AWS Financial Accountant in Crawley

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Maternity cover 15 months

Crawley - Hybrid 3 days

We are seeking an experienced Project Accountant to join our Finance team on a maternity cover basis. This is an exciting opportunity to support a major programme as well as wider business activities, bids, and projects within a growing and dynamic environment.

Reporting to the Finance Lead, you will play a key role in providing robust financial control, project accounting support, budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting. You will work closely with Project Managers and Project Controllers to ensure the financial performance of projects is accurately monitored and reported, while supporting strategic business decisions through high-quality financial analysis and insight.

• Provide financial control, reporting and analysis across projects and business activities.
• Partner with Project Managers and Project Controllers to monitor project performance, costs and forecasts.
• Produce accurate monthly financial reporting, including variance analysis and management commentary.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and long-term business planning activities.
• Ensure project financial data is correctly maintained within ERP and reporting systems.
• Support bid activities through financial validation, pricing analysis and governance reviews.
• Monitor project cash flow, risks and opportunities, providing clear financial insight to stakeholders.
• Assist with internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with financial and regulatory requirements.
• Support compliance with IFRS 15 and, where applicable, MoD SSRO/DefCARS reporting requirements.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis and support to the Finance Lead.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience in Project Accounting within a complex project or programme environment.
• Strong Financial Accounting knowledge and understanding of management reporting principles.
• Experience preparing budgets, forecasts and financial performance analysis.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Experience supporting audits and financial governance activities.
• Confident stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems knowledge.
• Professional accounting qualification such as CIMA or ACCA.

• Knowledge of IFRS 15 revenue recognition.
• Experience of DefCARS reporting and MoD SSRO regulations.
• Experience working with ERP systems, TM1, ANAPLAN and project management tools such as Primavera.
• Exposure to bid finance, pricing and business planning activities.

This role offers the opportunity to gain exposure across a broad range of finance activities, from project accounting and financial control through to bids, forecasting, business planning and strategic decision support. You'll work with a collaborative team, contribute to high-profile programmes and play a key role in driving financial performance and business success.

Security Clearance Requirement: Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities.

Join Thales in the UK – Innovate with us and shape the future!