Client Finance Manager

Company Description

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 53 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.

Job Description

The Manager – Client Finance Team will work closely with Finance Lead, partnering with senior leadership team of the industry to improve financial performance and drive profitable growth. The Client Finance Manager will partner closely with the Industry Business Leader(s), Client Executive(s), Delivery lead(s) and Country/ Industry finance teams to provide financial support across the Industry within Publicis Sapient International.

The individual needs to be an experienced finance professional, a confident communicator with proven experience of influencing senior stakeholders. They need to be able to drive performance in a fast-paced environment, operating across a complex structure to provide financial insights to support decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Own weekly revenue estimation process, understanding key risks and opportunities across the industry and communicating this clearly to senior leaders in both business and finance teams.
• Lead P&L reviews with both Finance leadership and Industry leadership teams. Extract the key messages and actions to drive improved financial performance and communicate effectively to leadership.
• Use quarterly results and profit modelling analysis to maintain a full year profitability outlook at client and industry level. Identify plans to manage risks and improve profitability at an industry level and work with senior leadership to implement.
• Support Client Services and Project Management Teams in improving profitability on existing projects by identifying the analysis needed to support decision-making.
• Help the business understand and manage how factors such as pricing, contract structure, accounting treatment and staffing mix impact project and client profitability.
• Supporting Commercial Success team with deal modelling, review process and providing clear context of impact to account and industry performance of new deals.
• Partner with Controllership and Revenue teams to support monthly and quarterly closes. For new and complex transactions, collaborate with teams to design and agree solutions and implement in line with close timelines.
• Coordinate the quarterly forecast and annual Target-setting processes for the Industry, based on understanding the client context, strategy and outlook, including collecting inputs from Client Services teams.
• Produce the financial presentation for the annual Industry Strategy Review. Partner with Industry Leads to articulate the industry financial position and outlook.
• Partner with Capacity team to understand how business is operated and the impact of staffing issues and leverage model on profitability.
• Manage junior team members, enabling knowledge sharing and learning. Help to prioritise and coordinate work across the team. Support and motivate the team and promoting consistent ways of working.
• Oversee efficiency and quality of reports, information and workflow.
• Partner with other teams both within and outside Finance to ensure financial data and reporting is consistent and accurate
• Ad hoc analysis, projects, and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any subject
• Accounting qualification (CIMA / ACA / ACCA or similar) preferred, qualified by experience will also be considered
• 7+ years related work experience (with professional services or consultancy companies preferred)
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to adapt communications and level of details depending on the audience.
• Ability to influence people and drive process, particularly at a Senior Management level
• Analytical thinker with the ability to proactively manage business challenges, design analysis and implement solutions.
• Experience of managing or mentoring junior team members.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint with ability to take action based on financial analysis. Prior experience with Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, or similar systems is a plus.
• Hands-on, enjoying teamwork and the ability to perform in an international matrix environment
• Fluent in written and spoken English

Additional Information

What’s in it for you?

• We have got you and your family covered with 25 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), life assurance, dental insurance, income protection, critical illness cover, private healthcare for you AND your family (pre-existing conditions included), and a pension
• We know the importance of health and wellbeing so offer you extensive retail discount offers and further reimbursement towards activities that contribute to a healthier lifestyle
• Our beautiful Turnmill office is open
• You can meet over a complimentary barista-made coffee and our teams have been busy replicating face-to-face social activities through learning languages virtually, yoga sessions, having a laugh at our online summer fairs and so much more
• We are proud to actively invest in your learning through various learning platforms
• Diversity and inclusion aren't just buzzwords. We offer an inclusive environment through our inspirational business resource groups and work with you to give back to the local community through CSR efforts

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, Publicis Sapient is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, colour, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion.