S

Saab

Global defense contractor supplying fighter jets

Finance Manager

Full-TimeDeadline 1/16/27
$132k - $171.6k+ Employee stock purchase opportunity
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA
Auburn Hills, MI, USA+1 moreMore locations: Syracuse, NY, USA
In PersonOn-site in Auburn Hills or Syracuse.
Finance & BankingCorporate Finance & FP&A
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field with 16 or more years of progressive experience, including a significant portion directly related to Financial Management, or a master's degree with 14 or more years of relevant experience.
  • Demonstrated experience leading a finance, accounting, business management, or multidisciplinary team, including hiring, talent development, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial systems.
  • Ability to analyze and interpret financial data.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders while working cross-functionally.
  • Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across global teams.
  • Ability to obtain a U.S. Government Security Clearance, if required.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Must pass a pre-employment drug screen.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as the principal financial advisor to the Advanced Weapons leadership team, providing independent financial judgment, executive decision support, and end-to-end financial oversight for the organization.
  • Lead the division’s financial planning and performance management, including the annual budget, five-year business plan, quarterly forecasts, financial operating rhythm, and performance metrics, while maintaining accountability for profitability, cash flow, working capital, risk management, and forecast accuracy.
  • Partner with Program Managers to manage program financial performance by providing reporting packages and dashboards that support timely variance analysis and help identify key drivers, risks, and trends.
  • Support the preparation of program Estimates at Completion (EACs) and Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting.
  • Support bidding and proposal activities, including pricing exercises and business case development.
  • Assist the Manufacturing and Supply Chain organizations with tracking and forecasting material costs.
  • Maintain strong financial controls and documentation across the portfolio.
  • Assist the Accounting, Contracts, and Subcontracts teams in complying with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) requirements for proposal submissions and negotiations.
  • Serve as the external audit interface for programs selected for review.
  • Travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.
  • Manage a team of 3–5 direct reports.
Desired Qualifications
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or another relevant advanced degree or professional certification.
  • Leadership experience in aerospace and defense, U.S. Government contracting, a scaling technology company, a data- and analytics-intensive business, or a leading consulting or professional services firm.
  • Proficiency in Earned Value Management (EVM) concepts, systems, and reporting.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and CAS requirements, DCAA or DCMA audits and business system reviews, forward pricing rates, and government proposals.
  • Experience in program finance or project-based economics, including revenue recognition, Estimates at Completion (EACs), margin realization, backlog, cash flow, and working capital.
  • Experience leading ERP, enterprise planning, business intelligence, data governance, automation, or AI-enabled finance initiatives.
  • Experience supporting rapid growth, acquisitions, business integration, organizational redesign, or the development of scalable finance capabilities.
  • Track record of recruiting, developing, and retaining high-performing teams with diverse finance, accounting, technology, analytics, and business backgrounds.
  • Experience with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), multinational reporting, intercompany transactions, and transfer pricing.
  • Experience operating in a regulated, government contracting, or similarly complex compliance environment, with the ability to understand and oversee the financial implications of contractual and regulatory requirements.

About the company

Saab is a Swedish defense and security company that supplies governments with advanced weapons, sensors, and protection across air, sea, and cyberspace. Its main offerings include Gripen fighter jets, radar and surveillance systems, and unmanned underwater vehicles. Saab’s products work by integrating sophisticated airframes and engines with cutting-edge sensors, data links, and control software to detect, track, and defend against threats; its unmanned underwater vehicles perform reconnaissance and mine countermeasures, while its cybersecurity and defense systems protect networks and critical infrastructure. Saab differentiates itself through its long history in military aviation, a portfolio that spans air, sea, and cyber capabilities, and a focus on integrated, turnkey defense solutions rather than consumer products. The company’s goal is to be a trusted global partner for governments, delivering reliable, comprehensive defense and security technology and services.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Stockholms kommun, Sweden

Founded

1937

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 order backlog hit SEK318 billion after Poland’s SEK47 billion submarine contract.
  • Saab booked 16 Gripen E fighters for Ukraine and won Canada’s GlobalEye selection.
  • Q2 2026 organic growth neared 30%, with EBIT margin expanding to 11%.

What critics are saying

  • Canada’s GlobalEye review exposed capability gaps, risking delays, redesigns, and reputational damage.
  • A26 deliveries run to 2038, leaving Saab exposed to execution slippage and cost overruns.
  • Saab’s growth depends heavily on war-driven demand; any Ukraine ceasefire cuts urgency sharply.

