Business Unit Head of Finance

Company: DS Smith
Location: Cayce
Posted on: January 15, 2022

Job Description:

Box Business Unit Head of Finance

The Company:
DS Smith is a leading international supplier of fiber-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 $8.0 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 Box 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 in Columbia, SC and will have responsibility for three manufacturing locations in South Carolina, Maryland and New Jersey. Occasional travel to other facilities within the Business Unit will be required. There will be a total of two 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 Box 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

Keywords: DS Smith, Columbia , Business Unit Head of Finance, Accounting, Auditing , Cayce, South Carolina