Head of Finance and Performance
Full-Time, Permanent
Washington, DC or Hampton, VA
The Role:
James Fisher Defence is seeking a strategic and commercially focused Head of Finance and Performance to join the North America team. This senior leadership role will report directly to the JFD North America President, with key functional links to the Defence Finance and Commercial Director and the JFD North America Audit Committee Chair.
In this pivotal position, you’ll be responsible for the financial strategy and will guide commercial decision-making to enhance performance and ensure compliance. You’ll ensure the delivery of accurate reporting, robust budgeting, and insightful forecasting, while maintaining strong cost control. The role also plays a critical part in supporting bids and investment decisions, developing business cases, tracking spend plans, and ensuring financial returns are delivered.
This is a fantastic opportunity to build and shape a high-performing financial function within a forward-thinking organisation.
What you’ll be doing:
- Drive finance and performance across JFD North America, aligned with Group objectives.
- Lead all finance operations including reporting, forecasting, treasury, audits, payroll, tax, AP/AR, and risk.
- Own P&L, cashflow, and monthly reporting, providing insights to senior leadership.
- Establish and improve budgeting, planning, and forecasting processes to ensure accurate, timely, and actionable financial analysis.
- Partner with Project Managers to manage budgets, control costs, and ensure financial integrity.
- Advise on pricing, investment cases, and commercial decisions.
- Enhance efficiency and lead finance systems development.
- Ensure regulatory, tax, audit, and internal control compliance.
- Develop high-performing finance, bidding, and project support teams.
- Build strong relationships with auditors, regulators, financial institutions, and customers.
What we're looking for:
- Strong understanding of financial principles, practices, and regulatory requirements.
- In-depth knowledge of strategic financial management, reporting, and compliance.
- GAAP experience.
- Familiarity with global organizational structures and multinational operations.
- Qualified Accountant (CPA, ACCA, CFA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.
- Experience in a senior financial leadership role within a global organisation.
- Proven track record in change management, delivering results under tight deadlines, and driving organizational transformation.
- Demonstrated experience in management reporting, financial analysis, and providing insights to senior leadership.
- Strong leadership with experience in mentoring and working with senior stakeholders.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building across all levels.
- Skilled in negotiation, problem-solving, and risk management.
- Advanced analytical ability to turn complex data into actionable insights.
You must be able to obtain and maintain a US DoD Security Clearance as well as you must hold (or be able to obtain) a US passport and valid driver’s license.
About Us:
James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration. Visit our website
James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD
If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!
You can find out more about James Fisher & Sons group companies and valued behaviours by watching a short film here: We are One James Fisher - YouTube
Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.
James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce.