At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead financial strategy and drive gross margin performance in the Audio sector.
- Company: Join a leading media company shaping the future of audio.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to innovate and lead a high-performing team.
- Why this job: Influence key business decisions and shape the future of audio finance.
- Qualifications: Senior finance leadership experience and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
The Head of Finance, Audio sits at the heart of Global's Audio business, acting as a core member of the Audio leadership team. This role is accountable for gross margin performance across the Audio portfolio, working in lockstep with Commercial leadership to drive our business forward.
As a trusted partner and constructive challenger, you will be in the room for the decisions that matter — influencing strategy, challenging trade-offs and ensuring financial discipline and commercial ambition are fully aligned. You will combine strategic insight, financial rigour and commercial judgement to drive better decision-making, delivering sustained improvements in profitability, revenue quality and margin efficiency.
As the Head of Finance at Global, you will:
- Operate as an embedded member of the Audio leadership team, shaping commercial strategy and influencing key business decisions.
- Own Audio gross margin performance, driving accountability across revenue, pricing, cost of sales and investment decisions.
- Lead performance planning and forecasting, setting robust budgets, forecasts and long-range plans that underpin strategic decision-making.
- Lead the development and evolution of pricing strategy, using data and market insight to optimise yield and strengthen market positioning.
- Play a leading role in shaping commercial trading deals and commission models, ensuring incentive frameworks align with Global's strategic and financial objectives.
- Lead financial evaluation and rigorous challenge of revenue initiatives and investment decisions, influencing decision-making to drive the best business outcomes.
- Drive cost optimisation across the revenue-linked cost base, embedding strong cost discipline and value for money.
- Ensure high-quality financial governance and data integrity, establishing a single source of truth for Audio performance and performance metrics.
- Partner with Group FP&A to ensure consistency of targets and performance tracking.
- Establish a seamless partnership with the Reporting Hub with clear RACI and efficient delivery of core financial reports and processes.
- Lead and continue to develop a high-performing finance team, maintaining strong capability across modelling, analytics and commercial decision support.
What You'll Love About This Role:
- Think Big: Shape the future of Audio by driving pricing innovation, trading strategy and market leadership.
- Own It: Take accountability for gross margin performance and the financial outcomes of one of Global's most strategic business areas.
- Keep it Simple: Translate complex commercial and financial dynamics into clear, actionable insights that drive better decisions.
- Better Together: Work at the centre of a highly collaborative ecosystem across Commercial, Operations, Finance and external partners.
What Success Looks Like:
- Established yourself as a core member of the Audio leadership team, consistently influencing key commercial and investment decisions.
- Shaped trade-offs between revenue, pricing, cost and investment, ensuring decisions are both commercially ambitious and financially disciplined.
- Established a clear, data-led view of Audio gross margin drivers.
- Delivered enhanced forecasting and performance visibility, enabling faster, better-informed commercial decisions.
- Strengthened trading deal frameworks and commission structures, improving alignment with Global's commercial objectives.
- Established a robust pipeline of value-accretive revenue and investment decisions, with clear governance over deals and initiatives.
- Improved data quality, governance and accessibility, creating a single source of truth for Audio financial and commercial metrics.
- Maintained a high-performing, engaged team aligned to Audio priorities, delivering consistent, high-impact insight.
- Incrementally strengthened team capability and bench strength, raising the bar on analytical rigour and commercial influence.
What You'll Need:
- Proven experience in a senior finance leadership role, ideally within a similarly commercial, subscription or advertising-led environment.
- Credibility to operate as a peer to senior commercial leaders, influencing high-impact decisions with confidence and authority.
- Clear and confident communication style, able to distil complex concepts into compelling, outcome-focused narratives.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with proven ability to influence at Executive and Board level.
- Strong track record of driving financial performance, margin improvement and value creation.
- Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability, able to translate complex financial and operational data into strategic insight.
- Deep understanding of pricing strategy, commercial models and cost optimisation levers.
- Experience evaluating revenue initiatives, trading deals and commission structures.
- Strong strategic thinking capability, comfortable operating in complex and ambiguous environments.
- A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build high-performing teams and work cross-functionally.
- Commercial awareness of media, advertising and audio/podcasting markets.
Head of Finance in London employer: Global Media Group
At Global, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture. As a Digital Business Development Manager, you will benefit from extensive professional growth opportunities, a supportive team environment, and the chance to make a significant impact in the dynamic digital audio market. Our commitment to innovation and employee development ensures that you will thrive in your role while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a fast-paced, creative industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Finance in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Global Media Group. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Finance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Global Media Group.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Global Media Group's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Global Media Group
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Global Media Group.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Global Media Group will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Global Media Group employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
