Senior Finance Analyst - Commercial Finance

DS Smith Plc; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging company in London is seeking a Senior Finance Analyst for a 6-month fixed-term contract. This hybrid role involves forecasting, budget planning, and ensuring data accuracy across financial platforms. Candidates should possess a finance degree, strong analytical skills, and advanced Excel proficiency. Experience in the FMCG sector is preferred, and the company values diverse applications.

Qualifications

• Graduate calibre in Finance or qualified accountant.
• Strong analytical skills with financial data.
• Experience in FMCG industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze forecast variances and improve forecasting methods.
• Support the annual budgeting process and validate data.
• Maintain financial data integrity across platforms.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial data interpretation

Advanced Excel skills

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Education

Finance degree or qualified accountant

Tools

Power BI

Cognos Analytics

Hyperion

Job description

Senior Finance Analyst - Commercial Finance page is loaded## Senior Finance Analyst - Commercial Financeremote type: Hybrid Workinglocations: Londontime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 3 Days Agojob requisition id: R-10669**6 MONTHS FIXED TERM CONTRACT****BASED IN LONDON, PADDINGTON - HYBRID (2 days working from home)****About the Role**We have an exciting opportunity for a results-driven and analytical **Senior Finance Analyst** to join our Packaging Division Commercial Finance team on a 6 months Fixed Term Contract basis, with potential to be extended. This role is focused on the fundamentals and includes: forecasting accuracy analysis, participation in the budget cycle and building compliance frameworks for global reporting tools. You will play a vital part in consolidating data from various finance systems to support the broader team with analysis and insight generation.Your profound capabilities in data analytics and the quick understanding of the broader business picture will add valuable insights into the decision-making process at the central sales level and will give you the the opportunity to contribute in a significant way.**Key Responsibilities:**Forecast Accuracy and Performance Tracking:* Analyse forecast variances and work closely with business teams to improve forecasting methods and accuracy.* Provide actionable insights that enhance decision-making and planning processes.* Continuously improve forecast models and performance tracking tools.Budget Planning and Management:* Support the annual budgeting process.* Coordinate data collection and validation across business units.* Conduct variance analysis and help drive alignment across regions.Global Reporting Platforms Reconciliation & Governance:* Maintain the integrity of financial data across sales tools and platforms.* Implementation of governance processes to ensure data consistency and reliability.* Partner with commercial and operational stakeholders to optimise data flows and system use.Data Consolidation for Analysis:* Pull together and validate data from multiple finance systems (e.g., ERP, CRM, BI platforms).* Ensure completeness and accuracy of data used in financial models and strategic analysis.* Support the wider finance team with high-quality, ready-to-use data for deeper analysis and scenario planning.**About You*** Graduate calibre - Finance at degree level or above, qualified accountant.* Strong, demonstrable analytical skills, able to interpret large amounts of financial data into meaningful business insights (experience in the FMCG industry preferred).* Advanced skills in Excel are a must; skills in Power BI would be an advantage.* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively manage upwards communication.* Commercial acumen, with the ability to be agile, pro-active and independent, delivering to sometimes tight deadlines.* A Continuous improvement mindset and the drive to improve our processes.* Cognos Analytics & Hyperion experience beneficial.***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.******#LI-TG***is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and paper making 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 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 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.