Sr. Finance Mgr. - Bus Finance & Accounting Leader

Smurfit-Westrock; Nicholasville (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety culture and values

Training and development

Competitive compensation

Global packaging company

Job summary

Smurfit Westrock is seeking a Sr. Finance Mgr. to lead the Bus Finance & Accounting for the Nicholasville, KY plant. You will partner with the site GM, drive profitability, and provide data-driven insights to improve operations and revenue.

The role requires 10+ years in corporate or operations finance, CPA/MBA preferred, and strong analytical and communication skills. Relocation support is available; travel is not specified.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Progressive experience in corporate or operations finance, with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience in paper/packaging industry or manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing and influencing diverse teams with hiring, development, and performance management.
• Strong analytical and business perspective with ability to examine details.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to partner with operational leaders.

Responsibilities

• Budget and Forecasting: prepare annual budget and quarterly forecasts with a focus on accuracy.
• CAPEX planning: partner on long-range capital needs to drive growth.
• Internal controls: oversee controls and ensure policy adherence.
• Profitability analysis: provide margin analysis and opportunities for improvement.
• Accounting: review WIP, finished goods, and raw materials; manage journal entries.
• Working capital: drive working capital improvements and cash flow monitoring.
• Ad hoc analyses: support profitability programs and plant performance comparisons.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Profitability analysis

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance/Business

CPA and/or MBA preferred

Tools

AS400

BPCS

Radius

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Hyperion

Job description

Sr. Finance Mgr. - Bus Finance & Accounting Leader

Locations

KY Nicholasville

Employment Type

Full Time

Date Posted

06-Oct-2026

Relocation Support

Yes

Description & Requirements

Smurfit Westrock (NYSE:SW) is the go-to leader and partner of choice in sustainable packaging. We are dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. Guided by our values of safety, loyalty, integrity and respect, we are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Business Finance & Accounting Leader who will report to the General Manager. This individual will be responsible for the Nicholasville, KY, manufacturing plant and, through fact-based analysis, will provide insights, recommendations, and analysis to drive improvements in operations, sales, and the plant’s overall profitability. The Business Finance & Accounting Leader will serve as a business partner to the site General Manager and will be accountable for the facility’s bottom-line results.

How You Will Impact Smurfit Westrock

Budget and Financial Preparation and Reporting

• Prepare the annual budget and quarterly forecasts in partnership with the Plant General Manager, with a focus on forecast accuracy.
• Use KPIs and plant initiatives to project future plant growth opportunities and encourage analysis beyond traditional product costs.
• Collaborate with Commercial Business Leaders to challenge and validate top-line revenue expectations.
• Effectively communicate the organization’s values.
• Create simplified budgeting and reporting processes.
• Balance financial and nonfinancial indicators.
• Clearly report and articulate the key items affecting business results.
• Serve as a consultant to business partners to help develop action plans for improvement.
• Support, review, and track cost takeout initiatives.

Strategic Planning and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

• Partner with the General Manager on future and long-range capital needs to sustain and/or grow the site’s business opportunities.
• Understand competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

Internal Controls

• Oversee all internal controls and control failures at the site.
• Ensure decisions are made by individuals with the appropriate authority.
• Ensure key processes follow documented company policies.
• Ensure adequate control over the company’s local assets and financial reporting.
• Balance value creation with effective and efficient controls.
• Optimize processes through IT improvements and implementation.
• Drive process improvements by applying best practices across the organization.

Profitability Analysis

• Use data systems to provide ongoing customer profitability analysis and help identify and correct margin erosion.
• Facilitate open discussions among business leaders about driving additional margin through volume, pricing, or operational changes.

Accounting

• Actively review and validate plant work in process (WIP), finished goods, and raw material values.
• Create and/or review monthly site journal entries.
• Review P&L accounts and identify necessary cost reclassifications.
• Facilitate and assist with plant inventory counts, count verifications, and reconciliation processes.
• Perform other tasks as deemed necessary.

Working Capital and Cash Flow Monitoring

• Facilitate decision-making with business partners to drive working capital improvements and prevent negative impacts.

Additional Analysis and Support

• Perform ad hoc analysis.
• Compare plant performance with similar plants or businesses.
• Support profitability improvement programs when the plant is on an improvement plan.
• Compile and deliver plant-visit presentations to senior leadership during onsite or Microsoft Teams meetings.

Note: This list of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive. Other ad hoc responsibilities may be assigned based on plant or division ne eds.

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Progressive experience in corporate or operations finance, with 10 or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience in the paper and packaging industry or another manufacturing or operations environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing and influencing diverse teams, with full responsibility for hiring, development, and performance management.
• Strong analytical skills and business perspective, with a willingness to examine details.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, along with demonstrated experience serving as a business partner to operational leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Self-motivated and self-directed, with a passion for continuous improvement and the ambition to take on greater levels of responsibility.
• Strong computer skills, including knowledge of AS400, BPCS, Radius, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, pivot tables, and data mining. Prior Hyperion experience is desired.

What We Offer

• Corporate culture based on safety, loyalty, integrity, and respect.
• Comprehensive training with numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies, and potential.
• A career with a global packaging company where sustainability, safety, and inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of daily work.

Candidates are required to undergo a drug screening after receiving a conditional job offer, but before starting employment.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.