Title Group Internal Control Manager

Company Smurfit Westrock

Country Ireland

Location Dublin – Group HQ

Function Group Internal Control

About Smurfit Westrock

Smurfit Westrock, a global leader in sustainable paper and packaging, operates in 40 countries with over 500 packaging converting operations and 62 paper mills. We offer an unparalleled portfolio of innovative packaging solutions, ranging from corrugated and consumer packaging to Bag-in-Box® packaging and point- of-sale displays. With the circular economy at the core of our business, we use renewable, recyclable and recycled materials to create sustainable packaging solutions. As a trusted partner to companies across the world, Smurfit Westrock is dedicated to creating efficient and scalable paper and packaging solutions to help solve complex packaging challenges. We are committed to delivering meaningful value for shareholders, customers, employees and the communities where we operate.

Overview/Background

This is an opportunity to join the Group Internal Control team at the beginning of the journey of assessment of risks and internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) following the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listing of the combined Smurfit Westrock organisation. In this challenging role, you will have the chance to help shape and drive the company’s Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) framework, while building relationships with key stakeholders within the business along the way. As such, adherence to deadlines, communication skills and a flexible approach will be vital.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design of the Group’s internal control framework. Identify opportunities to increase efficiency and continuously improve the framework

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders across various regions

• Support with queries, identify knowledge gaps and provide training/ guidance

• Contribute to the preparation of the Group financial risk assessment and scoping for SOX

• Contribute to the administration of the quarterly and annual SOX certification processes

• Work closely with the business to ensure key controls are timely identified and embedded in the process, tested, and operating effectively

• Monitor & advise process owners on action plans for remediation of deficient controls on a timely basis

• Perform root cause analysis and design efficient and effective remediation plans

• Work closely with process/control owners to ensure that deficiencies are timely resolved

• Create value for the business by helping to design effective solutions to drive compliance with company policies in an efficient manner & thereby reduce the risk of material financial reporting misstatements

• Contribute to the preparation of periodic reporting to key stakeholders such as senior management

• Assist in developing practical approaches and solutions that address internal control compliance challenges and issues

• Assist to drive change, implement process improvements, and be a valued business partner.

Key Competencies/Qualifications/Requirements

• >7 years of relevant professional experience, including experience in a financial compliance role (with a strong preference for SOX experience)

• Fluent in English, Spanish an advantage

• Able to prioritise, meet deadlines and get the job done

• Able to identify, document and evaluate key financial & business control processes in a global organisation, with a strong understanding of the relationship between risks and controls

• Strong analytical skills

• Strong communication and relationship management skills with key stakeholders within the business

• A proactive & flexible team player - ready and willing to listen and learn in a hands-on environment

• Driven and self-motivated

Internal

Role Profile

Job Title Corporate Governance – Finance Controls Advisor

Responsible to Corporate Governance Manager

Location Office Based (Hybrid 3:2)

Department Central Finance, Profit Protection, Risk & Control & Governance

Hay Grade D

This role profile is a guide to the work you will initially be required to undertake. It may be changed from time to time to incorporate

changing circumstances. It does not form part of your contract of employment.

Overall Purpose of the Role: To support the Corporate Governance Manager in strengthening and overseeing the finance control environment across UK & Ireland. The role will support the design, embedding, monitoring and assessment of the effectiveness of material financial controls aligned to Principal Risks disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts, including those supporting key financial reporting processes (for example, order to cash, procure to pay, payroll, treasury and record to report).

Working in partnership with Finance leadership, process owners and shared service teams, the role will ensure controls are cl early owned, consistently operated, appropriately evidenced and subject to robust escalation where deficiencies arise. Governance standards will align with UK Corporate Governance Code Provision 29 and the broader SOX readiness roadmap.

The role reports into Corporate Governance. Ultimate control ownership remains with Finance leadership and relevant process owners.

Key Accountabilities Compliance - Finance Controls Governance

KPIs/Measures

• Ensure governance activity supports accurate, complete and timely financial reporting.

• Promote adherence to finance policies, controls standards and key regulatory obligations impacting financial reporting.

• Monthly finance control submissions completed within

agreed timetable • Actions tracked with clear ownership and due dates

• No overdue remediation beyond agreed tolerance

• Material finance control issues escalated in a timely

manner • Reduction in repeat control deficiencies

Relationship Management KPIs/Measures

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with Finance

leadership, process owners and shared service teams. • Provide constructive challenge where finance control standards

are not achieved. • Support education and awareness of finance control and SOX

readiness requirements across the business.

• Active participation in cross domain governance

forums • Positive feedback from Finance and Corporate

Governance stakeholders • Change actions implemented within agreed timelines

• Consistent documentation standards across domains

Internal

Finance Controls Programme

KPIs/Measures

• Design and maintain a documented framework of key finance controls across material financial reporting processes and key systems (including manual and automated controls).

• Develop and formalise finance control standards, minimum evidence requirements and documentation expectations to

support Provision 29 compliance and future SOX readiness. • Ensure controls are clearly owned, consistently operated and

appropriately evidenced across key processes including revenue, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, fixed assets, inventory, treasury and financial close.

