Head of Financial Planning & Analysis

ULTRA ELECTRONICS; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Cheltenham is seeking an experienced finance professional to lead financial analytics, including monthly reporting and budget forecasting. You will develop insights and create impactful management reports while supporting business cases for investment. The ideal candidate must be eligible to work in the UK and be prepared for security vetting. This role will provide opportunities for personal empowerment and inclusivity within a diverse workplace.

Qualifications

• Ability to work in the UK without restrictions.
• Prepared to undertake UK National Security Vetting.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly actuals reporting and variance analysis.
• Produce management information for finance board reports.
• Lead weekly flash forecasting with risk analysis.
• Manage quarterly and annual budget forecasting processes.
• Create and refresh the 5-year Strategic Plan.
• Develop deep margin analysis tools linked to the General Ledger.
• Create and evolve a robust MI suite for timely insights.
• Integrate financial forecasts with S&OP processes.
• Assist in investment business cases and capital development.
• Support month-end reporting and audits.
• Lead Business Intelligence to improve data quality.
• Drive consistency across PCS and CEMS.
• Support ad hoc projects.

Job description

Ultra PCS is a leading developer of mission and safety critical equipment in the defence and aerospace industry. We solve customer problems by providing engineering solutions to safety and mission critical challenges in air and on the ground. We welcome the challenge to work in new ways and have trust in you when getting the job done because we recognise that our business is our people.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytics for monthly actuals reporting, including variance to budget, forecast and prior year; analysis focuses on revenue and margins within value streams.
• Produce meaningful management information to support month‑end close and prepare a high‑quality finance board report.
• Lead weekly flash forecasting of orders, revenue, contribution margin, gross margin, IRAD, OPEX and EBITDA with commercially insightful risk & opportunity analysis.
• Lead quarterly and annual budget forecasting processes with an integrated financial model and OneStream data submission.
• Lead annual creation, submission and periodic refresh of the 5‑year Strategic Plan with P&L, balance sheet and cashflow projections.
• Develop and maintain deep margin analysis tools linked to the General Ledger to enable finance and non‑finance decisions.
• Lead creation and evolution of a robust, granular MI suite providing meaningful insight in a timely fashion.
• Support the S&OP process integration with financial forecasts and maintain the Opportunities Tracker relevance.
• Lead finance business partnering with senior engineering, COO and other functional senior management, providing day‑to‑day support and operational metrics.
• Partner in creation of business cases for investment, capitalised development, IRAD and impairment testing.
• Support month‑end reporting, audits, project accounting, bid submission, associate cost audits and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Lead the Business Intelligence team to improve data quality, reporting and systems across the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve IFS data capture and processes.
• Drive consistency of approach across all aspects of PCS and CEMS.
• Support ad hoc projects that may arise from time to time.

Requirements

• Candidates must be able to work in the UK without restrictions in accordance with UK National Law and be prepared to successfully undertake an appropriate level of UK National Security Vetting according to UK Government National Security Vetting criteria.

Ultra PCS is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity, inclusion, equity and equality. Underpinned by our values, behaviours and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be your best and authentic self. We promote a workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds and cultures, believing that this will increase our diversity of thinking and ultimately ensure we continue delivering on our commitments to our customers.