Finance Director - UK Aviation

As a Finance Director - UK Aviation, you'll have a role that's out of the ordinary. You will be a core member of the senior leadership team, shaping strategy and driving sustainable growth across a complex, regulated and safety critical aviation business. This is a highly influential leadership role that combines strategic finance, commercial insight and people leadership, offering the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on national capability while accelerating your own executive career.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial strategy for the United Kingdom Aviation business, supporting performance, growth and long‑term value creation.
• Provide commercial and financial leadership to the senior leadership team, influencing strategic and operational decisions.
• Drive robust investment appraisal, governance and risk management across complex programmes and bids.
• Develop and inspire a high‑performing finance team within a multi‑site, international environment.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to optimise margins, manage contracts and support future opportunities.

This role is full time, 37.5 hours per week, based at any of our main UK locations, with hybrid working patterns available. Regular travel to other Babcock and customer sites will be expected.

Essential Experience

• Senior finance leadership experience within a complex, multi‑site organisation.
• Proven success in improving financial performance and supporting business growth.
• Strong commercial capability, including managing risk, margins and long‑term contracts.
• Significant experience of investment appraisal and strategic financial decision‑making.
• Background within aviation, defence, military or similarly regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified accountant, such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Management Accountant or equivalent.
• Executive or leadership development qualifications would be advantageous.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Finance Director - UK Aviation based at one of our UK Hubs. We’re Babcock – a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts – not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work‑life balance.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10 days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This window opens February through to March annually.
• 'Be Kind Day' enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.