Senior Manager Internal Audit

About the role 

Are you looking to lead high-profile audit engagements within a major global manufacturing environment across Europe? DS Smith has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Manager – Internal Audit to join our team.

Reporting into audit leadership, you will lead the systematic evaluation and strengthening of internal controls, risk management, and governance processes across our EMEA footprint. In this role, you will act as a pivotal leader delivering rigorous financial assurance in a dual listed (UK and US) environment, supervising multiple engagement teams, and partnering directly with senior executive stakeholders to drive financial and operational excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Audit Leadership & Execution: Direct the end-to-end planning, execution, and reporting of complex financial, operational, and internal control reviews across EMEA, ensuring full compliance with professional and US SOX standards
• SOX & Internal Controls Evaluation: Lead the testing and evaluation of design and operational effectiveness for internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR), advising leadership on control deficiencies and remediation plans
• Audit Strategy & Scoping: Develop risk-based audit plans, engagement scopes, testing strategies, and sampling methodologies aligned with UK Corporate Governance and SEC/PCAOB expectations
• Stakeholder & External Auditor Alignment: Build strong partnerships with executive management, European business unit controllers, financial control function and external auditors to streamline SOX compliance and audit coverage
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, coach, and develop regional audit team members and co-source audit testing providers fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture across European hubs
• Continuous Improvement: Drive the integration of data analytics and automated testing tools to modernise audit methodologies and enhance assurance quality

So, if you are a Senior Internal Audit Manager looking for a new challenge in a European business which prioritises operational excellence and encourages you to make a difference, or an experienced Internal Audit Manager looking to take on more responsibility — then we are looking for you!

About you  

We are looking for an established audit leader with industry experience navigating large corporate environments subject to SOX compliance:

• Experience of working in a mixture of public practice and in-house internal audit positions
• Experience of working within a multinational corporate or commercial group in a dual-listed business would be advantageous
• Degree educated and with an appropriate professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CPA, or ACCA)
• Strong expertise in financial controls, risk assessment, use of Audit Management tools and data analytic skills
• Solid technical knowledge of hands-on SOX expertise - IFRS, SOX 404 compliance, and PCAOB requirements within EMEA operations
• Proven ability to coach, manage, and develop in-house and co-source audit teams while delivering multi-project plans
• Sharp business acumen and professional skepticism, with communication skills to influence senior management effectively
• Willingness to travel

Benefits 

• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus and benefits
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays 
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

Location:  This is a hybrid role, split between the London Paddington office (3 days) and home (2 days) – however flexibility will be required at times including business travel across EMEA.

About us

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 65,000 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!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith

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.

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