Introduction
Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.
The Role:
Reporting into our Head of Finance, you will provide experienced operational ownership of accounting, financial control and assigned compliance delivery within Saab UK Finance. Deliver a reliable month-end work routine, maintain balance sheet quality, coordinate audit activity and ensure processes operate with appropriate controls.
Key Responsibilities:
Month-End and Accounting Delivery:
Own and coordinate the operational close work routines
Prepare or coordinate assigned journals, accruals, allocations and other accounting activities
Review accounting outputs and resolve or escalate exceptions
Maintain close procedures, audit trails and cover arrangements
Reconciliations and Balance Sheet Quality:
Own operational reconciliation completion, review and evidence retention
Ensure balances are supported and reconciling items have clear owners and resolution dates
Review aged, unsupported or unusual balances and coordinate corrective action
Maintain accounting integrity through investigation and documented resolution of issues
Review accounting treatment, presentation and classification of material transactions and balances
Identify and Escalate accounting matters requiring judgement and provide recommendations
Reporting:
Own monthly validation of assigned corporate function reporting
Ensure reporting reconciles to accounting records and all key review controls are evidenced
Support reporting governance
Analyse reporting outputs to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
Escalate significant reporting concerns and emerging risks promptly
Monthly Assurance Reporting:
Financial close completion
Reconciliation status
VAT and PAYE compliance
Internal control completion
Audit readiness
Significant accounting matters
Balance sheet risks and emerging compliance risks
Compliance Execution:
Own preparation, coordination and submission of assigned VAT returns, reconciliations, supporting evidence and internal controls and checks
Coordinate PAYE payment preparation, reconciliations and compliance checks within the agreed remit
Own and post payroll journal preparation or coordination and discrepancy investigation
Coordinate P11D preparation and supporting information where applicable
Support the ICM calendar, deadlines, evidence and escalation arrangements
Escalate uncertain tax treatments and significant compliance risks and support specialist advice where required
Support and operate assigned controls under the approved framework
Support maintenance of tax control frameworks and provision of evidence required for tax governance and Senior Accounting Officer (SAO) compliance activities where applicable
Audit Coordination:
Coordinate assigned audit activities, audit schedules, statutory account support schedules, disclosures, supporting documents and evidence collection, ensuring evidence is accurate, complete and accessible
Track audit actions and coordinate agreed remediation
Report progress, overdue requests and emerging issues to the Head of Finance
Contribution and Continuous Improvement:
Work closely with Accounting Services in Sweden
Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve financial processes, controls, reporting and overall operational effectiveness
Share best practices, challenge existing ways of working and support Finance transformation initiatives that enhance efficiency, scalability and reporting quality
Assurance and Communication:
Provide evidence-based assurance that allows the Head of Finance to oversee outcomes
Maintain oversight of key statutory, compliance and reporting obligations, providing early visibility of risks, material issues, control deficiencies and potential delivery constraints to enable timely management action
Communicate priorities, deadlines and emerging risks
Experience and Skills:
Recognised professional accountancy qualification
Significant hands-on financial accounting or financial control experience
Demonstrable ownership of closing tasks, reconciliations and balance sheet review
Practical experience of relevant UK VAT, PAYE and payroll accounting processes
Experience of audit coordination
Strong understanding of accounting integrity
Strong analytical skills and proficiency in spreadsheets
Clear communication, sound judgement and disciplined deadline management
Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process improvements
Strong stakeholder management skills
Commercial awareness and a focus on cost control, efficiency and value creation
By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview