Senior Group Accountant (SOX delivery)

DS Smith; London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global packaging company based in London is seeking a Senior Accountant to drive US SOX compliance and enhance financial reporting processes. The ideal candidate is a qualified accountant with strong analytical skills and experience in large organizations. This full-time position offers a dynamic environment working closely with senior management and external auditors, leveraging expertise to influence strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• Experience in financial and consolidation reporting in a large organization.
• Understanding of SOX controls and their application.
• Ability to provide strategic analysis and support audits.

Responsibilities

• Ensure US SOX compliance and reporting integrity.
• Manage timely execution of reporting cycles.
• Develop and maintain relationships with senior management.

Skills

Technical accounting skills

Strong analytical skills

Relationship building

Communication skills

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Tools

SAP

Hyperion Financial Management

Job description

About the role

Are you a highly skilled Senior Accountant with a passion for driving robust financial processes and ensuring SOX compliance? DS Smith, a leading global packaging company and part of International Paper, is seeking a key member to join our Group Reporting team. This is a critical role that ensures the accuracy and integrity of our financial reporting during a period of significant transformation.

You'll be a key strategic advisor and thought partner, working closely with the EMEA business leadership team. Reporting to DS Smith's Financial Controller, you'll be a vital liaison with our Group Governance teams, external auditors, and reporting teams across the UK and the USA. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage your expertise in a dynamic, high-impact environment.

Key Responsibilities

As the Senior Group Accountant, you will be pivotal in ensuring our financial reporting environment is US SOX compliant. You will be at the heart of our reporting processes, driving efficiency and effectiveness while working as part of the London-based Group Reporting team. Your core responsibilities will include:

• Delivering US SOX compliance: Ensuring the appropriate embedding and application of Risk and Control Matrixes to support a compliant group finance and reporting environment
• Managing reporting cycles: Delivering timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements to meet tight public reporting obligations
• Providing strategic analysis: Preparing relevant analysis and accounting papers, including documented management judgements and reporting playbooks, to support material accounting entries and special items
• Improving processes: Working with the wider finance teams to identify trends, enhance reporting processes, and drive efficiency in our controls
• Supporting external audits: Liaising with external auditors and advisors to support SOX control testing and development
• Developing relationships: Maintaining a trusted and proactive relationship with DS Smith senior management and business leaders, acting as a trusted partner and advisor

About you

We're looking for an experienced and highly motivated professional who possesses:

• A qualified accountant (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with strong technical accounting skills.
• Experience with financial and consolidation reporting in a large, matrixed organization, ideally with exposure to US GAAP.
• A strong understanding of SOX controls and their application within a reporting environment.
• Knowledge of integrated financial systems like SAP and Hyperion Financial Management.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify trends in financial data.
• Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to build strong relationships and influence stakeholders.

Location: This is a full-time role, split between home working and our Head Office in Paddington, London.

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 and 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.

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.

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