Location - Bristol
Contract - Permanent

Reporting to the Business Finance Manager this position co-ordinates the contract and management finance reporting (including any associated bank reporting and compliance) of the Ascent programme
This role also provides support to the programme and commercial managers in actuals review, forecast, budget and full contract estimate to completion (ETC) production as well as in their key decision making process.
Also supporting and working with other functions within the Finance department in all associated financial transactions.

To apply please go to Ascents website directly HERE
Key Responsibilities
Programme Financial Reporting

• Preparation and review of monthly programme transactions, liaising with other finance functions to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• Preparation of the monthly invoicing amounts including the incurred cost report information from the programme/operations for inclusion with overall Ascent Invoicing and reporting requirements
• Monthly Operational review and reforecast with Programme Managers of programme actuals
• Preparation and presentation of the monthly financial reporting packs including analysis and reforecast by month for current financial year, working with the programme teams, to ensure adherence with Ascent monthly reporting deadlines to the Ascent executive team and shareholders
• Preparation of monthly Contract Status Review (CSR) finance information for inclusion in monthly CSR pack
• Risk provision is reviewed in line with outstanding Risk schedules and costs
• Contract change/compensation event cost estimates and actuals management
• Continually improve the programme reporting, taking initiative to deliver coherent and accurate monthly and full contract ETC

Project Finance for programmes

• Manage and ensure banking requirements for each programme, as applicable, including bank withdrawal requests/transfers, payments requests with milestones verification, bank reporting, representations and warranties compliance.
• Verification of programme bank/loan balances
• Liaison with other finance functions in respect of WRAP instructions
• Preparation of Bank Operational models on time for the facility agent

Operating Models

• Preparation and presentation of Contract Operational Models including revised ETCs on a quarterly basis and for inclusion in the Annual budgets
• Maintenance of Operating models

Other

• Modelling Assistance on an ad hoc basis to support new programmes and contract contracts/ additional requirements eg Additional Design Tasks (ADTs)
• Maintaining and establishing relationships, where required, with Ascent banks at the programme level and their advisors
• Maintaining relationships with key stakeholders within the MOD UKMFTS project team

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Essential:

• Degree or appropriate professional qualification;
• Experience of contract and management accounting;
• Excellent Excel skills with confidence to understand, interrogate, check and change complex spreadsheets in line with best industry practice whether prepared within Ascent or externally;
• Attention to detail with ability to prepare concise summaries of information to explain movements in costs;
• Ability to work to deadlines and stand back and review own work;
• Ability to work with others, within and outside the finance department; and
• Ability to build strong relationships within Ascent and integrate with the programme teams to establish, understand and challenge programme costs.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Epicor accounting system and Excel connect
• Monte Carlo risk simulation e.g. @ Risk!;
• Knowledge of project appraisal techniques e.g. real, nominal and NPV analysis; and
• MOD/ public sector procurement

Dimensions
People:

• Work within the Business finance function team of two lead by the Business Finance Manager and in the wider Finance Team of six
• Working directly with the Programme teams
• Ad hoc support to Special Projects Finance Manager

Financial:

• Responsible for the financial reporting of the Programmes Cost Budgets

Other:
Ensure that they work in an effective collaborative manner with internal and external stakeholders, displaying the appropriate behaviours at all times

Benefits
In return, we will provide you with a generous benefits package including the equivalent to 25 days annual leave, a Defined Contribution Pension plan, access to a range of flexible benefits, an Employee Assistance Programme, and Private Medical Insurance.

Our Values

One Ascent Team
Ability and evidence of being a role model of Ascent values:
Responsive

• Hours not days; days not weeks
• Giving the best possible answer every time
  Respectful

• Listening to everyone's views
• Professional & supportive to all our partners and colleagues
  Safe

• Total Safety: Airsafety, HSSE & Airworthiness
• Immediate escalation of issues

Security

Successful candidates will need to satisfy Ministry of Defence Security requirements and may be required to complete a medical assessment.

Conflicts of Interest

In order to discharge Ascent's primary UKMFTS duty to the MOD to identify and avoid or mitigate conflicts of interest in conjunction with our activities as MOD's Training Service Partner, Ascent must ensure that no employee or secondee working for Ascent is materially restricted by any conflict of interest when carrying out duties and functions on its behalf. Therefore, candidates who are currently working for or have been employed during the previous 2 years by organisations such as MOD, Babcock, Lockheed Martin or any related group entity or any organisation bidding into the UKMFTS contract should note that Ascent reserves the right to request further information in relation to that candidate's current or previous employment history and/or take other appropriate steps to ensure Ascent's full compliance with its primary obligation. Any concerns you have should be discussed with the Ascent HR representative prior to submitting of a Curriculum Vitae.

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Privacy Statement for Job Applicants

To apply please go to Ascents website directly HERE