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- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and drive growth in UK aviation defence.
- Company: Join Babcock, a leader in aviation and defence with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, matched pension, health perks, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with opportunities for volunteering and personal development.
- Why this job: Shape the future of UK aviation while advancing your executive career.
- Qualifications: Senior finance leadership experience and professional accounting qualification required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Location: Bristol, GB, BS16 1EJ; Warrington, GB, WA3 6YD; Portsmouth, GB, PO6 3EN; Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL1 4SG; Leicester, GB, LE3 1UF; Rosyth, Dunfermline; Kirkcaldy, GB, KY11 2YD; Westminster, London, GB, W1U 1QX
Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits
Role ID: SF73537
Shape the financial future of UK aviation defence and engineering.
About the 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. 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.
Work Details
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. 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.
Benefits
- 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 of special paid leave.
- Holiday Trading allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
- ‘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.
Additional information
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Finance Director - UK Aviation in Bristol employer: Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA.
Contact Detail:
Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director - UK Aviation in Bristol
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the aviation and finance sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching Babcock and understanding their role in UK aviation. Think about how your experience aligns with their needs and be ready to discuss specific examples. We want to see your passion and how you can contribute to shaping the financial future of aviation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Finance Director, leadership is key. Be sure to highlight your experience in leading teams and driving performance improvements. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others and make strategic decisions that support growth.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director - UK Aviation in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Director role. Highlight your senior finance leadership experience and any relevant achievements in complex, multi-site organisations. We want to see how you’ve driven financial performance and supported business growth!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for aviation and defence, and how your commercial capabilities can help shape our financial strategy. Let’s see your personality come through!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When filling out your application, make sure to showcase your experience with investment appraisal and strategic financial decision-making. We’re looking for someone who can manage risk and optimise margins, so don’t hold back on those details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. Plus, you’ll get all the latest updates about your application status directly from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA.
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the aviation sector and be ready to discuss how you've improved financial performance in previous roles. This shows you’re not just a numbers person but someone who can drive growth.
✨Understand the Business Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the UK aviation industry, especially in defence and engineering. Being able to speak knowledgeably about these topics will impress the interviewers and show that you’re proactive about understanding the environment you’ll be working in.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you’ve developed and inspired high-performing teams in complex environments. Highlight your experience in managing multi-site operations and how you’ve influenced strategic decisions. This is crucial for a role that requires strong people leadership.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and risk management capabilities. Think of specific situations where you had to make tough financial decisions or manage risks effectively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.