Job Title: Senior Financial Controller - Air
Global Grade: GG15
Location: UK
Role Type: Permanent – Full Time
Role ID: 18542

Role Purpose

Team Mission
To be the Finance and Governance business partner of choice, delivering safely, responsibly and sustainably for the benefit of all our stakeholders and in support of the strategic growth of the business to deliver operational advantage.

Role Purpose / Objective

QinetiQ Group Plc is seeking a Senior Financial Controller (SFC) to work in its UK Defence (UKD) Sector. This financial leadership role will be accountable for the Air business working as a business partner to the MD Air. The Air portfolio incorporates the additional complexity of the UKD subsidiaries (Germany, QTSUK, QTS Canada) and therefore is 45% (c£0.5bn) of the UK Defence portfolio. Additionally the role has accountability for the wider EDP portfolio across the UK Sectors.

Key Accountabilities

1. Accountable Business Partner and Accounting Lead within the business providing robust financial guidance and direction to drive and deliver the required business outcomes whilst ensuring the appropriate treatment of all accounting judgements and accounting matters in the business.
2. Accountability for successful completion of internal and external audits across the business ensuring timely and robust evidence is supplied to address queries
3. Shaping and influencing Annual Budgets and Forecasts and being accountable for ensuring all plans are achievable but have an appropriate level of challenge.
4. Full engagement in the delivery of key programmes ensuring opportunities and risks are quantified and a balanced view for provisions/risk management is taken in the accounts for each reporting period.
5. Provide financial leadership and holding accountability on large strategic bids and investments, with the objective of increasing the win probability/maximising the return whilst delivering acceptable margins which contribute to delivering wider Sector targets.
6. Provide leadership in the development of the financial strategies to support the ISBP process and providing the Sector FD with insightful and thought out strategy recommendations which contribute to delivering towards the overall Group ambition
7. Line Management responsibility of DFCs and Subsidiary Finance Leads (as appropriate) and ensuring the required service is delivered across the Sector by the wider Finance Team (i.e. management accountants & subsidiary finance functions) whilst ensuring the team remain motivated and engaged
8. Accountable EDP financial lead for QinetiQ UK working across the broader UK Sectors to shape the future strategy of EDP in a collaborative manner whilst being both customer facing and a member of the Aurora Partner Board
9. Financial integration of the three subsidiaries and local Finance Functions and driving improvement on financial controls, financial reporting and financial forecasting to then develop future strategic recommendations to the Sector FD, Sector CE and Air MD with “special project” focus on the German entity

Key Capabilities/Knowledge

• Financial Acumen: P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash flow & Investment appraisal experience is essential.
• Results Orientated: focused on improvement of Business results.
• Strategic thinker: ability to think long-term and beyond immediate area of responsibility, requiring sector awareness, critical analysis and integration of information and the ability to develop action-oriented plans
• Collaboration: Ability to financially manage business priorities by providing the necessary advice, guidance and direction whilst having the ability to confidently challenge in areas such as ways of working, programme delivery, bids and investments.
• Influence: Stakeholder management skills are key to this role including the ability to influence, persuade and engage (including the Sector FD and other members of the Leadership Team as well as Subsidiary Leadership Teams).
• Leadership: developing the long-term capabilities of others within the team with the ability to apply a pro-active approach to all aspects of the role and to prioritise work appropriately across the finance team.
• Market Aware: understanding the market domain the business operates in, including competition, suppliers, customer base and the regulatory environment.

Experience & Qualifications

• Qualified accountant ACA, ACCA or CIMA with experience of working in finance with a proven track record of successful delivery and at least 5 years relevant experience
• Experience of stakeholder management and the ability to form and maintain good relationships and communicate with senior management.
• Experience in communicating confidently and being able to translate financial information into simple and straight-forward messages.
• Demonstrate experience in influencing others in decision making.
• Key qualities: ambitious, high energy and keen to learn and develop.
• Line management experience required
• Domain knowledge is an advantage
• Must be a UK national and will require security clearance.
• Experience in shaping business strategies and providing high quality financial leadership in vital (including leading on large value/complex bids/investments)
• Experience in subsidiary integration is an advantage