Operations Finance Manager

DS Smith; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging company in the UK is looking for a motivated Operations Finance Manager. This hybrid role offers a chance to work closely with operations teams, analyzing performance and consolidating financial results across multiple sites. The ideal candidate should have relevant financial qualifications, experience in managing multi-site P&Ls, and strong analytical skills. Benefits include 25 days’ holiday, pension scheme, and shopping discounts. Join the team driving change in sustainable packaging solutions.

Benefits

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Income protection

Employee assistance program

Cycle to work scheme

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Qualified or part-qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA with relevant experience.
• Experience managing multi-site P&Ls and delivering financial consolidations.
• Strong IT ability with advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Review operational performance to identify trends and opportunities.
• Consolidate financial results into clear, accurate reports.
• Prepare and coordinate internal audits and unit control reviews.

Skills

Financial governance

Management reporting

Excel (intermediate to advanced)

Stakeholder influencing

Commercial analysis

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualification or equivalent

Job description

We’re excited to offer an excellent opportunity for a motivated and forward‑thinking finance professional to join DS Smith as an Operations Finance Manager. This maternity‑cover role sits within our Operations Finance Industrial team and provides critical support to the Operations Finance Business Partner, working closely with multiple sites.

In this role, you’ll partner with various operational teams to proactively assess business challenges, deliver insightful analysis, identify solutions that optimise operational costs and support future improvement projects. You’ll take ownership of month‑end activities, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, while also supporting budgeting and forecasting cycles.

Key Responsibilities

• Review operational performance across multiple sites to identify trends, opportunities, and risks
• Consolidate financial results from all sites within the cluster into clear and accurate reporting
• Present insightful financial analysis that challenges existing processes and highlights efficiency opportunities
• Support the preparation and coordination of internal audits and unit control reviews
• Contribute to wider governance activities, ensuring compliance with internal standards and controls

About You

• Is qualified or part-qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA (or equivalent), with relevant experience
• Has proven experience managing multi‑site P&Ls and delivering multi‑site financial consolidations
• Takes a strong commercial view and can interpret operational performance from a financial perspective
• Brings strong experience in financial governance, management, reporting, and analysis
• Strong IT and systems capability, with solid Excel skills (intermediate to advanced preferred)
• Communicates confidently and can influence stakeholders at all levels, regardless of financial understanding
• Is comfortable presenting financial insights to senior stakeholders

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Employee assistance program
• Cycle to work scheme
• Shopping discounts

Location

Hybrid/remote working, with travel to Birmingham and Hinckley as needed

Hours

37.5 hours per week

About us

We’re DS Smith, the 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, 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

Inclusion Statement

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.