IT Business Partner - Finance & Procurement in London

Reporting into the Head of IT Recycling & Central Functions, we are looking for an experienced IT Business Partner to partner with the Finance & Procurement business teams. IT Business Partners have a key role in the success of the business. The role ensures that the business objectives are understood, and that the IT strategy is aligned, underpinning the delivery of the business strategy. The ITBP ensures that the business has access to technology innovation and advisory both internally and externally, to ensure alignment and delivery of the portfolio and maximising value in support of the business strategy.

As the IT Business Partners for Finance & Procurement, you will be the strategic interface between I&T and the business areas. Acting as a point of accountability for IT performance and delivery of the IT Service, Portfolio, Risk, and Budget. You will build strong relationships through proactive business engagement and be a valued and trusted business partner. You will reside within the I&T organisation and work closely with business teams, representing both I&T and the business unit respectively. You will work closely with Business stakeholders and IT colleagues across the business as well as external partners to implement and support enabling technologies. This role requires strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Key responsibilities for the IT Business Partner are:

• Build relationships with business unit leaders and staff to understand their processes, challenges, and technology needs.
• Ability to think critically and challenge assumptions when appropriate, while respecting differing perspectives.
• Utilizes in-depth knowledge of the business area and processes to align solutions with both current operational needs and long-term strategic roadmaps.
• Collaborates seamlessly across organizational boundaries and functions to align efforts and drive solutions that maximize business value and achieve strategic objectives.
• The IT Business Partner will ensure that the Business objectives are understood, and that the IT strategy is aligned, and underpins the delivery of the business strategy.
• Owns the IT portfolio in their area and manages the project demand for that business area.
• Act as an advocate for the business within IT, and vice versa, to ensure alignment of priorities.
• Stay current on industry trends and best practices related to business process and technology Influence, shape and prioritise the technology strategy and change roadmap.
• Understand market challenges, including customer priorities and competition, and translate where IT Innovation and value can be added.
• Ensuring that the business has access to effective and efficient technology services, along with the expertise to enable innovation and delivery of a value driven portfolio.
• Own projects through definition to ensure successful project delivery and outcomes are achieved.
• Work with IT project managers and development teams to translate business needs into technical specifications.
• Facilitate communication and knowledge sharing between business and IT throughout project lifecycles.
• Accountable for the delivery of services into the business area of their responsibility.
• Work closely with the I&T functions to ensure services are managed and delivered to SLA and expectation.
• Champion the needs of the business where continuous and service improvement is required.
• Responsible for ensuring a comprehensive identification, recording and management of IT Risks as part of the IT risk management process.
• Responsible for the preparation, alignment, and delivery of the IT Opex and Capex budgets.

About you:

• Highly experienced within an IT Business Partnering role or similar - business and/or consultancy.
• Proven experience or demonstrated capability in developing business-aligned IT roadmaps and supporting business cases in complex environments for the area of responsibility (Finance, Procurement and Shares Services).
• Having a SAP background but also wider Finance solutions understanding and experienced of finance roadmaps would be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience of how technology benefits the business in the areas of responsibility.
• Experience of working within a multinational matrix organisation influencing senior-level management and stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and executive leadership.

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 60,000 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!

What we offer:

• Competitive salary
• Company bonus
• Pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• 25 days holiday plus