FWB
Chief Financial Officer - Bright Ascension
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About the Role
Headquartered in Edinburgh, with a growing international footprint, the company provides an integrated suite of flight and ground software that supports spacecraft throughout the mission lifecycle. Its mission-critical flight software, mission control systems and integrated software platforms simplify the design, deployment and operation of spacecraft. BAL’s proprietary technology is used by organisations ranging from early-stage NewSpace ventures to established global space operators, helping to significantly reduce the cost, complexity and risk associated with delivering missions in orbit.
Operating at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing and most strategically important industries, Bright Ascension has built a strong reputation for engineering excellence and product innovation. The business has successfully transitioned from a specialist consultancy into a product-led software organisation, with its HELIX platform now the core offering in an increasing number of commercial and institutional space missions worldwide. To date, more than 60 satellites have been launched using Bright Ascension’s software – an important marker of both the maturity of its technology and the confidence placed in its technology by customers across the global space ecosystem.
Building on recent investment to accelerate product development and commercial expansion, Bright Ascension is now entering a significant new phase of growth. With a strengthened leadership team in place, rising international demand for scalable space software solutions, and a clear ambition to further commercialise its product suite, the business is focused on building the operational capability and financial infrastructure required to support its next stage of scale.
Against this backdrop, the appointment of a commercially minded Chief Financial Officer represents a pivotal addition to the executive leadership team – bringing the financial leadership, strategic insight and organisational capability required to help shape and enable the next chapter of Bright Ascension’s growth.
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The Chief Financial Officer will play a central role in supporting Bright Ascension through the next stage of its development, providing the financial leadership, commercial insight and strategic perspective required to underpin the company’s long-term ambitions. As a member of the senior leadership team, the successful candidate will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board and shareholders to ensure the business is equipped with the financial disciplines, governance and decision-making frameworks necessary to support sustainable growth.
The role encompasses full responsibility for the company’s financial stewardship, reporting and compliance, whilst also acting as a key commercial partner across the organisation. Through the development of robust financial planning, forecasting, performance reporting and business analytics, the CFO will provide the insight required to inform strategic decisions, support future investment and enhance operational performance. Alongside this, they will continue to develop the finance function, strengthening systems, processes and capability to ensure it is well positioned to support an ambitious, scaling technology business.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning & Growth: Guiding the company’s long-term business planning, shaping commercial strategies, and managing future investment rounds to support international market expansion.
- Shareholder Reporting & Investor Relations: Maintaining absolute transparency with shareholders through rigorous financial reporting. This includes delivering clear updates on business performance, capital efficiency, and strategic growth milestones to sustain investor confidence and support future funding.
- Financial Forecasting & Modelling: Building and maintaining advanced financial models to analyse project profitability, manage commercial forecasts, and project cash flows.
- Analytical & Commercialization: Providing high-level financial oversight and critical analytics for downstream data “recipe” creation. This includes optimizing data-pipeline costing models, pricing the platform value of automated processing routines, and evaluating the margin profile of end-user data products.
- Operational Control & Performance: Overseeing day-to-day financial operations, including management accounts, balance sheets, purchase ledgers, and cash flow tracking.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnering with program management to track work-in-progress, monitor operational efficiencies, and align product development (like the HELIX and Infinity suite) with financial goals.
- Governance & Reporting: Preparing timely monthly and quarterly board reports, delivering clear management information, and ensuring full statutory and tax compliance (such as HMRC submissions).
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Candidate Requirements
- Qualified finance professional (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
- Significant post-qualified experience within high-growth software, technology or scale-up environments.
- Strong technical accounting expertise, with experience of leading financial reporting, month-end close, statutory compliance and external audit.
- Proven capability in financial planning, forecasting, cash flow management and commercial financial modelling.
- Gravitas and credibility to engage confidently with Boards, shareholders and investors, with experience of fundraising and investment activity considered advantageous but not essential.
- Commercially minded, with an understanding of software licensing, revenue models and the financial drivers of a product-led business.
- A strategic and collaborative leader, capable of influencing at executive level whilst building strong relationships across the wider organisation.
- Demonstrable experience of developing finance functions, strengthening financial controls and supporting business growth.
To apply, please send your CV to Daryl Harper or Megan Shearer at applications@fwbltd.com. Alternatively, you can reach out for an initial conversation on 0131 539 7087.
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