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Client Finance Manager

New York, New York, United States

Burson is the global communications leader built to create value for clients through reputation. With highly specialized teams, industry-leading technologies and breakthrough creative, we help brands and businesses redefine reputation as a competitive advantage so they can lead today and into the future. Burson is part of WPP (LSE/NYSE: WPP), the creative transformation company. Learn more at www.bursonglobal.com.  

THE ROLE:

Burson is seeking a Client Finance Manager to support our Consumer Brand Practice playing a critical role on the Finance team supporting the continued growth of the company by leading the financial management of the Agency’s North America client roster. The individual will work closely with multiple stakeholders including WPP shared services, internal/external legal counsel for contractual negotiations and executions, client teams for budget and contract management, Burson executives for commercial advisement and strategic guidance, and the internal finance team for all client financial reporting and revenue assurance.

The Client Finance Manager will be a growth-oriented leader with at least 8 to 10 years of broad finance experience including, but not limited to business management, gathering and evaluating financial information and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership. This individual must have a keen understanding of business management and accounting policies, the ability to interpret and explain financial policies to client teams and lead commercial discussions to external stakeholders.

THE WORK:

  • Act as business manager and client finance partner to Consumer Practice client teams and executives.
  • Assist with client contract negotiations, execution, and fulfillment in partnership with WPP and/or legal counsel and Burson Consumer executives.
  • Negotiate diplomatically and skillfully with internal and external groups; will settle issues calmly and can win concessions without damaging relationships.
  • Review and redline client and vendor scopes of work (SOWs), amendments, MSAs, addendums for new and existing clients.
  • Track and record all contracts for Consumer client roster including each client’s contractual obligations, pricing models, rebates/discounts, term/duration, etc. Share upcoming contractual terms, amendments, etc. with legal team.
  • Track, record, and assure revenue during month-end in accordance each clients’ contractual pricing models inclusive of any rebates, discounts or incentives.
  • Partner with client leaders and executives during budget and quarterly reforecasts to develop new revenue forecasts based upon the client’s annual budget.
  • Assist client teams with staff plans for scope-of-works for new and existing client contracts.
  • Assist in the review and analysis of fee arrangements and hourly billing rates, including a comparison to industry averages.
  • Demonstrate the ability to understand and communicate key business metrics and drivers of the business.
  • Prepare insightful, actionable, and accurate financial reporting/analysis to key business owners in the organization.
  • Perform ad-hoc reporting to drive financial results.
  • Along with other key finance leaders, support finance transformation as to systems and processes for financial close and reporting.
  • Review bandwidth and analyze staffing requirements to ensure a talent plan is in place to attract and retain “A” players. 
  • Manage talent, create opportunities and focus on long-term career development across the team.
  • Special projects as required.

EXPERIENCE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SUCCESS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration.
  • Experience in an agency or other billable professional services organizations is highly preferred.
  • Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills, organization skills.
  • Advanced excel skills is a must.
  • Understanding of basic accounting concepts and principles.
  • Strong understanding of internal controls and SOX.
  • Highly proficient in Excel and experience with Oracle, Hyperion, SAP or Netsuite (similar to our proprietary systems of Maconomy and Cartesis).
  • Possess strong oral and written communication skills with a flexible interpersonal style to clearly present ideas both verbally and in writing.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and proven experience as a people leader.
  • Proven supervisory skills, but with the ability to also be detail oriented.
  • “Roll up your sleeves team attitude”.
  • Ability to work under pressure in an environment with constantly changing priorities.
  • Ability to work independently and/or part of a team to complete multiple projects on time.

 YOU BELONG AT BURSON:

Our vision is for Burson to be the leading ‘academy company’ for creative communications professionals and emerging leaders. We provide a dynamic environment where ambitious colleagues come to elevate their skills, expand their networks, and ultimately, produce the best solutions for today’s leading brands. Our commitment to your growth is reflected in our robust benefits and people programs, which include professional development opportunities, mentorship programs with industry leaders, tuition reimbursement for continued learning, a vibrant and inclusive company culture fostering collaboration and innovation and packages designed to reward and retain top talent. We invest in our people because we believe their success is our success.

At Burson, diversity, equity and inclusion are not just values; they are strategic imperatives that fuel our future in an industry built on the art of understanding, connecting and developing relationships. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for inspiring bold ideas, fostering constructive dialogue and cultivating meaningful experiences that drive innovation and creativity. It also enables our agency to thrive and deliver brilliant work. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Burson does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of their race, creed, color, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, or ancestry. 

For more information, visit www.bursonglobal.com

The base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $60,000 to $140,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package; click here for more details: https://mybenefits.wpp.com/public/welcome  

Our careers page is designed to be accessible to everyone. If you need any specific accommodations during the application process, feel free to reach out to us at appaccommodations@bursonglobal.com. Please note that this email is for applicants needing special assistance, so we may not be able to reply to other inquiries. 

 

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