At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Finance Director in transforming and stabilising the finance function.
- Company: AWE, a pivotal organisation focused on national safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 9-day working fortnight, generous leave, and a market-leading pension scheme.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; we value diverse applicants and encourage you to apply.
- Why this job: Shape a critical finance function and contribute to a nationally important mission.
- Qualifications: Qualified finance leader with experience in complex environments and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Contract: Fixed term – 6 -12 months
Location: Green Park, Reading (free onsite parking)
Ready to play your part? At AWE, it’s not just a job, it’s far more than that. Our shared purpose is to help keep the nation safe. Could this role be the opportunity for you to play your part? AWE is entering a pivotal phase of transformation and programme delivery, requiring strong financial leadership to ensure operational robustness and strategic clarity.
We are seeking an experienced Finance Leader to support the Finance Director in overseeing a complex finance function during a period of transition. This role will be instrumental in stabilising operations, strengthening financial control and reporting, and driving improved performance across the function. You will operate at a senior level, providing insight, challenge and leadership in a highly regulated, nationally significant environment.
What do we expect from you?
- Support the Finance Director in stabilising and strengthening the finance function through a period of transformation
- Rapidly assimilate AWE’s financial position at a strategic level, providing insightful analysis and highlighting key risks, issues and opportunities to senior stakeholders
- Ensure delivery of accurate, timely and high-quality financial and management reporting
- Drive the integrity and consistency of financial data, ensuring a single version of the truth across corporate systems
- Ensure financial data is effectively structured to enable informed decision-making
- Provide technical accounting expertise across UK GAAP and IFRS
- Partner with the Finance Director to define and implement a target operating model
- Drive improvements in performance, accountability and outputs
- Identify inefficiencies and support resolution of capability gaps
We do need you to have experience of the following:
- A qualified, impactful Finance Director-level leader with experience operating in complex, multi-entity environments (ACA, CIMA or ACCA)
- Demonstrated experience partnering with Executive leadership teams and Board stakeholders
- Strong track record in finance transformation, process improvement, and performance uplift
- Deep expertise in financial reporting, governance, and control frameworks
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate financial data into clear, actionable insight
- Decisive, resilient and delivery-focused, with the ability to quickly build credibility in a complex environment
- A collaborative, people-centric leader with a track record of developing team capability and improving performance
- Experience in a regulated or arm’s length body preferable but not essential
The environment is complex, fast-moving and demanding. However, for the right individual, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape and strengthen a critical finance function, contributing directly to the success of a nationally important organisation.
Work hard, be rewarded:
- 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
- Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
- Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
- Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
- Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
- Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
- Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.
Hybrid working is available for this role on an informal, non-contractual basis. Typically 3 days onsite per week.
Next steps:
Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.
Important things you need to know:
- We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes.
- You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE.
- The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.
We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process. Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.
Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.
Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.
Assistant Finance Director in Reading employer: Atomic Weapons Establishment
At AWE, we pride ourselves on being more than just an employer; we are a community dedicated to making a difference. Our hybrid working model, combined with a 9-day working fortnight and generous benefits such as a market-leading pension scheme and extensive professional development opportunities, fosters a supportive and balanced work culture. Join us in Reading, where you can contribute to a vital mission while enjoying a rewarding career that values your growth and well-being.
Contact Details:
Atomic Weapons Establishment Recruitment Team
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