Bid Finance Manager

Thales; Cheadle; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Half day Fridays

28 days annual leave

Volunteer days

Life cover

Wellbeing app

Employee discounts

Job summary

Thales UK is seeking a Bid Finance Manager to lead financial aspects of bids, partnering with engineering, project management, commercial, and finance teams to develop cost models, pricing strategies and governance for profitable bids in defence opportunities.

The role offers hybrid working (3 days on site) with up to 25% travel across the UK, and requires Security Clearance. You will shape business cases, analyse risks, and support bid reviews to ensure competitive proposals.

Qualifications

• Experience in estimating, cost engineering, bid finance, project controls, finance, or a related discipline within a complex business environment.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen with the ability to analyse and interpret complex data.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across multiple functions.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capabilities, with strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Experience supporting complex bids, projects, or defence-related programmes, ideally within a regulated or technical environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, review, and presentation of estimating, costing, pricing, and financial data for bids and projects.
• Develop financial models covering costs, risks, opportunities, cash flow, funding, and margins.
• Support bid reviews, gate approvals, and financial governance activities.
• Contribute to the creation of business cases and commercial strategies for new opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to help deliver competitive and successful bids.

Skills

Estimating

Cost engineering

Bid finance

Project controls

Finance

Defence programmes

Tools

Excel

Cost modelling software

Job description

Location: Crawley, Templecombe or Cheadle

Travel: Up to 25% travel within the UK as required

Hybrid working arrangement: 3 days per week on site (based on full-time hours)

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping the success of major business opportunities. As a Bid Finance Manager, you will work at the heart of the bid process, providing financial leadership, cost modelling expertise, and commercial insight to support the development of profitable, competitive bids. Working across engineering, project management, commercial, and finance teams, you will help ensure robust financial governance while contributing to the successful capture of new business.

What this role has to offer

• The opportunity to influence high-value, strategic bids from an early stage
• Exposure to a wide range of stakeholders across finance, engineering, commercial, procurement, and project management
• Involvement in complex cost modelling, pricing, and financial strategy activities
• The chance to support major UK and international defence opportunities
• Opportunities to develop expertise in bid finance, estimation, risk analysis, and business case development

Core Benefits

On offer is a competitive salary and benefits package, which includes;

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) plus opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• You can read about some of our other benefits here: UK benefits | Thales Group

Main Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation, review, and presentation of estimating, costing, pricing, and financial data for bids and projects
• Develop financial models covering costs, risks, opportunities, cash flow, funding, and margins
• Support bid reviews, gate approvals, and financial governance activities
• Contribute to the creation of business cases and commercial strategies for new opportunities
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to help deliver competitive and successful bids

Ideal Experience & Skills

• Experience in estimating, cost engineering, bid finance, project controls, finance, or a related discipline within a complex business environment
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to analyse and interpret complex data
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across multiple functions
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capabilities, with strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• Experience supporting complex bids, projects, or defence-related programmes, ideally within a regulated or technical environment

Security Clearance Requirement

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels