Finance Director - Divisional FP&A and Finance Business Partner for PID & Sustainability

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About Smiths:

About Us

Smiths is always looking for curious minds. For new colleagues who want responsibility and relish a challenge. Those who would like to use their talents to help make the world safer, healthier, more efficient, and more connected.

We are proud of our 160-year history of innovation, propelling the human world forward by looking at things differently, adapting, and never standing still. Today, we are an aligned global business of five divisions and around 22,000 colleagues, impacting millions of lives annually across five vibrant global markets.

Smiths Detection, a global authority on detection and screening technology, delivers solutions to protect society from threats and illegal activities, including explosives, weapons, contraband, toxic chemicals, and narcotics. Our mission is to use technology to develop innovative solutions and services to uphold the free flow of trade and make the world a safer place.

Whether you are an experienced professional or just starting your career, our global scale and focus on growth offer great career opportunities. There has never been a better time to join Smiths and help create the future.

Life at Smiths

• Global leader : We impact critical systems every day with sites in 17 countries and six centres of research excellence. From pioneering to powering life-changing innovation, we're delivering threat detection and screening solutions to safeguard the world from threat.
• Digital growth : A key part of our capability is the integration of digital technology across our business and our operations in more than 55 countries, will be critical to our continued success .
• Exciting opportunities : Our growth is creating exciting opportunities to work with experts in physics, chemistry, electronics, mechanics, production, computer science, and AIML .
• International environment : With some projects, work requires global collaboration and the potential to travel and grow with the business.

Job Purpose:

Smiths Detection is searching for a Finance Director of Divisional FP&A and Finance Business Partner for Portfolio, Innovation & Digital (PID) & Sustainability. This is a pivotal, director-level role responsible for steering financial strategy, analysis, and business partnership.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Finance, this senior leader will manage a team of four direct reports, driving impactful initiatives across Financial Planning & Analysis, Portfolio Innovation & Digital, and Sustainability. The role is a member of the Divisional Finance Leadership Team (FLT) and the Portfolio, Innovation & Digital (PID) Leadership Team.

About the Role:

This role will provide financial oversight and guidance in:

• Divisional FP&A: Leading the division's financial reporting, forecasting, and investment strategies with an eye on long-term value creation
• Finance Business Partnering: Collaborating with leaders in Portfolio, Innovation & Digital (PID), covering critical areas like Portfolio, Sales Enablement, Market Communications, M&A, and regulatory and sustainability strategies
• Sustainability: Partnering with sustainability on initiatives that align with our net zero goals, supporting the Smiths Excellence System (SES) for continuous improvement in sustainability practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• People Leadership: Oversee and develop the team, fostering a culture of growth, accountability, and high performance within the finance function
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Lead budgeting, forecasting, and reporting efforts for PID and Sustainability, ensuring data-driven insights guide strategic decisions
• Financial Controls & Compliance: Ensure a robust control environment by enforcing policies, procedures, and audit readiness
• Continuous Improvement: Collaborate with the SES team to implement process improvements, drive efficiencies, and support the division's broader strategic goals.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and a professional accounting qualification (ACA, CIMA, CPA, CA, or equivalent).

Experience:

At least 6 years of post-qualification experience, including a minimum of 2 years in FP&A or Business Partnering at a senior or director level.

Leadership Abilities: Demonstrated experience in leading, coaching, and developing teams, with a focus on building future finance leaders.

Strategic Vision: Proven ability to synthesize complex financial data and communicate actionable insights to executive leadership.

Influential Communication: Skilled at building strong relationships and influencing stakeholders across various functions and levels.

Change Driver: Passion for identifying opportunities for improvement and driving continuous enhancement in financial and operational processes.

Why Smiths Detection?

As Finance Director of Divisional FP&A and Finance Business Partner for Portfolio, Innovation & Digital (PID) & Sustainability , you will be a key leader in shaping the financial future of Smiths Detection.

Your work will directly contribute to:

• Revenue Growth and Profitability: Partner with cross-functional leaders to enhance operating margins and deliver on financial objectives.
• Operational Efficiency: Optimise cash flow and trade working capital, improving financial health across the division.
• Sustainable Impact: Play a vital role in supporting the company's net zero targets, embedding sustainability into every facet of finance.

This role offers a blend of strategic impact, team leadership, and high-level collaboration with the divisional executive team. If you're a finance leader with the vision, expertise, and drive to make a difference, we invite you to bring your talents to Smiths Detection.

Diversity and Inclusion:

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity. We have several employee-led Employee Resources Groups (women@work, Black Employees Network, Veterans, Pride Network) providing support, enhancing career development, and contributing to personal development in the work environment and beyond.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Detection, Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation - including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career's website ( www.smithsdetection.com/careers )or LinkedIn.