Business Controller

Thales; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Thales is seeking a Business Controller in a hybrid format, based in Glasgow. This role involves financial management and oversight for large-scale defense projects, ensuring accurate reporting and supporting project teams. Ideal candidates will be proactive accountants with experience in project finance and strong interpersonal skills.

Benefits

Flexible working patterns

Career growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with a proven relevant Project Accounting experience.
• Experience in multi-entity programmes within a technical environment.
• Team player capable of interfacing at different levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely financial management information for projects.
• Account for large-scale defence projects with multi-entity oversight.
• Engage in financial reporting and strategic business planning.

Skills

Accuracy

Analytical Thinking

Team Collaboration

Education

Professional accounting qualification

Relevant Project Accounting experience

Job description

Location: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Business Controller (Projects)

Location: Glasgow (hybrid working 60% on site)

Are you a finance professional with high levels of accuracy and diligence? Are you inquisitive with the ability to question the status quo? Do you enjoy working on projects and helping the business to achieve the desired results? Got your interest… look no further.

What the role has to offer:

• A business partnering role; working on the delivery of projects and business winning.

• Working in one of the largest businesses within Thales UK, which is going through significant growth.

• A diverse portfolio of work and opportunity to work with multifunctional and multi-entity teams.

• Opportunity for career growth and development within a flexible and people orientated environment.

Our Opportunity

Thales Optronics & Missile Electronics (OME), who deliver equipment and services into the defence sector, have a great opportunity within the finance team for a Business Controller.

You will be responsible for providing timely financial management information and analysis for a portfolio of projects in a concise, clear and efficient manner to key stakeholders at all levels of seniority in the UK, France and within Thales’ Global company network. You will have Project Business Control accounting responsibility for large scale defence projects, including multi-entity projects, this includes derivation of Sales trading plans, actual sales recognition, sales, gross margin and cash re-forecasting, EAC updates and risks & opportunities management. You will provide full Project Accounting support for Project teams and Bid teams and provide financial reporting and decision making support to the relevant sector management team. You will also provide monthly financial reporting of projects, business prospects and be involved in Multi-Year Budgeting and Strategic Business Planning. You will also be responsible for ensuring that financial controls are effective within area of control and support to both internal and external audit activities, including resolution of any actions.

About you

• You will be a qualified accountant with a professional accounting qualificationand/or have proven relevant Project Accounting experience within a relevant sector, ideally within Defence.

• You should have demonstrable experience operating as a Project Business Controller or equivalent, working on large complex multi-entity programmes, products and services in a technical environment covering development and production activities.

• You will be a team player who can interface at all levels within an engineering and manufacturing Company.

• Previous people management experience would be preferred.

Security Clearance statement

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. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. 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.

#LI-CD1

In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Teamfor graduate and apprentice roles.

Great journeys start here, apply now!