Company Description

Publicis Groupe UK is a marketing and digital transformation business made up of 5,000 talented and versatile people with expertise in media, creative, influence, technology and data, working across 21 agencies.

Publicis Groupe UK creative agencies include Saatchi & Saatchi, BBH, Digitas, Leo Burnett and Publicis Poke. Also, within the group are PR agencies MSL and Kekst CNC and sustainability consultancy Salterbaxter. Publicis Media includes agencies Zenith, Starcom and Spark Foundry as well as specialist practices PMX, Performics, Publicis Sport & Entertainment and Publicis Content, providing expertise across media strategy, investment, data and technology.

Langland, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness and Digitas Health serve clients across health and wellness, science and medicine. They combine expertise across advertising and branding, clinical trial experience, data and analytics, technology, medical strategy and education and public relations and policy. 

At the core of Publicis Groupe’s data and technology offering sits Epsilon which provides personalisation at scale through CORE-ID, its proprietary data tech platform.

Publicis Sapient is the business transformation arm of Publicis Groupe, marrying technology, data sciences and business consulting with engineering and creativity, it helps clients transform digitally.

Publicis Groupe UK clients include BT, McDonald’s, ASDA, Tesco, L’Oreal, P&G, Kellogg’s, VW UK, Reckitts Benckiser, Samsung and Disney among others, encompassing six of the UK’s top 10 advertisers.

Employees share a common purpose, consistent ways of working and a financial structure that encourages collaboration. In 2015 Publicis Groupe introduced the Power of One. Simplifying the traditional agency structure, the model removes silos between agencies and disciplines to put clients’ needs at the heart of the structure.

This role will be based at our Television Centre building in White City with 3 days per week in office. Publicis Groupe has a presence in more than 100 countries and employs nearly 84,000 people worldwide.

Our Commitment
As part of our dedication to create an inclusive and diverse workforce, Publicis Groupe UK is committed to equal access to opportunity for people without regard to race, age, sex, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. 

Job Description

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 

This is an opportunity to join Langland at Publicis Health as a Senior Commercial Analyst. The main purpose of this role will be business partnering and provide commercial, financial, and operational support to the agency and to the Associate Finance Director.

You will be responsible for financial and client reporting and maintaining a strong commercial focus across financial operations.

Our agencies are always fast-paced and our clients only expect the best from us. To be successful in this role, you’ll need to be a self-starter and someone who’s used to working in an autonomous style.  You must be able to work independently and still collaborate internally.

You’ll have a varied role which will involve managing multiple stakeholders and working closely with the senior Finance, Managing Partners and Business Unit Directors, so you’ll need to be proactive, thinking about future needs and keeping one step ahead. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Financial Expertise

Ensure revenue recognition is in accordance with Groupe principlesTranslate financial information and analysis on revenue and profitability into actionable steps for client teams to drive better results.Supports the Client Service team in selectively gathering relevant financial information to analyse financial results, including the burn report and ad hoc analysis as required.Works closely with Client Service team in reviewing and forecasting revenue.Assist with training the Client Service team in financials, revenue recognition and forecast process.Reviews and assists Client Service team with SOWs and Excel spreadsheets.Utilise knowledge of regulatory environment and industry to develop and evaluate agency financial processes and controls.Work with internal and external auditors - gathering and providing necessary information.Support in determining revenue recognition and forecasting (PC sheets) and prepare for monthly mid-month revenue and month-end revenue meetings (MERMs)Prepare monthly Client Profitability and Time vs Fee reporting – discuss results and findings with Client Service team.Prepare revenue forecasts and consolidated revenue for Budget and Rolling ForecastsPrepare relevant elements of monthly Management pack, including commentary on client profitability, staff utilisation and client revenues.Reviewing billability with relevant department headsPrepares month end revenue flash reports Support the month-end process and reporting cycles, accountable for preparation, review and accuracy of monthly accrued and deferred revenue calculations and balances, raises any related issues in a timely fashionMaintain all revenue files across all disciplines (month end revenue templates, revenue stratifications, PC sheets or revenue trackers and PC sheets rollover process)Oversee monitoring of WIP posting and invoicing

Client Relationship Expertise

Models a positive, approachable, and professional manner and demonstrates a willingness to work with internal clients to meet their needs.Develops, manages and advances relationships with team members and clients.Works with clients and team members to identify their needs and recommend potential courses of action.Maintains trust and credibility with team members and other colleagues by quickly responding to their needs - always following up and delivering high-quality work.Readily adjusts priorities to respond to pressing and changing demands.Uses others' time appropriately (e.g. gathering input from team members)Persuades by presenting facts, analysis and solutions in a way that addresses the business needs.

Project Management and Resilience

Can help lead a group through major obstacles/challenges.Comprehends issues and rules relating to revenue and ensures compliance with these.Meets deadlines.

People Management

You may be required to take on people management responsibilities including:Work with your direct reports to set SMART goals, and monitor performance against them.Motivate and inspire direct reports.Be responsible for the day-to-day line management and related people management processes for any direct reports you may have.Help direct reports to manage and prioritise workload.

Other Duties (as required)

Revenue variance explanationsAssisting with preparation of monthly new business report and client information request formsAd hoc NDA and contracting enquiriesAd hoc tasks relating to revenue and commercial client finance, as required

QualificationsRelevant experience within a similar role is essential - Finance Analyst or Finance Business Partner level Strong attention to detail - ability to identify potential problems in existing environment and provide solutions before they manifest themselves in material financial results.Ideal background of working within a marketing/advertising/creative agency or similar industry.ACA, CIMA or ACCA qualified OR Qualified by experience with a significant amount of experience in client finance within marketing/advertising/creative agency.Strong communicator, personable, engaging and have the ability to develop internal relationships and present with gravitas.Excellent excel skills, ability to work with large volumes of data, agility in understanding new systems and tools.Can work well under pressure and to tight deadlines. Can be flexible and agile when working across multiple business units. 

Additional Information

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office-based three days during the working week. 

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).

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