FP&A Manager (H/F) - GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED (UK) in Wolverhampton

Safran is an international high-tech group operating in the fields of aeronautics (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defence. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes increasingly environmentally friendly, comfortable, and accessible. The Group employs 100,000 people worldwide with a revenue of €27.3 billion in 2024, holding leading positions in its markets either alone or in partnership.

Safran Electronics & Defense offers its clients embedded intelligence solutions that allow them to understand their environment, reduce mental load, and ensure trajectory, even in critical situations, across all environments: on land, at sea, in the sky, or in space. The company leverages the expertise of its 13,000 employees to serve three functions: observe, decide, and guide, for both civil and military markets.

Mission description

Working closely with the Finance Director and Value Stream Finance Managers, you will provide insightful financial analysis and commercial support to articulate business performance across the Wolverhampton site, helping to inform strategic decision-making and drive sustainable growth. You will take ownership of the budgeting, forecasting, and month-end reporting processes, ensuring robust financial planning and the delivery of key business objectives.

In this highly visible role, you will play a key part in driving operational excellence, identifying opportunities to enhance margins, optimise costs, and create value across the organisation. Acting as a trusted business partner, you will challenge and support stakeholders to deliver against their commitments while contributing to growth and transformation initiatives.

You will lead financial oversight for Capital Expenditure (Capex), Payroll, Engineering, and other central cost areas, ensuring strong financial control and governance. In addition, you will manage and develop a talented finance team comprising qualified, part-qualified, and entry-level professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development through coaching, mentoring, and leadership.

• Lead, develop and manage a finance team to ensure high performance and accountability.
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships and ensure the leadership team are aware and informed financially to guide improved decision making.
• Own the annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range planning process.
• Design and implement financial models to aid key business decision making and continually improve budgeting, financial projections, and operating forecasts.
• Be a critical stakeholder in Value Stream business reviews to take ownership of creating and consolidating the Wolverhampton financial packs and to articulate the business performance message to non-finance leaders.
• Take ownership of scenario planning and sensitivity analysis (e.g. material cost inflation, FX, program impact).
• Support various functional teams (Operations, Programmes, Engineering etc) with cost control, margin analysis, and business cases.
• Translate financial insights into operational levers and drivers to maximise performance.
• Ensure compliance with Safran Group financial policies, statutory requirements, and internal controls.
• Act as a strategic partner with supply chain, operations, programmes and engineering to drive efficiencies and support project delivery, cost control, margin expansion and business case development.
• Support cashflow forecasting, working capital, and treasury processes.
• Continuously improve financial processes, reporting tools, and ERP system utilisation.
• Support Capital Investment appraisal and external funding process.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Qualified accountant (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a manufacturing or similar environment.
• Excellent financial planning, analysis, and reporting skills.
• Ability to digest and manipulate complex data sets to translate into meaningful information.
• Strong leadership behaviours to project a vision, engage and develop a finance team and to drive accountability.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a matrixed or global organisation.
• Knowledge of Aerospace.
• Experience with digital finance transformation or automation tools.
• Exposure to capital investment analysis and cost accounting.
• Lean / continuous improvement mindset.