Contract Accountant

Draken Europe offers exciting careers that matter.

We believe that mission success does not start with the mission itself. It begins with our people.

We are currently seeking a Contract Accountant, which is a key role within the Draken Europe Finance team

Role Purpose

Responsibility for providing decision support and financial analysis to contract managers for specific contracts, ensuring the accurate reporting of financial performance for these (including meaningful variance analysis for actual, budgeted and forecast performance).

The role delivers monthly management accounts for each of its contracts, with a deep understanding of cost bases, overall contract costs to complete, and revenue recognition mechanisms. It ensures positive cash performance from the contracts in liaison with operational and commercial colleagues.

One of the core deliverables of the Contract Accountant is to liaise with, the contract customer, which can include the UK MOD, and for certain contract report cost performance. It also provides finance support to special projects and bids as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

Safety first. Operate at Draken Europe in accordance with the SHE standards. Identify where the SHE Standards are applicable to appointed operations/tasks and apply safe systems of work identified.

Financial

Primary owner of relevant contract financial models within Draken Europe, ensuring fidelity of structure and reporting, preparation of monthly variance analysis, liaison with the contract managers to ensure their inputs into the cost to complete estimates are timely, thorough and considered

Prepare inputs into finance reports submitted to the Senior Leadership Team and shareholder, and where required present such results

Provide insight into cost trends and ratios, enabling the contract management and leadership teams to address areas of concern as early as possible

Prepare annual budget/5YP for contracts and re-forecasting where required

Provide updated cashflow information to support short term weekly cash forecast for business

Reconcile contract balances held on the balance sheet and provide information to financial accounts team as required

Support with external audit queries in relation to contract balances

Where applicable, manage the MOD reporting timetable for key contracts under the Single Source Contract Regulations, and prepare all relevant cost certificates on timely basis to ensure these are reviewed and approved ahead of submission to the UK MOD in accordance with contract deadlines

Where applicable, liaise with external MOD auditors (including CAAS) as necessary

Provide support to the Senior Finance Business Partner where necessary with regard to other cost models

Other ad hoc financial analysis and support to the wider Finance team as required

People

Collaborate and work with the wider Finance team as well as other functions and operational colleagues, to support continuous improvement processes across the business (with a particular focus on Finance) and challenge the status quo, seeking efficiencies as part of a team effort at both functional and operational levels

Core Competencies

CIMA / ACCA / ACA qualified or part-qualified with demonstrable accounting experience and strong intellectual curiosity

Commercially-minded with excellent Microsoft Excel/financial modelling and analytical skills

Ability to work unsupervised, with the drive to understand complex, multi-faceted scenarios from a financial perspective

Prepared to work flexibly to achieve deadlines and multi-task, re-adjusting priorities and delivering accordingly, demonstrating a strong teamwork ethic

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work in cross-functional teams and to influence others at all levels of the organisation, applying healthy and vigorous challenge where appropriate

Able to build excellent working relationships with customers and colleagues alike

Able to present and communicate financial information to both Finance and non-Finance colleagues

Key Measures

Formal sign-off of robust cost models/contract reports on a monthly basis

Solid forecasts and budgets, demonstrable through actual performance/variance analysis

Effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including external ones

Draken Europe

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.

To us, diversity means bringing your own perspective to the conversation; inclusion means having a voice - and equality means that your voice is heard.

At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken Europe team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.

Intolerance has no place in our Company. We condemn it outright. Instead, we strive to create a culture where each person who joins our team feels they have the opportunity to succeed, to grow, and to work within an environment where they can be themselves.