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- Tasks: Lead financial operations and support decision-making for sustainable growth in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Publicis Sapient, a leader in digital transformation, helping businesses thrive through innovative strategies.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative culture, opportunities for growth, and the chance to work with global teams.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping financial strategies and driving initiatives in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in finance, strong Excel skills, and experience in a matrixed organisation are essential.
- Other info: Fluency in English and a degree in finance or related fields preferred; remote work options available.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
Publicis Sapient is a digital transformation partner helping established organisations get to their future, digitally-enabled state, both in the way they work and the way they serve their customers. We help unlock value through a start-up mindset and modern methods, fusing strategy, consulting and customer experience with agile engineering and problem-solving creativity. United by our core values and our purpose of helping people thrive in the brave pursuit of next, our 20,000+ people in 50+ offices around the world combine experience across technology, data sciences, consulting and customer obsession to accelerate our clients’ businesses through designing the products and services their customers truly value.
As a member of the global Finance team, you will provide expert & collaborative financial partnership to our business leaders through accurate reporting, reliable analysis and actionable insight to support decision making for sustainable and profitable growth. You will play a pivotal role in shaping strategy and driving key initiatives within the Client Finance team. In this capacity, you will partner closely with business teams and industry leaders to manage the financial operations of your industry client portfolio. This will involve working collaboratively with Market and Country leaders, Capability heads, and other executives. Additionally, you will engage with Market Finance Leads and regional finance teams across Financial Planning & Reporting and Controllership to ensure alignment and operational excellence. The Director reports to the VP, Client Finance for their respective Industry and will work in a matrix environment. You will lead a diverse team of Client Finance professionals based in multiple geographies with responsibilities across commercial finance and business operations and will be responsible for their growth and development. The individual is expected to demonstrate strong leadership presence, clearly communicate team and departmental goals, translate strategy into actionable plans, and contribute.
Responsibilities
- Commercial Management – Support senior level decision making to achieve short and long term commercial objectives. Partner with and support (with Industry Leads/business teams) to deliver on annual growth and contribution margin targets for the industry client portfolio. Work with commercial teams to evaluate business development opportunities in the context of strategic fit, commercial attractiveness and market risk. Support the preparation of pricing proposals and deal structure, supported by the Commercial Success Team as needed. Support commercial leadership and legal counsel in reviewing and negotiating contract terms to align with company standards, including identifying and escalating potential risks from proposed deviations. Contribute to enhancing financial competence across the business team by sharing expertise and supporting learning & development initiatives.
- Financial Planning & Analysis – Anticipate opportunities/risks and initiate actions to achieve financial objectives. Support Business Teams in the preparation of their annual strategic plans. Prepare revenue scenarios and contribution margin expectations in support of annual planning cycle (Commitment and Target), taking into account business initiatives, investments, analysis of prior period trends and company financial objectives. Lead and manage the preparation of rolling forecasts for revenue and contribution margin by providing analysis on changes from prior expectations and insights into assumptions impacting future projections, to inform decision-making and capacity planning. Collaborate with Controllership and Revenue teams to ensure accurate and timely revenue recognition during monthly and quarterly close cycles. Provide guidance on new and complex transactions by aligning on accounting treatment and operational implementation, ensuring compliance with policy and close deadlines. Support weekly revenue guidance process, evaluating key indicators (i.e. pipeline, sales expectations and delivery risks) to provide ongoing visibility to executive leadership and recommendations on appropriate updates to be provided. Leverage key financial indicators to bring strategic, commercial and operational insights to business leads to lead discussions and drive change needed to achieve objectives.
- Business Operations – Work with delivery and business teams to maximise profitability and optimise operational performance for the industry portfolio. Leverage quarterly results and profit modelling to maintain a forward-looking view of full-year profitability across clients, regions, and industries. Analyse key drivers of performance and identify actionable opportunities to enhance industry-level profitability. Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and support execution of plans that address risks and drive margin improvement. Manage the team responsible for minimising the “quote to cash” timetable (i.e. billing, collections) to optimise trade working capital and limit long standing overdue balances and accrued revenue. Intervene in concert with business leaders and Market Finance Leads to address and resolve client related issues. Optimise ways of working and operating procedures in support of client commercial management.
- Other – Lead and actively contribute to initiatives that strengthen collaboration, inclusion, and knowledge-sharing within the Client Finance Team and the broader local Finance Community, fostering a connected and high-performing culture. Create and foster an environment of learning, growth and excellence by promoting learning and development initiatives and knowledge sharing. Assist with any Groupe requirements including and not limited to audits, compliance, partnering with other Publicis Groupe Agencies.
Qualifications Skills & Experience
- 8+ years’ experience managing a team in finance and operations.
- Speak fluent English.
- Strong Excel competency.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience influencing decision making in a matrixed organisational structure.
- Highly organised and able to work according to fixed calendar cycles at a global scale (multinational across multiple time zones).
- Education: Bachelor’s degree, MBA or accounting qualification preferred.
Additional information
- Set Yourself Apart With Experience working closely with senior leaders and contributing to presentations for executive-level stakeholders.
- Strong presentation/PowerPoint and PowerBI competency.
- Experience in Technology Consulting or other service sector.
- Experience working at one of the top global marketing & communications networks.
Director, Client Finance (London) employer: Publicisgroupe
Contact Detail:
Publicisgroupe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Client Finance (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the finance and consulting sectors, especially those who have experience in digital transformation. Attend industry events or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and learn more about the company culture at Publicis Sapient.
✨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in financial management and digital transformation. Being able to discuss these topics intelligently during interviews will demonstrate your commitment to the role and your understanding of the industry's direction.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your leadership skills by gathering examples of how you've successfully managed teams and influenced decision-making in previous roles. Highlighting these experiences will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for a director-level position.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Publicis Sapient's recent projects and initiatives. Being knowledgeable about their work will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Client Finance (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in finance and operations, especially any leadership roles. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you meet the qualifications.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you're passionate about the role and how your background aligns with Publicis Sapient's mission. Mention specific experiences that showcase your ability to support decision-making and drive financial performance.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience managing teams and influencing decision-making in a matrixed environment. Provide examples of how you've successfully led initiatives that improved financial outcomes or operational efficiency.
Highlight Technical Proficiency: Mention your strong Excel skills and any experience with PowerPoint or PowerBI. If you have worked with financial planning tools or software, be sure to include that as well, as it demonstrates your technical competency.
How to prepare for a job interview at Publicisgroupe
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, take some time to research Publicis Sapient's core values and mission. Understanding their focus on digital transformation and how they help clients thrive will allow you to align your answers with their culture and demonstrate that you're a good fit.
✨Prepare for Financial Scenarios
Given the role's emphasis on financial planning and analysis, be ready to discuss specific financial scenarios. Prepare examples of how you've managed budgets, forecasts, or financial operations in previous roles, and be ready to explain your thought process and decision-making.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
As a Director, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership presence. Be prepared to share examples of how you've led teams, influenced decision-making, and contributed to strategic initiatives. Highlight your ability to communicate goals clearly and translate strategy into actionable plans.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready to ask your interviewers. Inquire about the challenges the Client Finance team is currently facing or how success is measured in this role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.