Job Description

We’re looking for someone who is commercially minded, dynamic, ambitious and eager to join the Programmes Finance Team who wants to take on a business facing finance role in DST.
This exciting new role, reporting to the Lead Finance Business Partner, will play an integral part in continuous improvement projects.

The role will partner with the Project Managers and will take responsibility for contracts within the portfolio and include all aspects of Project Accounting as well as supporting business winning activities.

The difference our new Finance Business Partner will make
Defense Systems Technology (DST) is currently undergoing a transformation programme to equip itself to grow further and faster in the future and it is an exciting time to join the organization. As a Finance Business Partner for the Design & Build business you will be a backbone of support to the business as it progresses through a period of transformation.

You will be required to learn quickly and take on a variety of contracts and tasks and be hands-on. The Project Managers and Lead Finance Business Partner will rely on you to present and articulate financial issues to them and you will need to build solid working relationships with both the operational delivery teams and the central teams in order to be successful in this role where relationships are based on respect, trust and collaboration.

You will be responsible for the production of financial information for quarterly forecasting, budget and performance information for the contracts within the portfolio.

• Play an integral part in the continuous improvement projects
• Partnering with the Project Managers in Design & Build area by providing them with meaningful and accurate information that empowers them to drive financial performance of the area.
• Producing meaningful and accurate financial reports to the delivery teams and the finance function that show contract performance with variances from budget, previous forecasts & estimates to complete clearly explained.
• Collaborating with project managers, assisting them with their understanding of financial issues so they are equipped to foresee financial risks before they arise and take pre-emptive mitigating action.
• Supporting Project Managers during the (QCR) quarterly contracts reviews with the DST Board and be prepared to present in this forum as and when required.
• Submitting/producing contract invoices, in line with current procedures and compile cash forecasts in line with the company requirements.
• Responsibility for the delivery of appropriate revenue, profit, cash-flow & orders reconciliation for their portfolio of contracts at month end.
• Development of current processes and procedures to improve efficiency.
• Responding with a flexible in approach to change and ad-hoc reporting requirements.
• Liaising with audit teams and ensuring the quality of information issued externally as part of the audit process.
• Responsibility for the Programmes forecasting process and model. To coordinating and manage the quarterly forecasting cycle ensuring a high level of accuracy
• Responsibility of the Programmes Financial Dashboard - to be issued shortly after period end closure.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

To succeed in this role you will need a “can-do” attitude, be willing to learn and take on new tasks, as well as being critical thinker who can understand complex issues (balancing the detail and the big picture), using insight/data (evidence) and your judgment to make good decisions and have a positive impact. You will be a qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA or equivalent), with post-qualified experience. Strong Excel skills to include V-lookups, Pivots and exposure to Macros. Experience in the manufacturing, engineering or similar sectors is desirable. Familiar with project accounting principles. All applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK and be subject to satisfactory security clearance which includes 3 years reference checks. Verification of any qualifications/passport/licenses must be shown at interview stage. We are happy to talk about flexible working. Please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.