Group Finance Director - Packaging

Our client is a leading packaging group, recognised for its innovation, operational excellence, and commitment to sustainability.

Role Purpose

The Group FD will provide strategic and operational leadership of the Group’s global finance function, ensuring robust financial governance, high-quality reporting, and proactive business partnering across all divisions. This is a pivotal role in shaping financial strategy, driving growth, and safeguarding value creation for shareholders, lenders, and stakeholders, while supporting international expansion and property investment activities.

Key Responsibilities

Group Financial Leadership & Governance

• Lead the Group’s financial strategy, governance, and control framework across all businesses and geographies.
• Ensure the delivery of accurate, timely, and insightful monthly, quarterly, and annual consolidated financial reporting for the Board, shareholders, and lenders.
• Oversee statutory accounts preparation, external audits, and compliance with all relevant accounting standards and jurisdictions.
• Maintain and continuously improve financial risk management, internal controls, and compliance practices.

Treasury & Funding

• Lead centralised treasury operations, managing cash, liquidity, and working capital efficiently across multiple common entities
• Maintain strong banking and lender relationships, ensuring compliance with covenants and securing financing to support growth and M&A.
• Oversee foreign exchange, hedging, and interest rate risk management policies.

Strategic Planning & Business Partnering

• Drive the Group’s annual business planning, budgeting, and forecasting cycles.
• Partner with the CEO, FDs, and divisional leaders to provide financial insights that shape business strategy and operational decision-making.
• Deliver forward-looking analysis to identify growth opportunities, margin improvements, and efficiency gains.

Taxation & Compliance

• Oversee Group tax strategy, ensuring compliance with UK and international regulations (corporate tax, VAT/GST, transfer pricing, and customs duties).
• Optimise tax efficiency in line with business objectives and shareholder interests.

Finance Transformation & Process Improvement

• Lead continuous improvement of finance systems, processes, and reporting tools to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and insight.
• Drive digitalisation and automation initiatives in line with best practice and Group strategy.

M&A & Corporate Development

• Support the CEO and Shareholder on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures.
• Lead financial due diligence, valuation analysis, and deal structuring.
• Ensure seamless post-deal integration of finance, reporting, and governance processes across acquired businesses.

Property Portfolio Support

• Oversee financial aspects of the Group’s property holdings in the UK and UAE, including investment appraisals, financing, and returns optimisation.
• Provide financial leadership on property development, leasing, and asset management activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong, trusted relationships with shareholders, Board members, lenders, auditors, and key external advisors.
• Represent the Group externally on financial matters as required.

Key Relationships

• Internal: Shareholder, CEO, FDs, FCs, Group Sales & Marketing Director, Group Supply Chain Director, Group Operations Director, divisional leadership teams.
• External: Banks/lenders, auditors, tax authorities, legal advisors, M&A counterparties, regulatory bodies.

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven senior Group Finance leader within a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical expertise across financial reporting, treasury, taxation, and M&A.
• Demonstrable success in leading high-performing finance teams and driving transformation in finance processes.
• Track record of managing lender relationships and complex financing structures.
• Experience with property investment and asset financing desirable.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with hands-on capability to operate across detail and big picture.
• Commercially astute, with excellent judgement and decision-making ability.
• Strong influencing, communication, and relationship-building skills at Board and stakeholder level.
• High integrity, resilience, and adaptability to operate across diverse businesses and cultures.