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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Analyse costs to optimise performance and support decision-making.
- Company: Join BAE Systems, a leader in global defence innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and extensive health perks.
- Why this job: Shape the future of defence while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in cost accounting and strong problem-solving skills required.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal growth in an inclusive culture.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 60000 £ per year.
Job title: Cost Base Accountant (Edgewing)
Location: Reading area. The role could be contracted to any BAE Systems site (preferably Frimley) but on commencement will immediately be assigned to our Edgewing JV in the Reading area. A financial support package may be available to enable this assignment if required, dependent on certain criteria being met. Due to the nature of this assignment, we envisage there will be a need for mostly on site working, however, flexible working arrangements may be possible – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role.
Salary: £53,211+
What you’ll be doing
- Analyse the organisation cost base in order to support performance optimisation and decision-making, producing regular as well as ad-hoc reporting to be presented to senior budget holders
- Analysis of monthly actuals to understand key drivers for both labour and non-labour costs, including a focus on throughput and utilisation metrics as well as overhead management
- Support the calculation of rates and price investigation through subject matter expertise on the organisation’s cost structure
- Supporting budget holders with ad-hoc queries
- Support the delivery of optimisation initiatives for the business through ad-hoc pieces of work as required
Your skills and experiences
Essentials:
- Experience of cost and management accounting
- Good understanding of the key drivers of organisational efficiency
- Ability to collaborate with stakeholders of various seniorities and backgrounds, relaying financial concepts in a simple and understandable manner
- Problem solving mentality and ability to work in a fast-moving and dynamic environment
Desirable:
- Proven experience in establishing processes and workflows for new teams at project inception
- Relevant financial qualification (or studying towards it, depending on the level of seniority)
Benefits
As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.
The Edgewing – Finance Team
By joining Edgewing, you will have a unique opportunity to help shape the company from the ground up, setting the foundations for generations to come, influencing how we work, and helping us build something world-class together. At Edgewing, we’re united by a shared purpose to drive what’s next in defence – uniting UK, Italian, and Japanese expertise to shape the future of global defence. With trust at the heart of everything we do, we empower our people to dare to go beyond, bring their best as one, and leave a mark that matters on a truly global mission, making a lasting impact through work that truly matters.
Why BAE Systems?
This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.
Closing Date: 16th December 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
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Cost Base Accountant employer: BAE Systems
Contact Detail:
BAE Systems Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cost Base Accountant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the key drivers of organisational efficiency. Understanding these concepts will help you engage in meaningful conversations with stakeholders and demonstrate your expertise during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the finance and accounting sectors, especially those who have experience in cost management. This can provide you with insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've contributed to performance optimisation in previous roles. Being able to articulate your problem-solving skills and experiences will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Research BAE Systems and their Edgewing initiative thoroughly. Understanding their mission and values will allow you to tailor your discussions and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their goals.
We think you need these skills to ace Cost Base Accountant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Cost Base Accountant position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in cost and management accounting. Provide specific examples of how you've analysed cost bases or supported budget holders in previous roles.
Showcase Problem-Solving Skills: BAE Systems values a problem-solving mentality. Include examples in your application that demonstrate your ability to tackle challenges in a fast-paced environment, particularly related to financial analysis and reporting.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'stakeholder collaboration' and 'organisational efficiency', to ensure your application stands out.
How to prepare for a job interview at BAE Systems
✨Understand the Cost Base
Make sure you have a solid grasp of cost and management accounting principles. Be prepared to discuss how you would analyse an organisation's cost base and support performance optimisation.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your problem-solving mentality. Think of situations where you've had to work in a fast-paced environment and how you tackled challenges effectively.
✨Communicate Financial Concepts Clearly
Practice explaining complex financial concepts in simple terms. You may need to relay information to stakeholders from various backgrounds, so clarity is key.
✨Be Ready for Stakeholder Collaboration
Think about your past experiences working with different stakeholders. Be ready to share how you collaborated with others to achieve common goals, especially in relation to budget holders and ad-hoc queries.
