Group Commercial Finance Director in London

We’re looking for to appoint a talented, high-energy Finance Director to lead Group analysis and reporting. This role will report into the Group FD as part of the Group Finance team and will play an essential part of the M+C Saatchi Group strategy to drive high-margin growth. This role will have four direct reports who are based in London and South Africa on a hybrid working basis.

About The Role

The Group Commercial Finance Director is a key role in the commercial arm of the Group Finance team. This role will support the Group FD to direct, control and develop the Group reporting cycles and enhance the business's commercial acumen by helping shape a commercial finance culture and developing models and systems to support this initiative. Key stakeholders are the Plc Board, including the Group CEO and CFO, as well as the regional and divisional heads in the UK, Asia, Europe, MEA, Australia and the Americas.

Success For This Role Will Include:

• Streamlining and improving the current reporting processes, from monthly management accounts to annual budgets, quarterly forecasts and long-term plans.
• Partnering with the Group Finance Systems, and Group IT systems teams to develop reporting capability within the Global ERP (Netsuite), reporting and forecasting system, our new CRM (Hubspot) and HRIS (Workday).
• Implementing a new reporting and forecasting system to allow greater insight for Exec and Board reporting.
• Supporting the Group Treasury teams in creating connected management information flows that enable seamless and timely cashflow reporting and forecasting.
• Continual improvement and development of management information and cost analysis, including Group utilisation, client & project profitability and working capital analysis.
• Coaching, and developing best practice for the commercial finance team.
• Management, support and coaching to a team of two qualified management accountants.

Group Management Reporting & Analysis (60%)

• Management of monthly management accounts reporting under IFRS, including consolidated headline income statement, balance sheet and cashflow statement.
• Together with the Commercial FD, direct and review financial plans, budgets, and forecasts based on the key drivers of the business.
• Provide insights and analysis on financial performance, revenue projections, cost structures, and profitability of different clients and/or projects.
• Reporting support to the ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) director to help enable the business achieve its Planet positive goals.
• Drive efficiencies in the Group reporting process to enable systems-led reporting with a focus on business insights, trends and SWOT analysis.
• Identify risks and opportunities and suggest ways to mitigate risks or capitalize on the opportunities.
• Support Investor relations with market analysis and track the market messaging of our peers (competitors).

Commercial Support (25%)

• Develop Financial, Operational, People and Sales KPI’s with the relevant teams.
• Strategic Planning and Decision Support (Investment/Business Cases) - Participate in strategic planning process, providing financial analysis, modelling, insights and decision support to the investment committee.
• Develop maintain and analyse investment models. (M&A, organic investment/growth business cases).
• Identify areas for process improvement within the finance function and across the businesses operations.
• Streamline financial processes, implement financial controls, and leverage systems/technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting and analysis.
• Pipeline/Sales funnel – develop and maintain group revenue pipeline reporting to ensure we have an accurate revenue forecast outlook.
• Develop and maintain best practice and financial models supporting the setting of cost cards, internal rate cards and utilisation measures.
• Develop and analyse multi-geography and specialism pricing models assessing impacts of discounts, rebates, and client/project deals, with a view to leveraging improved terms.
• Assist local finance teams with ad-hoc analysis to enable local investment and new business decisions.
• Manage, evolve, and maintain incentive and remuneration strategies and models.

External Audit (5%)

• Manage, evolve, and maintain incentive and remuneration strategies and models.

Finance team development (10%)

• Be a leading member of the Group Finance team and support the development of a professional, high performing function.
• Coach and develop the team.

About You

This role is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Commercial FD, who will bring energy and technical expertise to this dynamic, diverse, and highly creative company and to our Group Finance team.

Skills:

• Qualified Finance Manager with demonstrable post-qualified experience.
• Ability to work individually with senior Executive team members and handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Deep experience in leading FP&A teams and the delivery of long and complex budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Experience in bringing complex financial outcomes into simple messages for non-finance people, including quality Board reporting.
• Previous group experience in a multinational/multi-currency business.
• Sound finance systems knowledge.
• Strong communication, influencing, collaboration and relationship-building skills.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Must be a team player but capable of working alone.
• Demonstrate being curious, robust and self-motivated, driving improved financial insights within a business.
• Experience in a people services business / industry.
• Capable of maintaining a broad perspective while also extracting valuable insights from detailed information and large data sets.
• Fluent English language skills.

What You’ll Get

For the right candidate, we will offer a competitive salary and benefits package which includes 27 days annual holiday, private healthcare, employer contributory pension, life assurance and income protection. We also offer a host of benefits that support wellbeing including subsidised gym membership, whilst our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion sees us offer learning opportunities around D&I, mentoring programmes and the opportunity for all to participate in a number of active Employee Led Networks and associated events. Finally, this role will be supported with all the necessary personal development required to set someone up for success.

M+C Saatchi Group continues to be an Equal Opportunity Employer which does not and shall not discriminate, celebrates diversity and bases all hiring and promotion decisions solely on merit, without regard for any personal characteristics. All employee information is kept confidential according to General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).