Support and shape the commercial and operational strategy and ensure alignment with relevant finance Policies and Procedures. About us DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. We play a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials. Through our purpose of 'Redefining Packaging for a Changing World' and our Now and Next sustainability strategy, we are committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society - replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions. Our bespoke box-to-box in 14 days model, design capabilities and innovation strategy sits at the heart of this response. Headquartered in London and a member of the FTSE 100, DS Smith operates in 34 countries employing around 30,000 people and we are a Strategic Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Our history can be traced back to the box-making businesses started in the 1940s by the Smith family. About the role We are searching for a Commercial Finance Business Partner & Costing Lead to join our team in London As a key member of the commercial finance team the successful candidate will have a strong focus on costing, margin analysis and the development and deployment of reporting to support decision making at customer level whilst driving business performance by actively proposing, supporting and leading projects that increase transparency and accuracy of MOVC information at customer level. Key Accountabilities Include: REPORTING & ANALYSIS: Provide profitability reporting at customer level for all centrally managed customers that allows for the quick identification of variations that require investigation Develop a high standard of disciplined financial and operational reporting in terms of uniformity, integrity, speed, timeliness and quality, focused on performance management (KPIs) as defined by SMI lead for centrally managed customers. Manage the development and deployment of tools to extend the KPIs to regional and local customers Analyse cost performance across production locations to identify 'hot spots' for follow up and corrective action at plant and customer level. Drill down from averages to local specifics, allowing identification of margin improvement opportunities Work with regional and local colleagues to ensure locations not currently covered by Navigator are able to provide regular, consistent reporting on margins at customer level DIVISIONAL SMI SUPPORT: Support the Divisional SMI teams with any ad hoc analysis for decision making Prepare reports and participate in monthly meetings with our CBU leads. Support Deal Desk with analysis of historical information for tender activity INDEXATION: Understand and report on the impact on customer profitability through different paper cycles. Prepare Indexation recovery forecasts following each paper change Model indexation schemes for all central accounts, including margin loss and recovery rates COSTING: Implement and maintain the costing protocols across the Packaging division, ensuring data integrity. Work with commercial finance leadership to develop & implement a new costing structure across the division. Coordinate the costing council with peers in the region, prepare a robust agenda to drive change. TOOLS & DATA: Ensure the correct use / reconciliation of profitability information in Navigator tool across all plants vs. our books of records Connect with peers in the region for any deviation on reconciliations and maintain data integrity. Use COGNOS (SDB, Navigator, Modules, etc) tool to automate and report all the needs of the business PROJECTS Drive improvements in the level of understanding of the product portfolios through identification of opportunities to develop costing tools to support alternative analyses Support the move from a site view to a cluster and country view within the organisation through the development of a program to deliver standard costing: including the tools and systems needed to drive the change About you Minimum requirements: A highly experienced Commercial Finance Business Partner, possessing 5 years of finance experience in similar functions (manufacturing, industrial, business analytics, decision support information, budgeting, planning and reporting) Previous experience with Cognos IBM, Hyperion (HFM) and IBM Planning & Analytics Part or fully CIMA qualified with a background within the manufacturing industry is a highly desirable. Experience of strategic pricing within a B2B environment desirable Process design and redesign experience required Advanced skills working with MS Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint) Previous FP&A and Financial modelling experience Benefits Competitive salary Discretionary bonus 25 days holiday plus bank holidays Car allowance Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection Private medical insurance Salary sacrifice electric car scheme Employee Assistance Programme Employee Discounts Cycle to work scheme