Overview

As a member of the global Finance team, you will provide expert & collaborative financial partnership to our business leaders through accurate reporting, reliable analysis and actionable insight to support decision making for sustainable and profitable growth. You will work closely with the Leadership Team to manage the operations in their geographical market, in concert with our Global/Regional Industry and Capability leaders and supported by regional teams across Financial Planning & Reporting, Controllership and Client Finance. The Finance Director reports to both their Market Lead and the Regional CFO in a matrix environment. The individual must be able to set appropriate priorities, organize a department for maximum efficiency and effectiveness, communicate well with senior and executive management, peers, business partners, subordinates and clients, and have a high level of computer aptitude and business sense.

Responsibilities

Your Impact:

Financial Planning & Analysis – Anticipate opportunities/risks and initiate actions to achieve financial objectives

• Prepare the annual business plan, taking into account business initiatives, investments, analysis of prior period trends and company financial objectives
• Analyze actual performance against key benchmarks and highlight to management any areas requiring action
• Prepare rolling forecasts as needed to maintain visibility on full year financial performance
• Provide management with information regarding financial and operational performance of individual business segments against internal KPIs

Financial Operations – Work with delivery and operations team to maximize profitability and optimize operational performance for the geographical market

• Provide accurate, timely and meaningful information and financial counsel to management to assess financial risk/benefit of operational initiatives and actions
• Provide “what if” analysis to management, with corresponding financial impact
• Support contract negotiations (with legal support), pricing negotiations (with Commercial Strategy Team and Client Finance Team as applicable), preparation of client SOWs, profitability analysis and reporting, contract maintenance and client-required reporting and reconciliation
• Work with business leads and Commercial Strategy Team on the commercial portion of new business pitches including: RFP responses, pitch budget management, price modeling and contract development
• Provide operational analysis to management (ie client profitability, capacity management, etc)
• Ensure that financial operations across separate locations and/or business segments are delivering incremental value and/or financial efficiencies
• Liaise with Shared Service Center for key operational areas (ie, Real Estate, Supplier Procurement, Legal, Treasury, etc)
• Assess and prepare requests for all financial operation activities requiring approval, including capital expenditures, consultancy arrangements, real estate, etc.
• Ensure that financial systems are properly set up and optimally utilized by the agency teams

Financial Reporting/Controllership – Support regional Financial Reporting and Controllership teams to ensure that monthly reporting is performed accurately, completely and timely

• Review transactional accounting performed by Shared Service Center accounting department
• Perform all subjective areas of financial reporting, particularly revenue recognition (together with Global Revenue Organization) and provisions for risks & charges
• Ensure that all financial reporting is performed in according with Publicis Groupe Corporate Policies and Procedures (“Janus”)
• Ensure performance of, and compliance with, Financial Monitoring Controls
• Perform monthly analysis and submit reports to global Publicis Sapient teams
• Liaise directly with Corporate Finance team to provide information as requested
• Partner with Publicis Groupe finance teams and other key stakeholders to proactively manage cash flow recovery and generation
• Partner with Publicis Groupe Treasury teams to mitigate foreign exchange exposure
• Support local regulatory compliance efforts

Qualifications

Your Skills & Experience:

• 7+ years experience managing an accounting/finance department
• Speak fluent English
• Strong Excel competency
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work autonomously
• Highly organised and able to work according to fixed calendar cycles

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required, MBA or accounting qualification preferred

Additional information

Set Yourself Apart With:

• Working knowledge of technology platforms and business models
• Strong presentation/PowerPoint competency and communication skills
• Experience with Enterprise Reporting Planning software (SAP, Hyperion, etc)
• Experience in Technology Consulting or other service sector
• Experience working at one of the top five global marketing & communications holding company networks