Finance Operations Manager

Description About WPP Media WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com. WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com About EssenceMediacom: A Leading WPP Media Brand EssenceMediacom is a new breed of media agency. Grounded in analytics & insights and powered by data & technology, we believe in the power of media and creative to drive breakthroughs for the world’s best brands. We help clients understand the modern marketing paradox and discover the breakthroughs brands need to win with their consumers. We are designed for the new communications economy — built on data & technology, built for people & algorithms, built around diverse schools of thought, built to test & learn at scale, and, crucially, built to evolve. Role Summary and Impact As the Finance Operations Manager at EssenceMediaCom, you will be responsible for the overall strategy, leadership, and optimisation of working capital performance across the agency. Reporting to the Finance Operations Business Partner at WPP Media, you will lead a team of Senior and Junior Client Finance Analysts, driving best-in-class financial processes, robust controls, and continuous improvement initiatives. You will collaborate with key stakeholders—including WPP Media, client account teams, commercial leads, and the shared service center—to deliver outstanding results in cash conversion, debtor management, and financial compliance. Your leadership will directly impact business growth, client satisfaction, and the financial health of EssenceMediaCom. Skills and Experience At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values: Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity. Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust. Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise. Responsibilities Define and drive the agency’s working capital strategy in alignment with WPP Media objectives and financial targets. Act as the primary point of contact for all NWC matters for EssenceMediaCom, representing the agency in WPP Media forums and with senior stakeholders. Build and maintain strong relationships with key business partners, including client teams, commercial leads, shared service centers, and external auditors. Oversee all aspects of working capital, including cash conversion, aged debtors, and unbilled positions, ensuring continuous improvement and alignment with WPP Media targets. Lead the delivery of accurate, timely, and insightful financial reports and analytics to support business decision-making. Proactively identify and resolve complex NWC issues, collaborating with internal teams and external partners as required. Set and monitor KPIs for NWC performance across all business units, ensuring accountability and transparency. Lead agency-wide initiatives to enhance financial processes, including billing, collections and reconciliation. Oversee the onboarding of new clients and implementation of new systems or process enhancements, ensuring seamless integration and adherence to best practices. Champion a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging technology and innovation to streamline processes and drive efficiency. Ensure a robust internal control environment, with strong compliance to contractual, regulatory, and WPP Media requirements. Lead and coordinate internal, external, Sarbanes Oxley, and client audits, ensuring all documentation and controls are in place. Identify and mitigate financial risks, promoting a culture of accountability and financial discipline across the agency. Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Senior and Junior Client Finance Analysts. Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth and succession planning. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance team culture. Sustained improvement in agency-wide NWC metrics (cash conversion, aged debtors, unbilled positions). Successful implementation of process improvements and transformation initiatives. High levels of team engagement, development, and retention. Positive audit outcomes and strong compliance with WPP Media and regulatory standards. Enhanced stakeholder satisfaction and improved financial performance across business units. Experience Required Extensive experience in finance operations, working capital management, and process improvement, ideally within media, advertising, or a related sector. Proven ability to lead and develop finance teams in a complex, matrixed environment. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities, with confidence to influence at senior levels. Deep understanding of financial systems, controls, and compliance requirements. High level of resilience, adaptability, and a passion for continuous improvement. Life at WPP Media & Benefits Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days. WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. We believe the best work happens when we\’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That\’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. Please read our Privacy Notice ( https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.