Operating Company

GroupM

Job Title

Senior Management Accountant

Department / Team

GroupM Finance

Reporting To

Financial Controller

Location

Red Lion Square, London

About GroupM

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company responsible for more than $45B (COMvergence) in annual media investment through agencies including Mindshare, Essence MediaCom, Wavemaker and m/SIX, as well as the outcomes-driven programmatic audience company, Xaxis. GroupM creates competitive advantage for advertisers via its worldwide organization of media experts who deliver powerful insights on consumers and media platforms, trading expertise, market leading brand-safe media, technology solutions, addressable TV, content, sports and more. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

About the team and/or client

This role sits within the central finance team of GroupM UK Market reporting into the Financial Controller. The role will work closely with the rest of the GroupM team as well as the Agency Commercial teams, with a focus on GroupM trading net sales and Motion Entertainment.

The Role Objective

The main purpose of the role is the timely and accurate preparation of the monthly management accounts for reporting to both GroupM management and WPP group (EMEA). This requires detailed variance analysis and exception reporting. Liaising with Finance Plus on Payables, Receivables and BFC Cartesis reporting. The role will also support on key financial objectives that promote driving efficiencies within the team but also within the business. To be successful in this role, engagement with various parts of the business is required, often at different levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

Month-end process/Year end & variance analysis

• Own the preparation of monthly Management Accounts reconciled to TB
• Prepare and approve journal entries, general ledger recording, balance sheet reconciliations, other month end reconciliations and schedules for review by the Financial Controller
• Lead the monthly financial submissions (P&L and Balance Sheet) and commentary comparing to forecast/budget
• Oversee the intercompany process including action on any post month end variances
• Ownership of ONS reporting

Group / WPP reporting

• Prepare management & external numbers and supporting schedules for reporting in BFC Cartesis
• Submit commentaries to EMEA on a monthly basis and resolve any reporting queries
• Prepare and submit quarterly and year-end reporting packages

Other and periodic

• Ensuring compliance with company policies and SOX requirements
• Preparation of information to be provided to the auditors for SOX, interim and year end audits
• Continuously reviewing current processes and making improvements to allow better control or improved efficiencies
• Dealing with Finance Plus on ad hoc queries
• Ad hoc projects as directed by Financial Controller, Senior Financial Controller or Finance Leads

How Success is Measured

• Accuracy
• Adaptability
• Timeliness
• Cleanliness of balance sheet accounts
• Adherence to WPP accounting policy and UK GAAP
• Completion of key responsibilities in line with GroupM overall activity

Skills and Behaviours

Desirable

• Experience working with DDS / Media Ocean
• Experience working with BFC Cartesis
• Media industry experience

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant or equivalent (e.g. CIMA, ACA, ACCA), ideally 2+ years post qualification
• Intermediate / advance level of Excel (knowledge of sumIF(s), pivot tables, VLOOKUP is essential)
• Organised with good attention to detail
• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and able to prioritise workload to meet challenging and sometimes conflicting deadlines
• 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

Behaviours:

• Must show a proactive approach to problem solving and take initiative
• Desire for continuous improvement
• Ability to work collaboratively in a large team and across the Agencies