At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage client job lifecycles and ensure timely billing in a dynamic finance team.
- Company: Join Ogilvy, a top UK agency known for creativity and impactful ideas across 132 offices worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days leave, wellness perks, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: This is a 12-month fixed-term role with opportunities for process improvement and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while collaborating with diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in media or service industries, strong Excel skills, and a proactive mindset are essential.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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Department: Finance
Location: London - hybrid working
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (12 months)
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time 35 hours per week
About Ogilvy
Our vision is to inspire brands and people to impact the world. To create big ideas that make a significant contribution to the planet, society, and the bottom line. We believe in today’s world this is the best way for our clients to achieve sustainable growth. We achieve this by breaking down the barriers that restrict talent and ideas.
Which is why our teams work fluidly across 5 capabilities: Advertising, Consulting, Experience, PR & Influencer, and Health. This allows us to not only operate but innovate at the intersection of capabilities and talent. We believe impact and magic lies at this intersection. Ogilvy scales this by seamlessly connecting and accessing the deep cultural expertise of 132 offices in 83 countries.
The result is multifaceted ideas for our clients that drive impact and are born from the intersection of platform x culture x technology. We call this Borderless Creativity.
Ogilvy was ranked the number one UK agency at D&AD and was the only UK agency to win a Glass Lions at Cannes. Ogilvy was also nominated network of the year in Cannes Lions, Campaign, Effie Awards EMEA, London International Awards, The One Show and WARC Rankings.
About The Role
Are you our next Commercial WIP Manager? This isn't just a billing role; it's a dynamic position at the heart of our Commercial Finance team, where you'll act as the gatekeeper of our client jobs from inception to closure. You'll be instrumental in ensuring best commercial practice across a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from large annual accounts (up to £1-2 million in value) to smaller, project-based work.
You'll join a close-knit, supportive Commercial Finance team that prides itself on looking out for each other, and tackling challenges collaboratively. We've recently transitioned to Workday, so you'll be joining peers who are on the same journey, actively contributing to process improvements and problem-solving in a fast-paced agency environment. This 12-month fixed-term contract offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact, refine processes, and build strong relationships across the business.
What You’ll Do
Responsibilities
As a Commercial WIP Manager, you will be responsible for the billing and Work In Progress (WIP) management for a portfolio of clients. Your typical day will involve:
- Job Lifecycle Management: Overseeing the entire job lifecycle, from opening and setup (ensuring adherence to Commercial Control guidelines and documentation) to timely closing.
- Client & Team Collaboration: Regularly meeting with client teams to review open jobs, explaining financial processes, and ensuring timely billing in line with client and internal procedures. You'll be a key liaison, not just a back-office function.
- Financial Control & Reporting: Preparing reports on time value vs. fee invoiced, reviewing open Purchase Orders, managing Credit Notes, and advising Senior Commercial Accountants on process adherence.
- Net Working Capital (NWC) Management: Proactively reviewing WIP to resolve issues and escalate concerns, helping to avoid NWC provisions and liaising with Debtors to resolve issues.
- Compliance & Audit: Ensuring compliance with ICFR regulations, assisting with internal and client audits, and adhering to all internal procedures and policies, including the Purchase Order policy.
- System Utilisation: Utilising Workday for client setup, master data management, WIP allocation, and running ad-hoc reports for brand teams. You'll also play a role in ensuring best practice use of Workday and potentially assisting in training new client team joiners.
- Problem Solving: Actively getting stuck in to solve challenges and bottlenecks, contributing to a more efficient and effective finance operation.
What You'll Need
- Experience: Preferred experience in a media or service-oriented business with a strong commercial focus. Familiarity with Billing, WIP, and Net Working Capital management is essential.
- System Proficiency: Experience with Workday is highly desirable. Strong Excel skills (sumifs, vlookups, etc.) are a must.
- Mindset: You'll be an agile, fast learner who is proactive, self-motivated, open-minded, and ready to roll up your sleeves and learn. A desire to identify and improve processes is key.
- Communication & Collaboration: Confident and enthusiastic communicator (written and verbal) with proven stakeholder management skills. You'll thrive on building close working relationships with SCAs, CAs, other WIP Managers, and agency client teams.
- Organisation: Excellent organisation and attention to detail, with strong time management skills to handle multiple deadlines and priorities.
- Problem-Solving: A natural inclination to identify and solve challenges, contributing to a dynamic and evolving environment.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day, plus, the option to purchase up to 5 additional days leave each year
- Bupa Healthcare
- Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
- We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm
- A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure
- Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year
- Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme
- Life Assurance
Our ambition is to attract the very best diverse talent to Ogilvy, and to be the employer of choice in the UK. We want everyone to feel welcome when they join us, and once they’re here, for them to want to stay with us, grow their career, and to feel they belong with us.
We are an equal opportunity employer and we’re committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone who wants to work at Ogilvy. For us, diversity, equity and inclusion is integrated into everything that we do. We believe that for creativity to flourish, everything about how we work must have diversity at its core. Your race, colour, ethnic, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, have no bearing on our hiring decisions, but we encourage everyone to feel free to express their true selves in an environment we are consistently striving to make as inclusive as possible.
We aim to facilitate an accessible and positive application experience for all candidates. If you require any adjustments from us to support you through the process or expect to require any adjustments to working conditions to be able to best perform in the role, please let us know. We are happy to consider all reasonable adjustments.
If you live with a disability and you would like to take advantage of our offer of a guaranteed interview under the Disability Confident Scheme, please ensure you fill out our voluntary Equal Opportunities Questionnaire when applying.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Not Applicable
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Industries
Software Development
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Commercial WIP Manager in London employer: Ogilvy UK
Ogilvy UK is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity and collaboration thrive. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide mentorship opportunities and a flexible working model that supports work-life balance. Our commitment to wellbeing, alongside our prestigious client roster and award-winning campaigns, makes Ogilvy a truly rewarding place to advance your career in social and influencer marketing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial WIP Manager 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.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
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 Ogilvy UK. 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 Commercial WIP Manager 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 Ogilvy UK.
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 Ogilvy UK'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 Ogilvy UK
✨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 Ogilvy UK.
✨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 Ogilvy UK 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 Ogilvy UK 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.
