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MBDA S.A.S.; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense organization in the UK is seeking a Finance Assistant to provide high-quality financial analysis and information for portfolio-level reporting. The role requires strong relationship-building skills and involves managing customer invoicing, updating cash forecasts, and preparing financial reports. Applicants must have a part-qualified accountant qualification or equivalent experience, along with excellent MS Excel skills and good communication abilities. This position offers a competitive salary of up to £40,000 and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Company bonus

Pension contributions

Paid overtime

Flexible leave

Enhanced parental leave

Excellent career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience with large datasets and spreadsheets is desirable.
• Commercial awareness and ability to interpret contracts for financial analysis.
• Proactive approach to process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Posting monthly/quarterly trading journals and updating accounting records.
• Managing customer invoicing and cash claims, liaising with customer finance staff.
• Updating internal cash forecasts.
• Consolidating project financial data and forecasts, preparing monthly customer reports.
• Supporting budget and business plan preparations.
• Preparing bi-annual portfolio 'cost at completion' reports.
• Supporting financial analysis related to portfolio and export benefits.
• Performing bank reconciliations.
• Producing project cost certificates.
• Maintaining master contract files and core project data.

Skills

Good communication

Relationship-building

Attention to detail

Knowledge of finance systems (e.g., SAP)

Strong MS Excel skills

Ability to work independently

Familiarity with PowerBI

Education

Part-qualified accountant (ACA/ACMA/ACCA/AAT) or equivalent experience

Tools

SAP

PowerBI

Job description

Finance Assistant Role

The Finance Assistant role is a key part of our UK Portfolio team, focused on providing high-quality financial analysis and information to support portfolio-level reporting and decision-making. Our team uniquely sits across all key programmes in the UK, offering a consolidated overview of programme financial matters to our UK customer and internal stakeholders. This role is primarily internal-facing but also involves regular customer interaction, requiring strong relationship-building skills.

You will be responsible for producing and maintaining financial information across various areas, including:

1. Posting monthly/quarterly trading journals and updating accounting records
2. Managing customer invoicing and cash claims, liaising with customer finance staff as needed
3. Updating internal cash forecasts
4. Consolidating project financial data and forecasts, preparing monthly customer reports
5. Supporting budget and business plan preparations
6. Preparing bi-annual portfolio 'cost at completion' reports
7. Supporting financial analysis related to portfolio and export benefits
8. Performing bank reconciliations
9. Producing project cost certificates
10. Maintaining master contract files and core project data

Essential skills include good communication, relationship-building, attention to detail, knowledge of finance systems (e.g., SAP), strong MS Excel skills, and the ability to work independently and within small teams. Experience with large datasets, spreadsheets, and familiarity with PowerBI or similar tools is advantageous. A part-qualified accountant qualification (ACA/ACMA/ACCA/AAT) or equivalent experience is required, along with commercial awareness and the ability to interpret contracts for financial analysis. A proactive approach to process improvement is also valued.

About MBDA:

MBDA is a leading defence organisation supporting the Armed Forces and partnering with governments to defend nations. We pride ourselves on employee-led networks promoting diversity and inclusion. We encourage applicants to seek support or adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

We offer a competitive salary of up to £40,000, hybrid working arrangements, a company bonus, pension contributions, paid overtime, flexible leave, enhanced parental leave, and excellent career development opportunities. Security clearance requirements include UK citizenship and passing BPSS checks.