure and support tradeoffs.
  • Improves cycle time through workflow automation and system implementation.
  • Standardizes reporting structures across teams and geographies to reduce ambiguity.
  • Negotiates agreements that balance risk, return, and operational constraints.

Career highlights

  • Senior Finance Manager, Space Systems & Solutions: discretionary portfolio oversight, executive reviews, governance and reporting cadence.
  • Finance Lead, Electronic Systems: monthly discretionary reviews, investor reporting support, pipeline and bid performance reporting.
  • Financial Consultant: portfolio analysis and advisory support across private equity and real estate.
  • Financial Manager: planning, reporting and full financial oversight for venture incubation work.
  • Corporate reporting and analysis roles: close leadership, international unit support, risk modeling, systems training and standard reporting.

Leadership and operating style

Clear communication, structured planning and dependable execution. Priorities are defined early. Accountability is maintained through cadence, decision logs, and transparent reporting. Collaboration is built through cross-functional reviews that keep finance, engineering and business development aligned.

Skills and domains

Finance and governance

  • FP&A, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis
  • Portfolio oversight, discretionary spend governance
  • Audit coordination, regulatory compliance support
  • Corporate reporting and executive review materials

Systems and international operations

  • Advanced Excel, PeopleSoft, Tableau, Hyperion, CRM
  • System rollouts, training, and reporting standardization
  • International finance support across the US, Europe and the Bahamas
  • Fluent in German

Education and credentials

  • MBA, University of Florida, Hough Graduate School of Business, GPA 3.9, Beta Gamma Sigma
  • BSBA, International Finance, University of Florida, minor in German, study abroad at the University of Bonn
  • Management fast-track rotational program and a programming boot camp in systems engineering and IT infrastructure

Advisory and board readiness

Experience includes budget stewardship, portfolio governance, audit support, and global operating finance. This supports advisory work on financial strategy, risk, performance reporting, and operating discipline.