Director Government and Bid Finance, Cost Office

Location: Reading, United Kingdom

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

Director, Bid Finance, Cost Office, MOD Finance (UK Eyes Only)

Crawley, Green Park, Bristol, or Carlton Gardens (other TUK sites considered) 

Are you seeking a highly strategic, transversal role that will be central to the growth and EBIT ambitions of Thales UK? As the Director Finance, Cost Office, MoD Finance (BFCOMF) you will play a pivotal role in leading on articulation of the purpose, direction and clarity of the function to a broad range of Domain Finance, Bid Finance and Cost Office Stakeholders,  so that costing, pricing and customer value for all prospects are fully transparent and align totally with our key customer’s expectations.

Central to success in this role will be your ability to drive the necessary consistency, efficiency, and governance in the interpretation, understanding and application of MoD pricing approach and BFCOMF activity across the bid and project cycles – maximising our opportunity for winning contracts, whilst achieving the best possible margin.

This is a generational opportunity to work with the UK CFO in shaping and evolving the strategic and tactical plan for our new BFCOMF function, whilst ensuring Thales UK continue to develop and sustain an enduring and trusted relationship with key MoD stakeholders. As Director BFCOMF you will be front and centre of the endeavour to achieve greater growth and net margin across the UK domains and Business Lines. It will bring elevated levels of visibility and engagement at senior levels, building and complimenting your skills and experience, as part of a longer-term career path within Senior Finance, Bid and Projects or Unit Management.

Accountabilities

This is a truly career enhancing opportunity with a broad range of activities, interfaces, and deliverables. Key responsibilities include:

• Development and improvement of BFCOMF staff capability and competency, whilst leading the development for all Bid types, of an integrated estimating and negotiation capability for UK business units

• Leading and supporting in the understanding and compliance with the Single source legislation (specifically the Defence Reform Act 2014 and the Single source contract regulations),

• Supporting the subsequent transparency for the statutory project and supplier reports in DEFCARS (Reporting compliance) for single source projects and qualifying business units during the project life cycle.

• Leading engagement with MOD Commercial and SSPS team on matters to support the MOD procurement decisions to achieve value for Money but also a FAIR price for TUKL.

•  Closely collaborating with BLs and Domain Finance teams to align both the internal and external rate construct and the timely production of rates to be used for the purposes of pricing and costing.

• Managing the BFCOMF Team to ensure accurate cost estimation and competitive intelligence for bids - ensuring the highest possible margin, effective delivery of technical output and customer value.

• Agreement of the annual plan for MOD business unit rate promulgation with SSPS, inc. QMAC changes and general principles and subsequent promulgation agreement /negotiation with MOD Commercial

• Understanding the regulatory compliance and ongoing updates and changes including the specific contract pricing methods, components, and contract profit rates.

• Providing the platform for adoption, adherence, and delivery of effective, best in class methodologies across Thales UK, sustained through appropriate process and assured through transparency, review, and audit.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following Minimum Viable Experience.

• Qualified accountant or demonstrable experience as Finance Director or Commercial Director in complex, highly matrixed organisations.

• Understanding of contract bidding and commercial management within programme-led Defence, Aerospace, or highly regulated industries

• Clear knowledge and experience of UK MoD programme delivery and the associated financial processes, incumbent upon Prime and subcontractor partners

• Ability to engage, lead and influence a broad range of functional and business line stakeholders, as evidenced by the delivery transformational change and performance improvement.

• Meet all of the security requirements for supporting UK Eyes Only programmes and customers.

Closing date for applications: close of business 14th April 2026

First round interviews will provisionally be scheduled for w/c 20 April.

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. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.

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