Location: Belfast, United Kingdom
Primary Purpose and Key Responsibilities
Thales IAS UK is now searching for a talented leader to join the team as the Product Cost Controller. As the Product Cost Controller, you will be responsible for shaping and providing accurate finances across a portfolio of products. The role is broad and will be a challenging & rewarding opportunity where your contribution will have a real impact on the success of the business as a whole. You will be central to the strategic financial leadership of product costing and budgeting, ensuring the product costs are accurately accounted for and optimally managed. You will lead a high‑performing product account team, collaborate extensively across industry, programmes, finance, engineering functions, and embed financial rigor and innovation to drive programme profitability and compliance with SSRO and necessary commercial regulations.
Main Responsibilities
- Spearhead the strategic management of product cost accounting frameworks aligned with Thales’ objectives.
- Drive efficiency and enable value‑added financial analytics by streamlining costing processes, enhancing reporting capabilities tailored for the IAS product portfolios.
- Lead and mentor the product accounting team, including Product Cost Specialists and Analysts, fostering technical excellence and awareness of defence sector financial compliance.
- Oversee the accurate delivery, analysis, and review of product Unit Product Costs (UPC) and monthly product cost portfolio accounts, ensuring financial integrity & rigour.
- Collaborate closely with cross‑functional teams including Product Managers, Project Managers, Industry Managers, and the wider IAS Finance function to support integrated business planning and programme cost management.
- Ensure timely preparation and rigorous validation of contract estimates, oversee Strategic Business Plans, Multi‑Year Budgets, rolling forecasts completed by product cost specialists, providing critical input to support defence programme investment and risk assessment.
- Ensure visibility & compliance with SSRO (Single Source Regulations Office) reporting and related defence financial governance requirements, proactively identifying risks and implementing controls to safeguard programme integrity.
- Lead continual advancement in product costing methodologies and digital transformation initiatives by leveraging Oracle ERP, business intelligence portals, and bespoke defence financial reporting tools.
- Provide executive management with accurate and comprehensive financial information to guide effective policy making and financial strategising.
- Ensure full adherence to UK GAAP, IFRS, Chorus 2.0, MOD contracting standards, and internal control policies; escalating governance issues and financial risk concerns to senior finance leadership.
- Provide expert financial guidance to project controls and programme management teams to optimise defence project delivery and audit readiness.
- Champion improvements in data quality and accounting practices to enhance forecasting accuracy and strategic decision making.
- Act as a strategic financial business partner and trusted advisor to senior management, delivering insightful business cases and cost analyses that inform critical defence investment and operational decisions.
- Foster a culture of compliance, innovation, and continuous improvement within the finance team, aligned with Thales’ commitment to excellence and learning company.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Highly motivated, with a proven track record of shaping the direction of a manufacturing business.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build relationships with a variety of stakeholders across the business.
- Excellent attention to detail with the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload to meet agreed deadlines.
- Five years’ relevant experience in a manufacturing environment, operating at a leadership level.
- Strong knowledge of ERP systems (ideally Oracle), proven ability to transform & adapt effectively in a timely manner.
- Fully qualified Accountant (e.g. via CIMA, ACA, ACCA, ICAI, etc.) or qualified by experience.
Security and Compliance Requirements
In line with Thales’ Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…