At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our FP&A team to drive financial planning and support R&D initiatives.
- Company: Sophos is a leading innovator in cybersecurity, protecting over 600,000 organisations worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy remote work options, wellness days, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values diverse perspectives and fosters innovation.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in FP&A, strong Excel skills, and experience with SaaS metrics required.
- Other info: We encourage unique applicants; don’t hesitate to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 100000 ÂŁ per year.
Sophos is a global leader and innovator of advanced security solutions for defeating cyberattacks. The company acquired Secureworks in February 2025, bringing together two pioneers that have redefined the cybersecurity industry with their innovative, native AI-optimized services, technologies and products. Sophos is now the largest pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider, supporting more than 28,000 organizations.
In addition to MDR and other services, Sophos’ complete portfolio includes industry-leading endpoint, network, email, and cloud security that interoperate and adapt to defend through the Sophos Central platform. Secureworks provides the innovative, market-leading Taegis XDR/MDR, identity threat detection and response (ITDR), next-gen SIEM capabilities, managed risk, and a comprehensive set of advisory services. Sophos sells all these solutions through reseller partners, Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) worldwide, defending more than 600,000 organizations worldwide from phishing, ransomware, data theft, and other everyday and state-sponsored cybercrimes.
The solutions are powered by historical and real-time threat intelligence from Sophos X-Ops and the newly added Counter Threat Unit (CTU). Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, U.K.
Role Summary
Sophos is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Finance Manager to join our FP&A team. In this hands-on role, you will act as a strategic finance partner to the Sophos Technology Group, with a focus on supporting R&D and Cloud FinOps. You will be responsible for driving key financial planning activities—including forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, and KPI reporting—while also building robust financial models, identifying cost optimization opportunities, and leading process improvement initiatives that enable better decision-making across engineering and cloud operations.
What You Will Do
- Drive planning processes to ensure accurate budget, forecast, and long-term plan, including:
- Cloud hosting (e.g., AWS, Aiven, Azure, etc.) spend
- Headcount and attrition analysis
- Capital and operating expenses
- Month-end close activities (e.g., variance explanations, forecast/plan submission, expense tracking, etc.)
What You Will Bring
- 5+ years of experience in FP&A or Strategic Finance, within a private equity or fast-paced SaaS company
- Proven track record supporting R&D or Engineering organizations with budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning
- Deep understanding of SaaS metrics and cost drivers across product and engineering functions
- Advanced Excel modeling skills, with the ability to build and maintain complex, dynamic financial models
- Hands-on experience with Adaptive Planning is required; experience with SAP, Power BI, or other FP&A tools is a plus
- Strong communication and storytelling skills—able to translate financial insights into clear, actionable guidance for technical and business stakeholders
- Demonstrated success in managing cross-functional planning cycles, aligning with product and engineering leadership, and influencing strategic decisions
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and urgency
In the United States, the base salary for this role ranges from $106,000 to $176,000. In addition to base salary, we offer additional compensation including bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits package. A candidate’s specific pay within this range will depend on a variety of factors, including job-related skills, training, location, experience, relevant education, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.
Ready to Join Us?
At Sophos, we believe in the power of diverse perspectives to fuel innovation. Research shows that candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don't check every box in a job description. We challenge that notion. Your unique experiences and skills might be exactly what we need to enhance our team. Don’t let a checklist hold you back – we encourage you to apply.
What’s Great About Sophos?
- Sophos operates a remote-first working model, making remote work the primary option for most employees. However, some roles may necessitate a hybrid approach.
- Our people – we innovate and create, all of which are accompanied by a great sense of fun and team spirit
- Employee-led diversity and inclusion networks that build community and provide education and advocacy
- Annual charity and fundraising initiatives and volunteer days for employees to support local communities
- Global employee sustainability initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint
- Global fitness and trivia competitions to keep our bodies and minds sharp
- Global wellbeing days for employees to relax and recharge
- Monthly wellbeing webinars and training to support employee health and wellbeing
Our Commitment To You
We’re proud of the diverse and inclusive environment we have at Sophos, and we’re committed to ensuring equality of opportunity. We believe that diversity, combined with excellence, builds a better Sophos, so we encourage applicants who can contribute to the diversity of our team. All applicants will be treated in a fair and equal manner and in accordance with the law regardless of gender, sex, gender reassignment, marital status, race, religion or belief, color, age, military veteran status, disability, pregnancy, maternity or sexual orientation. We want to give you every opportunity to show us your best self, so if there are any adjustments we could make to the recruitment and selection process to support you, please let us know.
Data Protection
If you choose to explore an opportunity, and subsequently share your CV or other personal details with Sophos, these details will be held by Sophos for 12 months in accordance with our Privacy Policy and used by our recruitment team to contact you regarding this or other relevant opportunities at Sophos. If you would like Sophos to delete or update your details at any time, please follow the steps set out in the Privacy Policy describing your individual rights. For more information on Sophos’ data protection practices, please consult our Privacy Policy.
FP&A Manager - R&D employer: Sophos Group
Contact Detail:
Sophos Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land FP&A Manager - R&D
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in FP&A, especially within the SaaS industry. Understanding key metrics and cost drivers will help you speak the same language as the hiring team and demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Sophos or similar companies. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the FP&A Manager role, which can be beneficial during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've driven financial process optimisation in previous roles. Highlighting your hands-on experience with tools like Adaptive Planning will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your communication skills by preparing to explain complex financial concepts in simple terms. This is crucial for a role that requires collaboration with technical teams and influencing strategic decisions.
We think you need these skills to ace FP&A Manager - R&D
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in FP&A or Strategic Finance, especially within a SaaS environment. Emphasise your skills in budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling, as these are crucial for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role at Sophos and how your background aligns with their needs. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to support R&D and Cloud FinOps.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Highlight your advanced Excel modelling skills and any experience with Adaptive Planning or other FP&A tools. Providing examples of complex financial models you've built can set you apart from other candidates.
Demonstrate Communication Skills: Since strong communication is key for this role, include examples of how you've translated financial insights into actionable guidance for stakeholders. This will show your ability to influence strategic decisions effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sophos Group
✨Understand the Role and Company
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand Sophos and its role in the cybersecurity industry. Familiarise yourself with their products, especially those related to R&D and Cloud FinOps, as this will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and knowledge during the conversation.
✨Showcase Your Financial Modelling Skills
Given the emphasis on advanced Excel modelling skills in the job description, be prepared to discuss your experience with financial models. Bring examples of complex models you've built or maintained, and be ready to explain your thought process and the impact of these models on decision-making.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and strategic thinking. Think about past experiences where you successfully managed budgeting, forecasting, or cost optimisation initiatives, and be ready to share specific outcomes and lessons learned.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
Strong communication skills are crucial for this role. Practice articulating financial insights in a way that is clear and actionable for both technical and business stakeholders. Use examples from your previous roles to illustrate how you've effectively communicated complex information.