Finance Analyst - Working Capital

Thales; Manor Royal; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

Life cover

Gym membership discounts

Volunteer day

Job summary

Thales UK Corporate Finance is seeking a Finance Analyst - Working Capital to drive cash flow and working capital optimisation. You will analyse receivables, payables, inventory and capex, and develop reports for senior leadership.

You'll partner with Finance, Operations and Commercial teams to improve cash performance and provide insightful forecasts. A qualified or experienced accountant with strong Excel and BI/ERP exposure is preferred.

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant, or qualified by experience.
• Experience in cash flow forecasting, working capital analysis or operational finance.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills, with exposure to ERP or BI tools.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate financial insights clearly to stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset and problem-solving approach.

Responsibilities

• Analyse key working capital metrics including receivables, payables, inventory, customer advances and capex.
• Develop insightful reports, dashboards and forecasts to support decision-making.
• Partner with Finance, Operations and Commercial teams to improve cash performance.
• Prepare monthly cash flow and working capital reporting for senior leadership.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities in complex data and provide recommendations.
• Drive continuous improvement, including opportunities to leverage AI and automation in cash analysis.

Skills

Excel

data analysis

communication of insights

collaboration

analytical mindset

proactive approach

Education

Accounting qualification

Tools

ERP tools

BI tools

Job description

Location: Manor Royal Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Finance Analyst - Working Capital

Location: Crawley (hybrid working - 3 days a week in the office) Thales UK Corporate Finance

Make a Real Impact on Business Performance

Join Thales UK and play a key role in driving business performance through cash flow and working capital optimisation. Working within our UK Corporate Finance team and partnering with senior stakeholders across Finance, Operations and Commercial functions, you will provide insightful analysis, reporting and forecasting across areas including receivables, payables, inventory and capital expenditure. Using data to identify risks, trends and opportunities, you'll help shape strategic decisions that improve cash performance and support business growth.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified or part-qualified accountant, or someone qualified by experience, with strong analytical skills and a passion for turning complex data into meaningful business insights. In return, you'll join a global organisation that offers outstanding career development opportunities, flexible working and a culture built on innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

What You'll Be Doing

• Analyse key working capital metrics including receivables, payables, inventory, customer advances and capital expenditure.
• Develop insightful reports, dashboards and forecasts to support business decision-making.
• Partner with Finance, Operations and Commercial teams to improve cash performance.
• Prepare monthly cash flow and working capital reporting for senior leadership.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities, turning complex data into clear recommendations.
• Drive continuous improvement, including opportunities to leverage AI and automation in cash analysis.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified or part-qualified accountant, or qualified by experience.
• Experience in cash flow forecasting, working capital analysis or operational finance.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills, with exposure to ERP or BI tools.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate financial insights clearly to a variety of stakeholders.
• Analytical mindset and problem-solving approach, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, ability to identify discrepancies in complex financial data and propose corrective actions.
• A proactive, analytical and collaborative approach.

Benefits:

• Performance-related bonus
• Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00
• 28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)
• 24 hours volunteering paid for
• Private healthcare
• Pension scheme
• Life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts

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: .

Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

Join Thales in the UK - Innovate with us and shape the future!