Senior Business Controller

Saab UK; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense and security company in the UK seeks a qualified accountant to manage financial operations and reporting. The role requires a strong background in finance, including budgeting and statutory compliance, alongside excellent interpersonal skills for team management. Familiarity with accounting software like XERO is preferred. This position offers an opportunity to contribute significantly to the financial integrity of the organization.

Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant status essential.
• Proven experience in finance functions and statutory obligations.
• Strong understanding of taxation is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Ensure statutory reporting requirements are met.
• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including budgeting.
• Support strategic planning with financial insights.

Skills

Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACA/ACCA)

Management Accounting

Commercial and pragmatic mindset

Interpersonal and communication skills

Team management experience

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

XERO accounting software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Introduction

Saab in UK is growing rapidly, with over 500 colleagues across eight sites. We bring together Swedish heritage and British expertise to drive innovation in areas such as software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training. Joining Saab in UK means contributing to the security and resilience of society while building a career with real scope for personal and professional growth.

What you will be part of

Explore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 26,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems. Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

The Role

This role is part of our Saab Bluebear Business in Bedford. Reporting to the CFO, this role will have responsibility for the production of timely financial accounts and reports, and input to Saab UK and Global Reporting for Saab Bluebear.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with Saab UK Head of Finance, to ensure that statutory reporting requirements are met
• Responsible for day-to-day financial operations for Saab Bluebear including Budgeting, forecasting and financial planning.
• Providing strong financial and commercial support to the management team at Saab Bluebear
• Financial recording and all-round purchasing. The successful candidate will be a team player who is keen to get involved and happy to help in many related aspects of the company operations
• Support strategic planning and business decision-making through financial insight
• Manage financial data within Xero and Oracle, and excel.
• Monthly accounts closing procedure and Group reporting
• Payroll journal & Reconciling salaries
• Balance Sheet & Stock reconciliations
• Monthly WIP & Cost of sales calculations
• Prepayments, Accruals and Provisions
• Creditors and supplier reconciliations
• Banking: Inputting Bacs payments into the bank, ensuring they are processed accurately and in line with internal approval policies and financial controls
• Identify and Calculate R&D Expenditure Credit in line with HMRC guidelines and liaison with external accountants and operational teams
• Preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns in compliance with UK tax laws and regulations
• Working with the Bluebear finance administrator (5 hours a day), supporting payables and procurement
• Main point of contact for external auditors and accountants for Saab Bluebear, to support preparation of year end accounts, tax return audits and statutory requirements

Experience and Qualifications

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA/ACA/ACCA)
• Degree or equivalent
• Accounting/ Management Accounting
• Ideally familiar with XERO accounting software (or similar) and Microsoft Office including Access databases
• A commercial and pragmatic qualified accountant with management accountant experience
• Experience in team management. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, together with the ability to contribute and influence at a senior level, are essential
• Proven experience in the operation of a finance function and statutory obligations
• Experience of working closely with a wider team to ensure robust financial controls and effective cash management is in place, is critical to the success of the business
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of annual cycles of the finance function, and taxation and have had exposure to broader general management and commercial responsibilities
• A highly motivated self-starter with plenty of energy, the successful candidate will be someone who takes the initiative and anticipates proactively the demands of a growing, successful and fast moving business

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview.