At a Glance
- Tasks: Partner with Defence leaders to drive financial performance and support strategic decision-making.
- Company: Join Serco, a leader in Defence services with a commitment to innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private healthcare, bonus scheme, and extensive career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid role with travel; diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in Defence operations while developing your finance skills.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with Defence sector experience and strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Salary - Competitive + Strong Benefits Package
Permanent - Full Time
Hybrid role with expectations to travel nationally.
At Serco, our Defence business plays a critical role in supporting military capability, operational readiness, and essential defence services across the UK. We are looking for an experienced Finance Business Partner with a strong Defence sector background to support a complex and operationally focused portfolio.
This role is a key strategic finance position within our Defence business unit, partnering directly with operational and commercial leaders to drive financial performance, support growth, and influence decision-making across critical services and contracts. You will operate in a fast-paced environment where strong stakeholder management, commercial judgement, and resilience are essential. This role requires someone who can confidently challenge senior leaders, navigate complexity, and provide meaningful insight that improves operational and financial outcomes.
What you’ll be doing:
- Partner with Defence business leaders to provide strategic financial and commercial support.
- Deliver insight and analysis to support profitable and sustainable contract performance.
- Lead long-range planning, and scenario analysis activities.
- Support operational leaders in understanding financial performance, risks, and opportunities.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and identify efficiencies across contracts and services.
- Provide commercial support around contract changes, rebids, extensions, and customer negotiations.
- Challenge assumptions and influence decision-making to improve business performance.
- Work closely with operational, commercial, and finance teams across the wider business.
- Support governance and ensure strong financial control and accountability.
What we’re looking for:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA or equivalent).
- Previous experience within the Defence sector is essential.
- Strong commercial finance and business partnering background within a complex operational environment.
- Experience supporting large-scale contracts, programmes, or service-based operations.
- Excellent senior stakeholder management and influencing capability.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex financial information.
- Experience driving transformation, process improvement, or operational efficiencies.
- Ability to operate with confidence, credibility, and resilience in a demanding environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance operational priorities and financial performance.
Additional Requirements:
- Must currently hold, or be eligible and willing to undergo, SC (Security Check) Clearance.
Why join us:
This is an opportunity to join a highly visible finance team supporting critical Defence operations and services. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, contribute to strategic decision-making, and play a key role in driving performance and continuous improvement across an important area of the business.
What we offer:
- Company car / £4200 cash alternative.
- Private healthcare.
- Bonus scheme of up to 20%.
- Pension - 6%.
- Serco discounts including cinema, Merlin Entertainment and online shopping discounts, and discounts on mobile phone plans and leisure centre memberships.
- A range of benefits to support the health and wellbeing of you and your family such as Employee Assistance Programme, Simply Health Cash Plans, and more.
- A wealth of career development training to suit your future aspirations. These range from role-specific training, leadership coaching, formal study and much more to support you to build your career with Serco.
At Serco, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. We encourage applications from diverse candidate pools and are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas.
Strategic Defence Finance Partner in London employer: Serco North America
At Serco, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, particularly for those in the Defence sector. Our hybrid work model, competitive salary, and robust benefits package—including private healthcare and a generous bonus scheme—reflect our commitment to employee wellbeing and professional growth. Join us to collaborate with senior leaders in a dynamic environment where your insights will directly influence strategic decisions and drive operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Defence Finance Partner in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the Defence sector, attend industry events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Strategic Defence Finance Partner role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Serco and understanding their Defence operations. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs and how you can drive financial performance. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your commercial acumen! During discussions, highlight your ability to balance operational priorities with financial performance. Use real examples from your past roles to demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Serco.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Defence Finance Partner in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Strategic Defence Finance Partner role. Highlight your experience in the Defence sector and any relevant financial achievements. We want to see how your background aligns with what we’re looking for!
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 specific examples of how you've influenced decision-making and improved financial performance in previous roles. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to manage and influence senior stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can confidently challenge assumptions and provide meaningful insights, so don’t hold back on sharing your experiences!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at Serco North America
✨Know Your Defence Sector Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and challenges in the Defence sector. Being able to discuss current events or recent changes will show that you're not just knowledgeable but also genuinely interested in the field.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect to face questions that require you to think on your feet, especially around financial performance and decision-making. Practise articulating how you've handled complex situations in the past, focusing on your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills
Since this role involves working closely with senior leaders, be ready to share examples of how you've successfully influenced decision-making in previous roles. Highlight your communication style and how you simplify complex financial information for non-financial stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate Your Resilience and Adaptability
The Defence sector can be fast-paced and demanding, so it's crucial to convey your ability to thrive under pressure. Share stories that illustrate your resilience and how you've driven transformation or process improvements in challenging environments.
