Lead Finance Business Partner in Bristol

Location: Ashton Vale, Bristol, or Corsham, Wiltshire

Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Lead Finance Business Partner at Ashton House (Bristol).

The role:

As a Lead Finance Business Partner, you’ll play a pivotal role in supporting the Skynet programme, one of the UK’s most vital defence and satellite infrastructure contracts. You’ll partner with operational teams, lead a small finance team, and take ownership of contract accounting and financial performance across a growing portfolio.

This is a high-impact role where you’ll influence strategic decisions, drive growth, and help shape the future of our Space Business Unit within Mission Systems. You’ll have the autonomy to lead your area, backed by strong governance and support, while developing your leadership and commercial acumen in a dynamic and fast-evolving environment.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with X days in the office/onsite and X days working from home based in Ashton House (Bristol) or Corsham (Wiltshire).

Day-to-day you’ll be:

• Leading financial planning and performance for a major defence contract, empowering teams with insights and driving operational excellence.
• Providing Directors and Heads of Business with accurate financial insights to drive performance.
• Producing clear, meaningful reports showing contract performance and variances.
• Collaborating with Project Managers to identify and mitigate financial risks.
• Building strong relationships with business leads and bidding teams.
• Supporting contract reviews and presenting to senior stakeholders.

Essential experience:

• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA preferred).
• Strong Excel modelling and Microsoft Office skills.
• Experience with IFS finance systems (desirable).
• Proven ability to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Confident, self-motivated team player with leadership potential.

Qualifications:

• Qualified Accountant (CIMA, ACCA or ACA).
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (desirable).

Security Clearance:

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

What we offer:

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare.
• Employee share scheme.
• 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 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 to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world for over a century. 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.