Financial Planning and Analysis Lead (UA)

Our client is an international miltech startup developing advanced technological devices for Ukraine's defense sector, and is now looking for an FP&A Lead to own budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting for a growing UAV business, and to build the FP&A function as the company scales.

Location: Ukraine (only)
Type: On-site|Hybrid, full-time
Start date: ASAP
About the Company and Role:

A fast-growing international defense startup specializing in the development and production of air defense systems, rapidly scaling to meet Ukraine's national defense needs.
They believe there is a strong need for new technological solutions in the defense of free people in conflicts around the world. Their team includes experienced leaders from non-defense Silicon Valley startups who have seen this need first-hand and are committed to delivering.

This role goes beyond executing the planning cycle: you will design the models and processes the business runs on, manage and develop FP&A talent (the FP&A Specialist), and act as a direct financial thought partner to the Head of FP&A and functional leaders.
You will work closely with the Head of Finance, Financial Controller, Cost Accountant, and leaders across Production, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, and other functions — with regular exposure to senior leadership and, as needed, investor or board-level reporting. The role suits an experienced FP&A professional who can operate with signifi cant autonomy, set the planning framework rather than just work within it, and grow a small team.

Responsibilities:

• Own the end-to-end annual budgeting process and periodic reforecasts — set the timeline, templates, and assumptions in partnership with the Head of FP&A, rather than only consolidating inputs.
• Review and stress-test inputs from budget owners; challenge assumptions before they reach Finance leadership.
• Design, build, and maintain the company's core financial models (budget, forecast, long-range plan, cash fl ow), ensuring they scale as the business grows.
• Manage and mentor the FP&A Specialist, reviewing work products and developing their modeling and business-partnering skills.
• Own the monthly management reporting package — actual-vs-budget/forecast variance analysis, revenue, opex, headcount, capex, and working capital — and present fi ndings and recommendations directly to the Head of FP&A and department leaders.
• Act as a trusted financial business partner to Production, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, and other functions, translating financial results into decisions rather than just explanations.
• Lead cash-fl ow forecasting and scenario/sensitivity modeling; support capital allocation and major investment or procurement decisions with financial analysis.
• Own the KPI reporting and dashboard suite for management, and contribute to investor, board, or grant/government reporting as needed.
• Oversee data extraction from Odoo and other systems, and ensure management-reporting fi gures reconcile to the general ledger, resolving discrepancies with Accounting.
• Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and automation of FP&A processes, tools, and documentation.
• Lead ad hoc strategic analyses (new production lines, pricing, unit economics, make-vs-buy, etc.) for the Head of FP&A and senior leadership.
• Contribute to building out the FP&A function itself — process design, controls, and future hiring — as the company scales.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related fi eld (Master's, MBA, or CFA a plus).
• 5–8 years of experience in FP&A, fi nancial analysis, or management accounting, including experience reviewing or leading the work of others.
• Demonstrated experience owning a budgeting/forecast cycle end-to-end and building financial models from scratch, not just maintaining existing ones.
• Advanced Excel/Google Sheets and financial modeling skills; comfort working with large, imperfect datasets.
• Strong track record presenting fi nancial analysis to senior or executive stakeholders and influencing business decisions.
• Experience managing, mentoring, or formally reviewing the work of junior finance staff.
• Hands-on ERP experience; Odoo experience is a strong advantage.
• English suffi cient for executive-level financial communication and documentation.
• Fluency in Ukrainian.

 Would be a Plus:

• Experience in a manufacturing, hardware, technology, defense-tech, or high-growth startup environment.
• Experience scaling an FP&A function or planning process in a fast-growing company.
• Familiarity with production economics, inventory, procurement, or supply-chain drivers.
• Hands-on experience with Power BI, Tableau, Looker Studio, or another BI tool.
• Working knowledge of UAS and/or US GAAP and how accounting actuals feed management reporting.
• Prior exposure to investor, board, or government/grant reporting.

The company offers:

• Full-time position & official employment
• Competitive salary (based on interview results)
• Paid vacation and sick leave according to Ukrainian legislation
• Medical & Life Insurance 
• Reservation from mobilization
• Friendly and people-oriented team culture
• Have opportunities to work on an innovative and impactful product