You will quickly become involved in delivering the financial and operational performance that grows our dynamic business, and in meeting the high expectations of our customers and shareholders alike.

It’s everything you’d expect from an advanced finance programme – with the added bonus of involving you in some really outstanding projects. You’ll answer questions like: ‘Have risks been understood and are cash flow projections for major projects realistic?’ ‘Have budgets for existing projects been properly issued, and do our business forecasts demonstrate all achievable outcomes?’ And you’ll answer them knowing they relate to tangible results on spectacular projects: a NATO Class land based air defence radar system for example, or some of the most advanced multi-function maritime radar anywhere in the world.

As you progress within the FLDP, you’ll be constantly developing your expertise, and will soon understand why it’s so enthusiastically championed by finance members and board directors alike, right throughout the business.

Development Structure
This programme represents a structured and fully supported route to the highly respected Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) qualifications, and this has made it as highly regarded as it is both within the profession and internally at BAE Systems.

However, we’ve ensured that it offers a broader commitment to learning and development. It’s been designed to equip you with the widest range of skills and competencies, and to enable you to develop your capabilities to the full.

You will be given all the tools and support you need to perform to your best, alongside regular performance appraisals and development planning to keep you on track. Be in no doubt that it will demand total dedication and determination on your part – and also that it will open the way to one of the most satisfying careers in this or any other industry.

Programme Timeline

• Your Buddy
  As soon as you accept an offer of employment at BAE Systems, you will be assigned a ‘buddy’ – someone on the FLDP, and usually based at your first year placement location, who’ll be there to help you settle in and find your way around. You’ll also have the chance to visit the location of your first FLDP placement and meet the team there.
• Your Induction
  Prior to the start of your first placement, you’ll benefit from a week-long residential induction. This includes some IT and finance training, business simulations, team building activities and a chance to meet both existing FLDP graduates and senior finance personnel.
• Your Placements
  Then, it’s into a great five-year programme, which will give you three year-long placements followed by a two-year placement within different Business Groups. This will ensure you gain a breadth of experience across our many sites, projects and cultures, all of which will contribute to your portfolio of skills and experience.
• Your Training
  In the first three years, your training will be focused on helping you attain your CIMA qualification. During this time, you’ll also attend three residential interactive modules aimed at developing your interpersonal skills and allowing you to network with other graduates across the business.
  
• Your mentor
  You’ll be allocated a corporate mentor, who’ll be there with all sorts of advice and guidance regarding your career.
• Your Workshops
  Enabling you to share knowledge as you go along is extremely important to us. So, you’ll be attending our annual FLDP Conference and also individual year group workshops – and perhaps you’ll even take responsibility for organising one of these events in a small team! You’ll also be invited to our annual graduate conference – a memorable part of your learning experience and great fun too.
• Other Activities
  You’ll also get the chance to attend university careers fairs and presentations. And once you’re in your fourth year and beyond, you will be trained as an assessor. Here you will have the chance to get involved in recruiting the future talent of FLDP.
  All in all, you’ll find it a programme packed with benefits and opportunities.

In the FLDP we are looking for potential finance leaders of our global business to start their CIMA training in a real role on 11th August 2008.

Candidates need:

• 280 UCAS points (or the equivalent)
• 2:1 degree in any discipline

Although our academic requirements are high, they are not our only selection criteria. You’ll need to be resilient and flexible, analytical yet practical, dynamic and entrepreneurial, and focused on taking responsibility for your own progression. Finance at BAE Systems is a very hands-on profession and will involve working in demanding industrial environments, so the tact, confidence and tenacity to challenge accepted practices and robustly manage cost savings at ground level will be important. 

Finally, you must be prepared to move to new locations on an annual basis throughout your training to get the most out of the FLDP. You must also have a UK work permit and be able to successfully attain security clearance.