About the role

We’re looking for an Operations Finance Business Partner to join our Packaging division, who will contribute to the ongoing operational development of the business for our six manufacturing sites across the North of the UK. As our Business Partner, you will partner closely with our Head of Operations in the North Cluster and site GMs, providing support and challenge through analysis, insight and influencing operational decisions.

To succeed in the role, you will need to understand how the business creates value and challenge us to improve our operational performance, responding quickly to problems and trends. You will provide insight into key drivers including cost, productivity, waste, and fibre efficiency to influence decision making and to drive action planning. You will get involved with site level analysis to understand the performance of specific assets and take the lead on the month end reporting cycle, working closely with the Commercial Finance Business Partner and Head of Finance.

The role will see you leading the cost modelling process for the cluster, ensuring a consistent approach to attributing costs to production assets. You will help our teams to better understand the drivers of conversion costs, champion the drive to reduce working capital, and work closely with procurement to facilitate supplier, category and saving initiatives. You will also take the lead on coordinating investment activity for the cluster, working with our Cluster Head of Operations, General Managers and operational leads to develop our manufacturing sites.

You will also be required to ensure that all DSS internal financial control requirements are fully understood, implemented, and embedded across our sites, to ensure consistency and best practice across the cluster, enhancing our governance and control. You will take the lead for all internal and external audit related matters.

You will be responsible for a team of 8 (2 direct reports).

Location

We can offer hybrid working with this position, with flexibility to travel required to several of our manufacturing sites across the North of the UK – Livingston, Lockerbie, Burscough, Belper, Featherstone and Neath.

About you

Minimum requirements :

Educated to degree level, with an accounting qualification (ACA, CIMA or ACCA)

At least five years of post-qualified experience in relevant positions

A strong understanding of financial management and reporting, financial controls and processes, implementation, and governance

Highly motivated, collaborative, innovative, confident, able to influence business stakeholders

Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment (preferably manufacturing), able to adapt to change and to make quick decisions

Advanced Microsoft Office skills (specifically Excel), able to interpret large amounts of financial data and draw meaningful business recommendations

Experience at leading a remote team.

Benefits

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Discretionary bonus and car allowance

Pension and share scheme

Private medical insurance, life assurance and income protection

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work scheme and corporate discounts