Business Unit Head of Finance

DS Smith is a leading international supplier of fibre-based packaging solutions for consumer products, e-commerce, promotion, transit and industrial applications.

With global headquarters in London and a manufacturing footprint spanning across Europe and North America we reported total annual revenue of approximately USD $ Billion in our fiscal year ended April 30, 2021.

DS Smith is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under ticker symbol SMDS.

DS Smith entered the US market in 2017 through the acquisition of Interstate Resources Inc which created the North America Packaging and Paper (NAPP) division.

NAPP division comprises two paper mills and fifteen packaging plants primarily located along the eastern corridor of the US.

NAPP division is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. We are currently working to transform from a privately owned, largely plant-based independent management culture to a more centrally led division of a publicly traded global company.

We have significant transformation efforts underway particularly in the areas of IT (as we look to harmonize systems) and Finance (moving transactional work to shared services).

Long term macro trends in paper packaging markets are positive driven by the rise of E-commerce and increasing awareness and interest in sustainability initiatives which remain core to our company values.

We recently started up a new state-of-the-art greenfield packaging facility in Indiana to capitalize on growth in the attractive markets that we serve.

The Position :

DS Smith NAPP Division is seeking to fill the role of Sheets Business Unit Head of Finance. The BU Head of Finance will be a finance professional who works well in a collaborative, fast-paced and rapidly changing environment.

The successful candidate will contribute to our profitable growth by developing efficient operating processes and driving a culture of financial accountability.

S / he will possess a positive attitude, be hard-working and driven with a focus on results, accountability and driving improvement and change.

The ideal candidate will have a foundation in manufacturing finance combined with strong leadership, influencing and teamwork skills.

This position will be based either in Holly Springs, NC and will have responsibility for three manufacturing locations. Occasional travel to other facilities within the Business Unit will be required.

There will be a total of three to five direct reports including site-based financial analysts and commercial finance resources.

The position will report to the Vice President Finance with a dotted line to the Sheets Business Unit General Manager.

Key Responsibilities :

• Serve as key member of the Box Business Unit Leadership Team
• Lead all aspects of annual budgeting process across the Business Unit
• Prepare monthly financial forecast for P&L, balance sheet, capex and cash flow
• Prepare monthly reporting and analysis of financial and operational results
• Thoroughly explain financial performance and key variances from budget, forecast and prior year to BU Leadership Team and Divisional leadership in monthly business review meetings
• Reconcile waste figures across all sites on monthly basis and partner with Operations Team to research and resolve any variances as needed
• Develop, monitor and execute specific initiatives to optimize working capital
• Identify and implement process improvement opportunities within the finance function
• Oversee capital planning, capital forecasting and business case development for key investments
• Supervise Commercial Finance team and ensure pricing aligns with profitable growth objectives
• Monitor and implement site level internal controls to ensure reporting integrity, safeguarding of company assets and mitigation of key business risks
• Ensure inventory is properly valued and controlled by maintaining strong reconciliation and cycle count processes
• Partner with Finance Resource Center (Shared Services) to ensure smooth monthly closing process with timely and accurate financial results
• Collaborate with IT and Operations Department leaders on SAP / Kiwi ERP implementations

The Candidate :

• Four-year Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics
• 5+ years of progressive finance experience in a manufacturing organization
• MBA or CMA designation preferred
• Proactive and self-motivated with ability to manage multiple projects under limited supervision
• Exceptional problem-solving skills both individually and in a group setting
• Calm under pressure with ability to manage through significant levels of organizational change
• Ability to distil complex financial topics down to easily understood and actionable recommendations to improve business performance
• Customer-focused with strong attention to detail; Capable of delivering accurate, quality results in timely manner
• Intellectual curiosity and courage to implement new ways of working; Demonstrated experience implementing process improvements
• Confidence interacting with and influencing individuals at all levels of organization from shop floor through division leadership
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel; Experience with SAP and Hyperion HFM a plus
30+ days ago