Senior Cost Performance Accountant

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Cost Performance Accountant

Location: Frimley; Surrey. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements -please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: £44,000 – £53,000 depending on experience and qualifications

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description:

The Senior Cost Performance Accountant is a key role within the Head Office FP&A team, responsible for supporting a portfolio of functions with high‑quality financial planning, analysis and insight. Working closely with senior stakeholders, including Executive Committee members and Finance Business Partners, you will provide day‑to‑day finance support, deliver robust forecasting and reporting, and help drive a clear understanding of cost performance. This role combines technical expertise with business partnering, enabling you to influence decisions and add value by helping stakeholders see beyond the numbers.

Core duties:

• Deliver month‑end reporting, budgeting, forecasting and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) for assigned Head Office functions
• Produce forward‑looking financial forecasts and identify underlying drivers of performance
• Analyse variances against budget, plan and prior year, providing clear and actionable insight
• Partner with senior stakeholders, acting as the primary Finance contact for day‑to‑day support and guidance
• Present financial performance insights to Functional Directors and Finance Business Partners
• Oversee headcount cost reporting, including tracking organisational changes and movements
• Manage balance sheet items relevant to your function, including accruals and prepayments

Essential Skills:

• Experience in financial planning and analysis, including forecasting, budgeting and planning cycles
• Management accounting experience, including month end close and variance analysis
• Advanced Excel capability, including data manipulation and financial modelling
• Experience using ERP systems and financial reporting tools (e.g. SAP, Tableau or similar)
• Part-qualified or fully qualified accountant (e.g. CIMA, ACCA, ICAEW) or equivalent experience

The FP&A Finance Team:

You’ll be joining a collaborative and high‑performing FP&A team of six, working at the centre of Head Office finance and closely supporting senior leaders and their functions. The team plays a key role in managing and shaping the organisation’s cost base, providing insight that directly influences decision‑making. This is a great opportunity to gain exposure to senior stakeholders, work across a broad range of functions, and be part of a team that adds real value through forward‑looking analysis and continuous improvement.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

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: 28th May 2026

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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