Financial & Cost Economist

About the Role

• Core Focus: Production and financial planning, multi-component product costing, pricing compliance under defense procurement regulations, and operational performance analysis.
• Key Scope: Budgeting, variance analysis, cost-reduction strategies, and price justification before the Ministry of Defense and regulatory bodies.

SPE “Athlon Avia”, a full-cycle Ukrainian research and production enterprise and an industry leader in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), is seeking an experienced Financial & Cost Economist to support our active growth and drive financial precision across our defense manufacturing operations.

Core Responsibilities

• Financial & Production Planning: Formulate monthly and annual production schedules, financial plans, business cases, and feasibility studies.
• Cost Accounting & Product Costing: Calculate direct, full, planned, and actual product costs; develop comprehensive cost sheets (costings) for individual units and hardware assemblies.
• Defense Pricing & Justification: Determine wholesale and contract prices in strict compliance with State Defense Procurement regulations; justify price calculations before the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and audit authorities.
• Budgeting & Cost Center Control: Draft department- and project-level cost budgets, track budget execution, and perform plan-vs-actual (variance) analysis.
• Cost Reduction & Efficiency: Identify cost overruns, determine root causes, and propose actionable cost-reduction and process-optimization measures.
• Performance Analysis: Evaluate organizational financial and operational efficiency (profitability, labor productivity, inventory turnover).
• Defense Contract Monitoring: Track and analyze financial performance across active state defense procurement contracts.
• Executive Reporting: Prepare analytical briefs, financial dashboards, and decision-support materials for executive management.

Candidate Qualifications & Requirements

• Costing Expertise: Proven track record in product cost calculation within complex, multi-component hardware manufacturing environments.
• Budgeting & Planning: Hands-on experience in business planning, operational budgeting, and variance analysis.
• Labor & Material Norms: Solid background in manufacturing cost analysis, labor rate allocation, and material consumption norms.
• State Defense Procurement (SDP): Deep understanding of Ukrainian defense procurement legislation, pricing frameworks (fixed, indicative, and regulated price models), and regulatory audit procedures.
• Contract Compliance: Understanding of compliance and oversight systems governing state defense contracts.

What We Offer

• Formal Employment & Social Package: Official employment from Day 1 in compliance with Ukrainian labor laws, including paid annual leave, sick leave, and full social protection.
• Competitive Compensation: Transparent salary review framework aligned with market dynamics to ensure fair, competitive pay.
• Career Growth & Advancement: Avenues for vertical and horizontal professional development within a long-term corporate partnership.
• Cutting-Edge Tech Environment: Work alongside top defense industry professionals in a high-impact sector.
• 100% Covered Medical Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage prioritizing employee physical and mental well-being.
• 100% Covered English Language Classes: Corporate language training to continuously improve or maintain your English proficiency.
• Military Reservation (Deferment): Official deferment processing initiated starting from your first day of employment.
• Comfortable On-Site Workspace: Well-equipped office with an accessible shelter, located within comfortable walking distance of a subway station.