Operating Company

GroupM

Job Title

Financial Controller

Department / Team

GroupM Finance

Reporting To

Senior Financial Controller

Location

One Southwark Bridge

About GroupM

GroupM is the leading global media investment management operation serving as the parent company to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediaCom, each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM’s primary purpose is to maximize performance of WPP’s media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, proprietary tool development and other business-critical capabilities. GroupM’s focus is to deliver unrivalled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

The Role Objective

The Financial Controllers within GroupM are responsible for managing and leading the month end/quarter and year end processes ensuring deadlines are met and work is accurate; maintaining efficient control processes; promoting process improvement. Supporting one aligned, efficient and effective team reporting function that provides the required monthly reporting to WPP (P&L and Balance Sheet) and internal Management Info.

Responsibilities

Month-end process/ year-end & variance analysis

• Managing the month end, quarter end, half year and year end processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting of P&Ls and Balance sheets.
• Preparation of Flash and actuals for review.
• Preparation of the internal P&L commentary with variance analysis within the threshold prior to BFC submission for review.
• Preparation of Balance Sheet Commentary with variance analysis within the threshold prior to BFC submission for review.
• Sign off WD9 SOX and 20th of the month SOX Controls including MRC/threshold tools and IUC checks.
• Assist in improvement of SOX controls and balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring unreconciled items are reviewed monthly/resolved.
• Review and approval of monthly payroll.
• Involvement in internal & external audits.
• Preparation/ Review of quarterly VAT returns.
• Manage, support, train and develop direct reports.
• Provide any ad-hoc reporting requested by the GroupM/WPP

Group / WPP reporting

• Liaise with EMEA to resolve reporting queries
• Submit commentaries to EMEA on a monthly basis
• Submit SOX controls on monthly basis
• Deal with EMEA’s new reporting requirements
• Prepare and submit quarterly packages
• Prepare and submit the year-end packages

Business Partnering

• Business partnering through engagement with business on a regular basis including face-to-face meetings
• Adding value to operational teams through analysis, reporting etc.

Other and periodic

• Ensuring compliance with company policies and SOX requirements
• Continuously reviewing current processes and making improvements to allow better control or improved efficiencies
• Ad hoc projects as directed by SFC/Head of Accounting
• Dealing with Finance Plus on ad hoc queries

Skills and Behaviours

Desirable

• Experience working with DDS / Media Ocean
• Experience working with Cartesis / BFC
• Media industry experience
• Experience working with SOX controls
• Audit trained

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA and CIMA)
• Intermediate / advance level of Excel (knowledge of sumIFs, sumIF, Pivot tables, VLOOKUP is essential)
• Organized with good attention to detail
• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and able to prioritise workload to meet challenging deadlines
• Team management experience
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
• Strong communication & relationship building skills
• Enthusiastic with a can do attitude
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Experience in setting up and improving processes