Business & Cost Performance Lead

BAE Systems.; Barrow-in-Furness; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace and defense company in Barrow-in-Furness seeks a Business & Cost Performance Lead to manage Financial Planning & Analysis processes. This role requires a qualified accountant with at least 2 years' experience and skills in financial governance, communication, and Excel. The company offers competitive salary and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Annual incentive

Qualifications

• At least 2 years' post-qualification experience as an accountant.
• Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven experience in financial governance and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of Financial Planning & Analysis processes.
• Ensure robust financial reporting and governance.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Fully qualified accountant

Business knowledge

Understanding of planning cycles

Proficient in financial systems

Communication skills

Financial planning & analysis experience

Excel and data modelling skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Business & Cost Performance Lead

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role.

Salary: £50,000+ depending on skills and experience

What you'll be doing

• Take ownership of key Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) processes, including planning cycles (forecast, budget, and IBP submissions), monthly management reporting (reporting packs, variance analysis, risks and opportunities), quarterly business reviews and cash flow forecasting
• Contribute to the delivery of key outputs and processes, ensuring deliverables to Programmes, Leadership, Sector, Group and other stakeholders are high quality, accurate and made in line with expected timescales
• Operate and enhance financial systems and processes in a dynamic and evolving environment
• Ensure financial reporting, governance, and controls are robust and compliant with the Group and local requirements
• Support continuous improvement and transformation initiatives within the FP&A capability centre, contributing to the implementation of the Finance Strategy and the One Finance Operating Model

Your skills and experiences

• Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with at least 2 years' post-qualification experience
• Sound business knowledge and commercial awareness
• Good understanding of planning cycles, reporting, and accounting standards
• Proficient in using financial systems to support FP&A activities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels
• Proven experience in financial planning & analysis, continuous improvement and governance & compliance
• Excel and data modelling skills, with the ability to interpret and present complex information clearly

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The team

As a Business & Cost Performance Lead within our central Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Business Performance team, you will play a key role in driving forward-looking insights that enhance future business performance. You\'ll work collaboratively with Programmes, Leadership, Capability Centres, Sector, and Group teams to deliver analytical support and actionable insights that inform strategic decisions. In addition, you\'ll contribute to the continuous improvement of the FP&A capability centre, helping to shape and strengthen our overall financial performance and decision-making processes. We offer relocation support packages across all Submarines roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you\'ll be able to make a real difference. You\'ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you\'ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 13th November 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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