About the role We’re looking for an Operations Finance Business Partner to join our Packaging division, who will contribute to the ongoing operational development of the business for our five manufacturing sites across the South of the UK. As our Business Partner, you will partner closely with our General Managers for the sites, providing support and challenge through analysis, insight and influencing operational decisions. To succeed in the role, you will need to understand how the business creates value and challenge us to improve our operational performance, responding quickly to problems and trends. You will provide insight into key drivers including cost, productivity, waste, and fiber efficiency to influence decision making and to drive action planning. You will get involved with site level analysis to understand the performance of specific assets and take the lead on the month end reporting cycle, working closely with the Commercial Finance Business Partner and Head of Finance. The role will see you leading the cost modelling process for the cluster, ensuring a consistent approach to attributing costs to production assets. You will help our teams to better understand the drivers of conversion costs, champion the drive to reduce working capital, and work closely with procurement to facilitate supplier, category and saving initiatives. You will also take the lead on coordinating investment activity for the cluster, working with our General Managers and operational leads to develop our manufacturing sites. You will also be required to ensure that all DSS internal financial control requirements are fully understood, implemented, and embedded across our sites, to ensure consistency and best practice across the cluster, enhancing our governance and control. You will take the lead for all internal and external audit related matters. About you Minimum requirements: Educated to degree level, with an accounting qualification (ACA, CIMA or ACCA) At least five years of post-qualified experience in relevant positions A strong understanding of financial management and reporting, financial controls and processes, implementation, and governance Highly motivated, collaborative, innovative, confident, able to influence business stakeholders Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment (preferably manufacturing), able to adapt to change and to make quick decisions Advanced Microsoft Office skills (specifically Excel), able to interpret large amounts of financial data and draw meaningful business recommendations Benefits A competitive salary Pension Discretionary bonus and car allowance Private medical insurance Life Assurance Income protection Employee Assistance Programme 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro-rated) Cycle to work schemes Retail and leisure discounts Location: We can offer hybrid working with this position, with flexibility to travel required to several of our manufacturing sites across the South of the UK – Clay Cross, Devizes, Fordham, Launceston, Louth. Hours 37.5 hours About us We’re DS Smith, the FTSE100 company who are redefining packaging for a changing world. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. Today, we operate in more than 30 different countries, proudly employing over 30,000 people, and supporting customers across sectors like FMCG, industrial, and e-commerce. We deliver on quality, service, innovation, and added value to deliver market-leading sustainable packaging solutions our customers need. Our industry needs to transform, and we’re building the team to drive change across Europe and North America. To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.