Finance Director Ftc

Finance Director needed to join our team here at Wunderman Thompson Commerce and Technology. We are looking for a Finance Director (1 year FTC) to oversee the WTC&T Finance team and ensure delivery of key projects and objectives. Leading a team of 10 UK Based staff in the UK as well as overseeing the Finance team in Poland this role requires an individual with commercial and technical experience and a track record of process improvement. A ‘hands-on’ individual to take control of finance and support this £70m+ business in achieving its ambitious growth plans and profitability objectives.

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for budgeting, forecasting, month-end, year-end and client profitability reporting.
• Ensuring that WTC&T’s financial reporting is completed accurately and on time in line with WTC&T’s and WPP’s policies. Including overseeing the WTC&T group reporting and variance reporting monthly to the WPP group.
• Responsible for integrating entities (WTC&T, NN4M and Cognifide) into a single UK Finance function and embedding the team structure.
• Streamline and improve existing processes, utilising system improvements where possible.
• Leading on merging and legally closing down 2 legal entities (Cognifide and NN4M)
• Working closely with the CFO and Account Directors to ensure that the revenue forecast is up to date & accurate.
• Determining the appropriate revenue recognition treatment for all client projects (Fixed Price vs Time & Materials).
• Managing internal, external and ICFR (used to be called SOX) audits and maintaining / improving (where needed) financial controls. Developing and documenting business and accounting policies to maintain and strengthen internal controls.
• Ownership of the balance sheet, including reconciliations and working capital management, specifically debt chasing and reducing accrued revenue ageing.
• Managing accounting operations including all GL transactions, Billing, AR, AP, payroll check, revenue recognition.
• Leading & ensuring the delivery of key projects (Concur, Open Air, One Legal Entity, One SOX ID, Implementation of Impero).
• Managing various fx risk exposures to minimise fx downside from various sources monthly.
• Working with tax advisers to ensure timely and accurate submission of annual corporate tax returns, including R&D submission claims.
• Ad-hoc requests and analysis.

What we want from you:

• With a recognised accountant qualification, you must have a strong commercial focus and pragmatism whilst maintaining financial integrity.
• Budgeting and forecasting experience; ability to develop and operate simple, clear and effective models to support achievement of financial goals.
• A good knowledge of UK GAAP/IFRS and accounting principles, policies, processes, systems and best practice, including revenue recognition and foreign currency hedging.
• Experience in handling the requirements of a large holding company, with its reporting and control requirements and policies, including the general compliance obligations associated with a multi-national plc.
• Ability to create financial statements and manage general ledger functions and the month-end/year end close processes. A focus for this role will be continuing to support the ongoing process improvement in the wider team.
• A proven track record of reporting and producing management and statutory financial statements.
• Proficient in use of accounting and IT systems, including Excel.
• Ability to interact well at all levels and build good relationships, both internally and externally, whilst maintaining professionalism, control and integrity.
• Experience managing teams with the ability to be an effective and respected member of WTC and T’s finance team.
• An active hands-on approach, but with the ability to delegate effectively.
• Experience with change management and comfortable with managing priorities.
• Excellent managerial, interpersonal, communication, team-building and problem-solving skills.
• Energetic and practical approach, with a strong attention to detail.

If you know some of this, even better:

• Some knowledge and experience of an IT and/or Consultancy Services business, especially project delivery management would be an advantage, but not essential.
• Experience with R&D submissions to HMRC would also be beneficial.

What we can offer you:

Alongside the opportunity to work with some of the most exciting brands around the world, we’ll also prioritise your career development and help you grow your skills. We’ll empower you to make a difference, allow you to be yourself, and respect who you are.

We offer a great benefits package including hybrid working that works for everyone, a discretionary bonus scheme, training opportunities, competitive pension, medical insurance, life assurance, social events, opportunities to buy and sell holidays, family friendly policies, discounts with hundreds of retailers and much more.

Our personality and behaviours: We believe that we are what we do, not just what we say. Our shared values and behaviours show how to bring the Wunderman Thompson Commerce and Technology’s culture to life through the actions we all take every day:

• Listening
• In it together
• Creative bravery
• Positivity

Our brilliant, talented people are what makes Wunderman Thompson Commerce and Technology what we are. That’s why we look for people who go beyond and always push our thinking to be better than yesterday.

What we do: At Wunderman Thompson we inspire growth for ambitious brands. Within our commerce and technology division, that means inspiring people across the globe to shop online through seamless digital experiences.

How we do it: Our commerce and technology division houses strategic consultants, creative and technical architects and skilled developers and operators that together help some of the world’s leading organisations to deliver outstanding digital experiences across all major routes to market worldwide: marketplaces, online retailers, D2C, B2B and social platforms. With over 4,200 experts in 55 operational centres across 34 countries, our capabilities span the entire buying journey from customer acquisition, through engagement, to conversion and loyalty, driving multi-channel growth for world-leading brands.

We work with some of the most exciting brands such as The Coca-Cola Company, EY, Bosch, Unilever, Ford, DFS, Mercedes-Benz, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Sainsbury’s, Selfridges, Shell and Tiffany & Co.

We’ve built over 500 platforms for brands and retailers and generate in excess of $29bn annually for our clients and work with over 50 strategic partners including Adobe, SAP, Salesforce, HCL, Shopify, Sitecore, BigCommerce, commerce tools and Acquia.

What makes us different? Part creative agency, part consultancy and part technology company, we’re unique in our ability to connect world-class strategic thinking and creative insight, with deep executional capability across technology and operations. We’re part of the WPP Group, which gives us the talent, infrastructure and support of one of the largest agency networks in the world.

We were recognised by Forrester as a Leader in Commerce Services (Q1,2021) and in Digital Experience Services (Q2, 2022), and as Best Large Agency of the Year at the European Ecommerce Awards 2022.

Our reputation is based on our people, and we believe we have some of the best in the business.

As our business grows internationally, we’re looking for new people to join us on our journey to inspire and take a key role in shaping some of the best commerce solutions, services, and websites in the world. Working as a team, no problem is insurmountable; we share in our clients’ successes and believe that anyone can show creative bravery no matter what their role is in the team.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

At Wunderman Thompson, a WPP company, we are committed to actively building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and heard, and is treated with dignity and respect. As leaders and creative partners across industries, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment reflective of our greatest asset; our people. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for everyone as well as the clients and communities we serve.

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