Head of Finance Recycling UK & North Europe

DS Smith; Caerphilly; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging solutions company in the UK is seeking a Head of Finance to provide critical financial oversight and strategic guidance for regional operations. This role requires a proactive financial leader with proven experience in governance and team development, as well as exceptional business partnering skills. You will be responsible for overseeing financial reporting, ensuring compliance, and fostering a culture of accountability while driving efficiency and maximising shareholder value. Competitive salary and benefits included.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Discretionary bonus

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Car allowance

Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection

Sharesave scheme

Private medical insurance

Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior finance role ideally within a regional or multi-site structure.
• Demonstrable expertise in governance, internal controls and compliance.
• Experience managing internal and external audit processes.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a finance team.

Responsibilities

• Provide critical financial oversight and strategic guidance.
• Engage with finance colleagues across the region.
• Coach and develop the finance team.
• Oversee all financial reporting activities ensuring accuracy and adherence to standards.
• Safeguard financial integrity by establishing internal controls.

Skills

Business partnering skills

Technical accounting knowledge

Communication skills

Analytical abilities

Problem-solving abilities

Job description

Location

Home based with travel to sites in Caerphilly London and Europe as required.

About the role

The Finance team plays a pivotal role in guiding the company’s growth trajectory through meticulous financial analysis and foresight. We provide insightful recommendations to senior leadership leveraging data‑driven insights to optimise resource allocation and mitigate risks. With a focus on driving efficiency and maximising shareholder value the Finance function at DS Smith fosters a culture of accountability and transparency underpinning the company’s long‑term financial sustainability and success.

We’re seeking a proactive and influential individual to join our team as Head of Finance in our Recycling Division, driving financial excellence and contributing to our regional success in the UK and North Europe. This pivotal role will see you at the heart of our UK operations providing critical financial oversight and strategic guidance, while also providing a finance leadership role engaging with finance colleagues across the region.

Your responsibilities will span several key pillars ensuring robust financial health and strategic alignment within the region. You will be instrumental in coaching and developing the finance team, supporting the business by contributing to the overall business strategy, identifying growth opportunities and translating objectives into actionable financial plans.

Business Partnering is a cornerstone of this role; you will be a trusted advisor to various regional departments providing insightful financial analysis, challenging assumptions and supporting data‑driven decision‑making. You will oversee all financial reporting activities ensuring accuracy, integrity and adherence to accounting standards, including managing month‑end and year‑end close processes.

When it comes to Governance and Control you will safeguard financial integrity by establishing robust internal controls, implementing policies and ensuring strict compliance with regulations, proactively identifying and mitigating financial risks.

So if you’re a strategic financial leader with a passion for driving strong governance and empowering teams, or an experienced finance professional looking for your next challenge then you might be looking for you!

About you

• Proven experience in a senior finance role ideally within a regional or multi‑site structure.
• Demonstrable expertise in governance, internal controls and compliance.
• Exceptional business‑partnering skills with a track record of influencing and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge and experience.
• Experience managing internal and external audit processes.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a finance team.
• Excellent communication, analytical and problem‑solving abilities.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Car allowance
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Sharesave scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

About us

We are DS Smith together with International Paper. We are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre‑based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65 000 colleagues in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain and much more. Together with our customers we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world‑leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

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. We welcome all candidates to apply even those not meeting all criteria.