Project Cost Specialist

Location: Belfast, United Kingdom

Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Primary Purpose and key responsibilities of the Role:

Thales is a leading force both in the UK and globally, operating in several markets - aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space.

Integrated Airspace-protection Systems (IAS) operates primarily within the defence market delivering equipment & services, but also has a presence in the space market building satellite propulsion systems. The IAS business is predominantly based in Belfast and Templecombe. With the finance team based at the Belfast site, as such this role will be Belfast based.

IAS finance is now searching for a talented individual to join the team as a Project Accountant.  As such, you will be responsible for supporting the finances across a portfolio of key projects and functions across the IAS UK footprint. The role is broad and will be a challenging & rewarding opportunity where your contribution to the team will have a real impact on the success of the business as a whole.

Main responsibilities:

• Preparation of monthly review packs for portfolio and project managers
• Prepare project analysis & cost reports and propose corrective action(s).
• Prepare Consolidated Project Reports
• Completing rolling forecasts
• Preparing Monthly Finance Project Reviews
• Liaise with Project Managers/ Product Accountants/Industry Managers
• Providing timely and accurate financial data to support successful management of the business.
• Ensure requirements SSRO reporting are fulfilled, highlighting any controls weakness and understanding the commercial environment.
• Liaising closely with the manufacturing function and understand the evolution of the product.
• Supporting the manufacturing integration within products
• Justifying project work in progress
• Contributing to the mitigation of project risk
• Prepare contract estimates for Multi Year Budget & rolling monthly forecast information o
• Work closely with the wider IAS finance team providing analysis & support.
• Ensure portfolio of projects meets all audit demands
• Advance the development of IT tools, reporting techniques and skills through Oracle, digi dashboards and BI portals
• Ensure financial integrity and adherence to process (UK GAAP, Chorus 2.0) including IFRS 15.
• Highlight control weakness and escalate governance issues to Head of Finance
• Provide financial guidance to project control team
• Provide key inputs for the production of internal and external audit requirements
• Carrying out month end processing activities,
• Adhering to month end timetable
• Review cost certificates
• Continually improving data conception and accounting

Skills and Experience

Essential

• You must be highly motivated and passionate about your ability to bring value
• You must have proven ability to interact & communicate complex issues, across a wide range of stakeholders.
• You must have a strong understanding of ERP systems (ideally Oracle), TM1 experience, Power BI
• You have track record of being able to quickly assimilate and analyse technical, financial  data & information
• You must have five years’ experience in proven relevant experience in a financial/accounting/manufacturing environment.
• You have clear experience in providing financial analysis in a moving technical environment, decision making and risk analysis in a continually changing environment.
• ICAI, ACCA, CIMA or ACCA (or equivalent) or, proven relevant experience in a financial/accounting background providing leadership with evidence of establishing continuous improvement and delivery.
• You must have strong IT skills, highly proficient in MS Excel
• Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the potential along with the challenges of delivering high quality financial operations

Desirable

• You should be a keen team player, energetic self-starter with a pro-active and challenging approach to issues
• Three years’ experience Manufacturing background
• Two years’ experience as a Project Accountant
• Experience providing strategic leadership within a large complex environment
• Experience in SSRO reporting and commercial sensitives within Defence industry

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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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