At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial operations and shape the financial strategy of a creative agency.
- Company: Join Big Group, an award-winning employee-owned creative marketing agency.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, charity days, and wellness perks.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to mentor a finance team.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Fully qualified accountant with 7+ years in finance and agency experience.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 95000 ÂŁ per year.
About Us
We’re Big Group, an award-winning, independent creative marketing agency who apply bigger thinking to everything we do. For over 30 years, we have been helping our clients create memorable experiences, drive business results to amplify performance, innovate with technology to power transformation, and nurture and connect brands with consumers to build genuine communities. In November 2022, we became an Employee‑Owned Trust (EOT), meaning that once employees pass probation, they own a share of the company. This brings greater transparency, deeper engagement, and the opportunity to benefit from the ongoing success of the business.
The Benefits
- ÂŁ90-95,000 per annum, depending on experience
- 23 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Up to five paid days of charity work per year
- Hybrid working (3 days in the office, 2 days employee choice)
- Health cashback scheme
- Life cover
- Pension scheme
- Profit share
- Gym discounts
- Social events throughout the year
- A welcoming and friendly office environment
- Home & Tech scheme savings
- Salary sacrifice benefits including cycle to work, workplace nursery and electric vehicle scheme
This is an exceptional opportunity for an analytical, commercially minded senior finance leader with experience in the creative, media, marketing or agency environment to play a key role in shaping the financial strategy of a forward-thinking, employee‑owned organisation. Working alongside the CFO you will influence how the Group plans, reports and delivers against its commercial ambitions, while partnering with senior leaders to drive performance, support growth and strengthen our financial governance. With a highly collaborative culture, hybrid working and a wide range of benefits, you’ll be supported to thrive, develop and make a meaningful impact across the organisation. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to the long‑term success of a growing, creative business, we’d love to hear from you.
The Role
As our Finance Director, you will play a central role in safeguarding and strengthening the financial health of the Group. Reporting to the Group CFO, you will lead financial operations across the organisation, ensuring robust governance, high‑quality reporting, and insightful commercial analysis. You will oversee a small finance team and act as a strategic business partner to Account Groups, supporting revenue growth, improving processes, and enabling informed decision‑making. You will also contribute to the Group’s growth agenda, including mergers and acquisitions, financial due diligence and integration planning.
- Lead the Group budgeting cycle, including annual budgets, reforecasts and long‑range planning
- Produce timely, accurate financial reporting and ensure correct revenue recognition
- Maintain strong financial controls, risk management and compliance across all entities
- Partner with Account Groups to provide commercial insight on revenue, margins, pricing and client profitability
- Support M&A activity including valuation modelling, financial due diligence and integration assessments
- Oversee cash flow forecasting, working capital optimisation and treasury control
- Continuously improve financial processes, systems and reporting quality
- Mentor and develop members of the finance team
About You
To be considered as our Finance Director, you will need:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA or CIMA)
- At least seven years’ post‑qualification experience
- Experience within a marketing, media, digital, production, creative or agency‑based environment
- Proven experience in financial management, budgeting, forecasting and reporting
- Strong understanding of revenue recognition, accounting standards and financial controls
- Experience supporting M&A activity, including due diligence and integration
- Experience managing and developing a finance team
- Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and communication skills
- Commercial acumen with the ability to partner with non‑finance teams and influence decision‑making
- High personal integrity, strong leadership skills and a commitment to governance and financial discipline
- Strategic thinking capability alongside strong operational delivery skills
Desirable
- Experience working with overseas entities
- Additional training in leadership, strategy or commercial finance
Finance Director employer: Big Group
Contact Detail:
Big Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Finance Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the finance and creative sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential employers and showcase your expertise. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Big Group thoroughly—know their values, recent projects, and how they operate as an employee-owned trust. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission and culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your financial acumen! Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've driven performance and supported growth in previous roles. Use metrics and results to back up your claims—numbers speak volumes!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Big Group. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Finance Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Finance Director role. Highlight your experience in financial management, budgeting, and any relevant work in creative or agency environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for Big Group. Share specific examples of how you've driven performance and supported growth in previous roles. Let us know what excites you about joining our team!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Finance Director, you'll be leading a team and influencing decision-making. Make sure to highlight your leadership experience and how you've mentored others in your previous positions. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and develop their teams!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining Big Group!
How to prepare for a job interview at Big Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Finance Director, you’ll need to demonstrate your financial acumen. Brush up on key financial metrics relevant to the creative industry, such as revenue recognition and cash flow management. Be prepared to discuss how you've used these metrics to drive performance in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
This role requires strategic thinking alongside operational delivery. Prepare examples of how you've contributed to long-term financial planning or M&A activities. Highlight your experience in shaping financial strategies that align with business goals, especially in a creative or agency environment.
✨Engage with the Culture
Big Group values a collaborative culture, so be ready to discuss how you’ve fostered teamwork in your previous positions. Share stories about mentoring finance teams or partnering with non-finance departments to achieve common goals. This will show you’re a good fit for their employee-owned ethos.
✨Prepare Questions That Matter
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about the company’s financial strategy, growth plans, and how they measure success. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career aspirations and values.