What makes Saab unique

  • Gripen, GlobalEye, and A26 give Saab full-spectrum air, sea, and ISR exposure.
  • Saab’s NATO and Canadian partnerships embed it in allied procurement networks.
  • Its 2026 production ramp and new Naval unit deepen manufacturing breadth.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Paid Sick Leave
  • Paid Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • Bereavement Leave
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Student Loan Assistance

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

2%

1 year growth

2%

2 year growth

0%
PR Newswire
Oct 23rd, 2026
Saab Q3 orders jump to $6.1B on Ukraine Gripen deal, as sales rise 30.6% organically

Saab reported strong third-quarter results on October 23, driven by major defence contracts. Order bookings rose to SEK 65,825 million from SEK 20,861 million a year earlier. Big orders included SEK 24.6 billion for Gripen E jets for Ukraine, SEK 10.1 billion for GlobalEye to an undisclosed customer, and SEK 8.7 billion for systems for German frigates. Sales reached SEK 20,553 million, up from SEK 15,871 million, with organic growth of 30.6%. EBIT rose 42% to SEK 1,945 million, and net income climbed to SEK 1,432 million from SEK 975 million. Operational cash flow jumped to SEK 6,785 million from SEK 142 million. Chief executive officer Micael Johansson said the strong order backlog positions Saab "well for continued growth.

CNBC
Oct 23rd, 2026
Saab orders triple to $6.6B on Ukraine Gripen jet deal, beating forecasts

Saab, the Swedish defence group, reported third-quarter orders of 65.8 billion Swedish kronor (around $6.6 billion), more than triple the 20.9 billion kronor of a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected 56.4 billion kronor. A contract worth 24.6 billion kronor for 16 Gripen E fighter jets for Ukraine, signed in June, was booked in the quarter. Sales reached 20.6 billion kronor, ahead of the 20 billion expected. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) came in at 1.95 billion kronor, beating the forecast of 1.9 billion. Chief executive officer Micael Johansson said demand was reflected in major awards, including Gripen for Ukraine, GlobalEye and an order related to Germany's new frigates.

PR Newswire
Oct 16th, 2026
Saab and Swedish authorities launch large uncrewed underwater vehicle within a year of contract award

Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Swedish Armed Forces have built and launched a demonstrator for a Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (LUUV). The work took less than a year from contract award to sea trials. The first phase is complete. The next phase is expected to focus on more advanced capabilities, and the results will support further development of software, sensors, and autonomous functions. Saab credits its software-centric approach and its Autonomous Ocean Core control system, combined with Swedish expertise in submarine design and sensor integration. The vehicle is meant to operate alongside platforms such as submarines. FMV now leads the project, which will inform Swedish decisions on buying and using autonomous underwater systems. "The fact that we have also been able to develop and test the system in such a short timeframe demonstrates the strength of the collaboration," said Mats Wicksell, head of Saab's business area Naval.

Robodaily
Oct 1st, 2026
Australian aerospace startup Hypersonix raises $46M to develop world's first hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft

Brisbane-based Hypersonix Launch Systems has raised $46 million in Series A funding led by UK's High Tor Capital, with participation from Saab, RKKVC, National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, and Queensland Investment Corporation. The company develops reusable hydrogen-powered hypersonic aircraft for defence and aerospace applications. Founded in 2019, Hypersonix employs 45 specialists. Its SPARTAN scramjet engine, invented by co-founder Dr Michael Smart, reaches Mach 12 with no moving parts and eliminates CO2 emissions by using green hydrogen instead of kerosene. The funding will support a NASA-backed test flight of the DART AE vehicle under the US Department of Defense HyCAT programme. Hypersonix was selected as the first HyCAT contract from over 60 companies. Proceeds will also finance manufacturing facilities in Queensland and development of VISR, an 8-metre reusable aircraft with four SPARTAN engines.

Yahoo Finance
Jul 21st, 2026
Saab AB hits record $30.5B order backlog with 30% organic growth and 11% EBIT margin

Saab AB reported record results in Q2 2026, with an order backlog reaching SEK318 billion and order intake exceeding SEK68 billion, driven by major contracts including a SEK47 billion submarine deal with Poland and Gripen fighter contracts with Ukraine. The Swedish defence company achieved nearly 30% organic growth. EBIT margin improved to 11%, representing a 41% quarterly increase, whilst gross margin expanded by more than one percentage point year-on-year. Cash flow turned positive at SEK1 billion for the first half, compared to minus SEK1.1 billion the previous year. The company increased R&D investment by SEK700 million and maintained its BBB+ credit rating from S&P. Saab has been hiring approximately 3,000 employees annually to scale production capacity. However, the Naval division recorded a SEK200 million write-down after failing to secure the Swedish frigate programme.