Financial Controller (12m Fixed Term Contract)

About Us…

McCann Worldgroup, part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), is one of the world’s largest marketing communications networks.

McCann Worldgroup’s operations are united across 20,000+ employees in 120 countries by a single mission: to help brands play a meaningful role in people’s lives. This commitment focuses on creating work that earns a role in people’s lives by being interesting, evocative, and useful. It’s powerful and effective creativity that helps clients grow their brands and businesses.

To achieve this, Worldgroup today spans – and integrates – a broad range of specialty marketing agencies, including McCann (the world leading advertising agency, building brand platforms that last, powered by the creative philosophy “Truth Well Told”), MRM (helping businesses grow meaningful relationships to people at the intersection of strategy, creativity, technology and data sciences), CRAFT (global production unit) and FUTUREBRAND (delivering positive brand-led business transformation)

The Financial Controller plays a critical role in supporting the financial operations of agencies belonging to the 4 power brands (McCann, Craft, MRM, FutureBrand). The role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of the Group reporting, statutory audits, financial records and providing administrative and career support to the finance team. The Financial Controller will work closely with the Directors of Finance, Financial/Management Accounting team and Client Finance teams to ensure smooth financial operations and compliance to group policies.

Team Management

• Oversee the McCann Worldgroup Client Finance, Financial and Management Accounting Teams (5-10 employees).
• Motivate and lead finance team members through development of skills and training, whilst providing continued support.

Conduct annual appraisals and regular check-ins for direct reports.

Month-end coordination

• Coordinate a complex month-end timetable for the McCann Worldgroup Finance team to ensure deliverables are submitted within IPG deadlines.
• Coordinate processing of payroll with HR, Finance Manager and payroll manager
• Coordination of month end reporting to include Fixed asset register, depreciation journal entry, payroll journal, reversing journals, RSU/RCA entries, Prepayments, Accruals, Intercompany OOB including shared revenue WIP analysis and journal entry, posting of WIP provision journal entry and bad debt journal entry, transfer of VAT journal entry, reclassify IC liability, reclassify unbillable fees, prepare corporation tax package (with RCT Controller).
• Review the payroll reconciliation prepared by Finance Manager to ensure accurate recording of payroll by expenses type and cost centre.
• Review analysis of staff costs with Finance Director for permanent employees and freelancers across disciplines.
• Review commentary for P&L and prepare balance sheet variances.
• Review and sign off the monthly balance sheet reconciliations with Finance Manager

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Provide variance commentaries and coordinate with Director of Finance to ensure quarterly forecasting information deck is complete and accurate prior to submission (not involved in decks)
• Coordinate and review quarterly P&L forecasts for different profit centres and agencies.
• Coordinate bi-monthly flash of the summary P&L and review variance commentary.
• Review and analyse pipeline data accuracy in Salesforce for quarterly forecasts submission.
• Coordinate the development of PowerBi reporting dashboards with the developers’ team.
• Run the monthly reporting pack for MW London and/or a specific power brand (as assigned).
• Challenge Finance Manager and Financial Accountants on their overhead Budgets/Forecasts and review accuracy.

Work with Finance Manager and Financial Accountants on cost saving strategies.

Statutory Accounting and Audits

• Prepare UK GAAP Statutory Accounts for legal entities belonging to McCann Worldgroup London.
• Lead Internal and External Audits to ensure all supporting documentation is provided.
• Monitor progress of all open audit issues and provide status updates to IPG on a quarterly basis.
• Assist with group reporting and any ad hoc requests received pertaining to the above.

Review SOX controls on a quarterly basis and ensure new policies and procedures are implemented in a timely manner.

Management of Client Finance Team

• Oversee the responsibilities of the Client Finance Team which include Work-in-Progress (WIP), billing, revenue recognition and credit control.
• Review processes described above to ensure they are in accordance with relevant accounting standards and internal policies.
• Attend monthly Client Finance Managers meetings to review current debtors and WIP and challenge progress on aged items.

Day to day tasks

• Review and approve POs, invoices and over 60-day expense claims.
• Review and sign intercompany billing requests for billable and non-billable expenses.
• Review and approve cash advances and season ticket loans.

Adhoc analysis for CFO/Director of Finance.

• Previous experience within the Advertising industry is strongly preferred, ideally within a network
• Qualified Accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Previous experience in a similar Financial Controller position.
• Proven experience of improving financial reporting processes.
• Ability to lead and delegate work to teams.
• Self-starter who sets high personal standards & takes personal responsibility for delivering first class service and product.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational abilities.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of SOX processes.

• Vantage (SAP) knowledge is desirable but not essential.
• Salesforce knowledge would be a plus.
• PowerBI knowledge would be a plus.