Role: Financial Controller – Mat Leave contract 9 months

Sector: Media planning & Buying Agency

Permanent: Full Time (3 days in the office)

Location: Southwark

Salary: £80,000-£85,000 pa

Ref : VFR3210

Overview

VisionFR is delighted to be working with our client – an award winning international media planning and buying agency – looking for an Immediate Start Financial Controller to cover an approx 9 month maternity leave contract.

The Financial Controller will be responsible for all aspects of financial control and work closely with the CFO to partner with the business in order deliver business growth and maintain key KPIs. With management responsibility of the finance team, which currently consists of three direct and five indirect roles.

The Financial Controller role will have full ownership of all day-to-day finance including all aspects of reporting to ensure that this is done on a timely basis, is accurate, follows accounting policies and is in an engaging format. You will be the go-to person for all finance related questions. You will be responsible for ensuring a strong control environment (in long with SOX guidelines) and efficient processes to reduce the risk of error and inefficiencies so that the finance team can focus on providing information that supports the business both internally and at a Group level.

The Financial Controller will work with the CFO to prepare client contractual terms that support the development of commercial arrangements with clients and work closely with the Revenue Accountant to ensure that all terms are accurately reflected in our forecasts and communicated throughout the business.

Reporting and Regulation

• Overseeing and reviewing the production of the company’s management reporting and external Group reporting with insightful analysis
• Overseeing and reviewing the production of the budget, monthly rolling forecasts and quarterly Group re-forecasts, including the provision of detailed analysis for SMT and Group where required
• Leading the annual external audit process and overseeing the production of the annual financial statements
• Main point of contact for Group – aligning to requirements and submitting deliverables with support from team, including Group audit (yearend/quarterly/half year), SOX compliance
• Ensuring tax compliance, including review of corporation tax computations, VAT returns, P11Ds and PSA
• Managing key supplier relationships i.e. Business Insurances, IT, and leading Procurement for key services with the support from other areas of the business
• Ensuring full compliance with all regulatory and industry-led/client and supplier requirements regarding financial information e.g., accreditation bodies, ONS surveys, RFIs
• Cash flow management – overseeing and controlling the company’s banking facilities, relationships and systems and authorising payments on online portal
• Maintaining the integrity of the company’s balance sheet and ensuring full reconciliations and supporting information for all accounts
• Managing people budgets/resourcing in conjunction with HR and the CFO
• Supporting the CFO with SMT reporting, high-level analysis and adhoc requests

Processes and Controls

Ensuring robust processes to close the books monthly within 5 working days of month end

• Ensuring financial controls and processes in place over all transactions and areas and documenting in line with SOX compliance
• Streamlining and automating the company’s financial month end process and internal management reporting to improve efficiencies and provide concise, insightful analysis to SMT and to Group
• Continuously reviewing current financial processes to develop a more efficient process where applicable
• Supporting Business Operations Manager and Revenue Accountant with operational best practice including staff inductions and refresher Sessions

Leadership

• Communicating with SMT/Leadership Team and wider business regarding Finance team responsibilities and requirements
• Managing and developing direct reports and supporting the management of indirect reports to ensure that there is monitoring of individual workflow, identifying capacity, conducting weekly 121s, setting achievable but challenging objectives and ensuring all bi-annual thrives are done on a timely basis for the whole team
• Leading monthly Finance team meetings and social events

Legal

• Assisting the CFO in the review and preparation of client, supplier and media owner contracts and commercial terms (including liaising with Group Legal team)
• Ensuring contractual compliance in relation to financial aspects of client contracts

The requirements

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified (or equivalent) with at least 2-3 years post qualified experience
• Previous experience in a similar role, ideally as a Financial Controller or Senior Financial Accountant/Finance Manager who is looking to step up and take full ownership of the day to day running of the finance function
• Strong technical expertise is a necessity – including but not limited to reporting and tax
• Experience in reviewing and preparing commercial contracts for suppliers and clients is ideal but not necessary
• Previous experience working in a media (ideal) or marketing services environment
• Experience of SOX compliance is ideal but not necessary
• Experience with Media Ocean would be ideal but not necessary
• Experience with Hyperion would be ideal but not necessary
• Proactive and demonstrates initiative – always looking at ways to improve current processes
• Exceptional leadership skills – proven experience of managing a high performing team with a focus on their development
• Confident and effective communicator
• Analytical with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think around problems and get to inventive solutions
• Advanced IT skills (particularly within Excel & PowerPoint)

VisionFR is committed to encouraging equality, diversity, inclusion and eliminating unlawful discrimination within our workforce and whilst fulfilling our Client recruitment needs.