Group Finance Director

Group Finance Director - Advertising Agency

Reporting to: CEO/CFO/Board

Full Time - Permanent

Salary £80,000 - £110,000

Location: London

Ref: VisionFR 2664

We are excited to be helping our global creative advertising agency find an ambitious **Global Finance Director.**

The primary responsibility of the **Global Finance Director** is to ensure the company is financially secure. They must clearly communicate the performance of the group - and its component companies - to key stakeholders, providing strategyand analysis on all financial aspects of operation, trade and growth. The **Global Finance Director** will handle and coordinate the monthly and annual financial management requirements and efforts of all three offices. The primary remit is to ensure optimal and financial performance and efficiency across the group, help strategisefor growth, provide counsel and deliver clear and accurate financial information to the group board.

**General**
- Provide proactive & commercial strategic financial recommendations to allow growth
- Ensure that the business is financially sound and that the finances are managed robustly in line with the agreed business plans.
- With MDs, Head of Production and the COO, manage client procurement negotiations
- Manage a multi-location, multi business group

**Business Planning and Budgetary Control**
- Business Partner with the board on the financial aspects of future growth plans. Having a commercial and forward thinking view on global client opportunities.
- Prepare a group annual budget, cash forecast, revenue forecast and capital X budget.
- Partner with the Group Board and individual company MDs to prepare local business plans providing proactive, strategic financial advice
- Responsible for the overall profitability of the group
- Communicate key financial messages and issues in a proactive, transparent and concise manner
- Continual improvement of the accounting and business management processes in existing and new local markets
- Oversee a budgetary control system

**Client Servicing and Relationships**
- Create a commercial environment for client account teams, ensuring maximisation of profitability
- Partner with the relevant managers in analysing clients’ P&L and fee calculations
- Be the commercial champion of the group

Working Capital, Balance Sheet and Treasury Management
- Working with the Shareholders you will be responsible for planning and executing capital investment plans
- Ensure that the company is making the best decisions re FX transactions
- Manage transfer pricing
- Explore opportunities for offshore registrations

Finance and Accounting
- Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements & deadlines
- Oversee the accurate preparation and reporting of the business forecasting i
- Review the monthly and quarterly financial statements and present
- Use financial analysis and information to pro actively solve problems, make recommendations and provide solutions
- Ensure the accounting systems incorporate proper accounting principles& can accurately report financial information
- Managing office costs efficiently and in line with the budgets
- Establish finance as a true 'business partner’; integrating finance into the business and providing real value
- Provide on-going direction to the core finance team
- Define, manage and drive KPIs for all finance team personnel

Policies, Systems and Procedures
- Run the finance function to enable the business to achieve its ambitions.
- Improve financial and managerial controls.
- Ensure all systems developed can support the planned expansion
- Ensure processes are rigorous but allow the efficient running of the day-to-day business
- Understand and report risk issues to the board & third Parties as required
- Own the relationship with the external auditors/ Tax advisors
- Ensure all tax liabilities are accurate, reconciled and ensure fiscal advantages are maximised
- Manage any legal issues, and understand legal issues affecting the industry sector
- Manage insurance cover
- Ensure that the company complies with all legal and regulatory requirements

Culture
- Optimise integration of finance function into all studio departments

Team
- Responsible for finance team: recruitment, hiring, terminations, inductions, appraisals, pay reviews, training, etc.

The Global Finance Director will be Someone Who..
- Is excited at the prospect of working with founders and Group board to define global finance strategy for exponential growth
- Is highly motivated by leading a global finance function - driving meticulous, accurate reporting to the local leadership teams and global board
- Is passionate, excited and motivated by exponential growth - taking the Group from present to near-future ambition of a capital event
- Is excited by international expansion and developing product set
- Excited to drive and deliver commercial strategy
- Is able to build, galvanise and motivate the finance team and key stakeholders to achieve local and global KPIs
- Values culture and optimising integration of finance function into all operational functions of business
- Has clear emotional intelligence
- Has maturity, experience and character to define, challenge and drive strategy.
- Is energised by a growing team, prepared to roll their sleeves up and muck-in from the start

**Key Requirements**:

- You will be a qualified accountant ACA, ACCA, CIMA
- You will have worked within an group advertising agency (or Similar communications Group)
- You will have great interpersonal skills
- You will be able to demonstrate working within a Growing fast paced environment
- VisionFR is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce and recruitment and eliminating unlawful discrimination._