• Document control narratives, process flows and Risk and

Control Matrices to enhance clarity of design, accountability and audit readiness.

• Support implementation and governance of key preventative controls such as approvals, segregation of duties, reconciliations, management reviews and monitoring controls.

• Review periodic finance control submissions, assess compliance against agreed standards and track remediation actions to

completion.

• 100 percent of material finance controls formally documented and assigned to accountable owners

• Core finance policies and control documentation

maintained and subject to periodic review • Control execution and evidence submission completed

within agreed timetable • Key reconciliations completed and reviewed in line with

policy and close timetable

• Reduction in repeat control deficiencies across audit cycles

• Clear audit trail maintained for all material finance controls

Governance Monitoring & Reporting KPIs/Measures

• Develop and maintain monthly finance controls dashboards for review with Finance stakeholders.

• Lead structured monthly finance control review meetings with documented actions.

• Identify recurring themes and emerging finance risks, escalating

where appropriate.

• Finance controls dashboard submitted in line with agreed timetable and reporting standards set by the Corporate Governance Manager

• All actions logged with owner and due date • No action overdue beyond tolerance without escalation

• Accurate and complete input into Corporate Governance dashboard

• Thematic trends identified and escalated appropriately

Control Assurance and Effectiveness KPIs/Measures • Assess control effectiveness across finance control domains,

including manual and automated controls supporting financial reporting.

• Escalate material finance control deficiencies to the Corporate Governance Manager, with appropriate visibility to Finance leadership.

• Support Internal Audit and external assurance activity where required.

• Drive continuous improvement through automation, analytics and improved reporting.

• Material deficiencies escalated within agreed timeframe

• Root cause analysis completed for significant failures

• Remediation plans agreed within defined timeframe • Demonstrable improvement in finance control maturity

year on year

Audit & Assurance Oversight KPIs/Measures • Support the Corporate Governance Manager in acting as

primary governance liaison for Internal Audit reviews relating to

finance controls and ICFR / SOX readiness. • Coordinate control walkthroughs, evidence collation and

management responses as delegated, ensuring adherence to agreed timelines

• Review draft audit findings and management responses to

ensure root cause analysis is robust and remediation actions are proportionate

• Work with finance control owners and process owners to agree remediation actions, clear accountability and target dates

• Monitor progress of audit actions and escalate overdue or high-

risk items to the Corporate Governance Manager in accordance with governance framework

• Maintain an accurate central log of audit recommendations and status updates for reporting

• Support preparation for external audit or Provision 29 and

future SOX assurance reviews as required • Identify recurring themes from audit findings and propose

preventative improvements to strengthen control maturity

• 100 percent of Internal Audit actions tracked with no overdue items beyond agreed tolerance

• Audit evidence coordinated and provided within agreed timetable and meeting quality standards

• All significant findings supported by documented root

cause analysis and agreed remediation plan within defined timeframe

• Reduction in repeat findings across consecutive audit cycles through preventative action

• Clear monthly audit status reporting provided to Corporate Governance Manager

Internal

Person Specification

Leadership behaviours:

Can Do - Demonstrates resilience, sound judgement and the confidence to challenge appropriately.

Share Success – Supports stakeholders to understand control expectations and builds capability.

Passion for Quality - Maintains high standards of governance and follows through on actions.

Win through Teamwork – Builds collaborative relationships across Legal, Finance and Operations.

Embrace Diversity – Acts with integrity and promotes an inclusive compliance culture.

Essential • Professional qualification (e.g., ACA/ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent experience in finance controls, financial risk, audit or governance

• Knowledge of ERP environments (e.g., SAP) and the interaction between finance processes and systems • Experience within internal control frameworks such as SOX, ICFR or UK Corporate Governance Code Provision 29

• Experience documenting processes and controls (process narratives, flowcharts, Risk and Control Matrices) and assessing desig n and operating effectiveness

• Experience embedding and operating controls within operational or decentralised environments

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to provide constructive challenge • Ability to assess materiality and exercise balanced escalation judgement

• Strong analytical capability with attention to detail

• Proficient IT skills including Excel and reporting tools, with the ability to leverage automation and AI tools to improve eff iciency

Desirable • Experience working with AI Tools in particular. Copilot / ChatGPT

• Flowcharting - Visio

Key Contacts and Working Relationships • Corporate Governance Manager

• Finance Director / CFO and Finance Leadership Team

• Financial Reporting teams • Shared Services (e.g., Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll)

• Business process owners across Operations, Commercial and Supply Chain (for in-scope financial processes)

• ERP and Finance Systems teams (for controls enabled by systems and automation) • Corporate Governance peers across IT, Compliance and ESG

• Group Internal Audit

• External Audit and other assurance providers as required

• Risk and Compliance functions

Dimensions • Finance and financial reporting Principal Risks (including risk of material misstatement) • UK & Ireland operations

• Revenue £5+ billion

• Multi-site operational environment

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