Chief Financial Officer

WHO WE ARE

Crossmedia is the global media independent. We’re committed to doing media and business the right way, guided by the principles of TRUST, REASON and the pursuit of HAPPINESS. Crossmedia US was founded in NY in 2000 and is one of the largest minority-owned full-service media planning & buying agencies in the nation. We are 500+ Crossmedians worldwide with big ambitions to continue to grow with soul. 

We focus on what media agencies should do: create innovative connections between brands and people regardless of channel or budget. And, we do it in an honest way. We are and always have been a values-based organization. We earn our clients TRUST by ensuring media transparency in our business model and objectivity in decision-making. We apply REASON & logic to finding solutions to our clients' greatest business challenges. The pursuit of HAPPINESS matters to us. Big time. We invest in each colleagues’ professional & personal wellbeing and growth. It’s why we have countless initiatives, clubs & cultural events dedicated to our people and why we have been the top ranked media agency named to Ad Age’s Best Places to Work for the past six years in a row.  

Our client roster includes US Bank, PWC, Invesco, Newell Brands, NASCAR, Planet Fitness, Teremana, American Cancer Society, White Castle, Ricola, Supercuts, Edible Arrangements, Illva Saronno, Zalando, Airbus and more

WHO YOU ARE

Your ambition is to make Crossmedia the best media agency in the world – known for our work, our culture and our success.  You understand all financial facets of running a company and experiencing exponential growth with unlimited potential.  You are honest and transparent and accept nothing less. You aspire to deliver value for our clients, financial success for the agency and help our people live fulfilled lives. 

YOUR ROLE

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, with some oversight by our current CFO who is moving into a consultative role for us, and located in New York City, the Chief Financial Officer is responsible for overseeing the agency's financial operations, ensuring financial health, and driving strategic financial decisions.

This role involves managing financial planning, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting across multiple international markets. The CFO ensures compliance with local and global financial regulations and provides actionable insights to support the agency's growth and profitability. Key responsibilities include financial strategy development, cash flow management, risk assessment, and fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, including investors, clients, and senior leadership. The CFO also works closely with operational leaders to drive cost optimization, profitability, and long-term financial goals while supporting the agency's global expansion initiatives.

Overseeing a finance team of approximately 22, the CFO leads the Agency’s i) Client Finance and Financial Planning & Analysis team, ii) Client Accounting team and (iii) Controllers team. In addition, the CFO is responsible for financial leadership of client related scopes of work and master service agreements and for ensuring cost optimization and assessing the ROI on all agency investment expenditures. The CFO must be a relationship builder, able to communicate effectively to clients as well as client leads, departmental leads and act as partner to the COO and CPO in managing the business and people costs, providing proactive, data-driven insight into the operations of the client teams and agency.

YOUR OBJECTIVES

• As a key member of the Executive team and right hand to the CEO, provide sound operating and financial recommendations to achieve short- and long-term financial goals
• Provide a strong POV, speak with authority and through a wholistic business lens – helping to guide the growth of the agency and enable smart business decisions driven by data.
• Participate in decisioning and actioning the expansion of the agency both geographically and through potential mergers and acquisitions or JBV’s.
• Help drive value and revenue for the agency through the diversification of Crossmedia through new products and services such as CrossConnect and CrossSocial.
• Design, modify and implement metrics to give management visibility to manage the business
• Oversee all aspects of media agency finances including Client finance, and FP&A, client accounting, controllership and commercial
• Client MSAs and SOW, Client credit approval and management, Client profitability
• Strategic management of agency people costs, staff utilization and overhead rate, salary run rate including average salary cost by department, incentive plans and benefits plan (in partnership with CPO)
• Tools expenses, contract management, vendor contracts, insurance management
• Deep understanding of the client accounting process to lead and support the client accounting team in terms of oversight, improving processes, and guiding them on how to process unique situations when needed.
• Controllership – oversee monthly financial reports and reconciliation, including P&L, balance sheet, payroll reconciliation (by individual), overtime report, and revised forecast.
• Company’s taxation Managing company’s tax exposure and mitigating it. Working closely with XM’s tax accountants on a regular basis.
• Commercial leader of the agency, responsible for the comprehensive financial management of the business. This includes responsibility for all commercial relationships with all agency clients and non-media vendors including Client and vendor MSAs and SOWs, Agency remuneration including the creation of creative compensation structures and incentive programs
• Primary liaison with outside Legal Counsel, Financial Auditor, Tax accountant, Bankers, Real Estate broker, Freewheel and Accountability
• Manage low cost sub-contracted offshoring operation in India (and possibly in one other country).

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Prior financial leadership experience in advertising (a media agency is a plus)
• 15 - 20 years of professional experience with at least 5 years in senior financial roles
• Demonstrated excellence in managing agency finance, client finance, client accounting, controllership, and budgeting/forecasting
• Strategic vision and ability to translate commercial best practice results into business success
• Strong analytical skills. Adept at shifting from detail focus to “big picture” view and back as needed
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, maturity and emotional intelligence
• Collaborative working style based on open mindedness, with a focus on results
• Superior communication skills
• Willingness and ability to initiate difficult conversations
• Proven ability to present complex data in an easily understanding manner
• Ability to tailor communication style to varied audiences
• Strong administrative and organization skills; skilled at prioritizing multiple projects and workstreams
• Bachelors in accounting or finance.
• MBA, CPA, or a master’s degree in finance

LOCATION: This role requires a candidate with proximity to our NYC office. We offer a hybrid work setting with employees working both onsite and from home. 

SALARY: $325-350k base. Commensurate with experience.  Compensation is determined on the skills, qualifications, certifications, tenure in the industry and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position

CROSSMEDIA BENEFITS

Our principles of Trust, Reason, and the Pursuit of Happiness are brought to life through benefits that recognize and support the diversity and physical, emotional, and professional well-being of our people, including:

• Flexibility to work in hybrid manner with in-office and work from home options (depending on role). 
• Open/Flexible PTO with US & UK specific policies 
• Sponsored healthcare options and agency-wide physical & mental health support 
• 401k with company match (USA), and generous Pension (UK) 
• Paid sabbatical at significant milestone anniversaries
• Generous paid parental leave policy
• Life milestone recognition & support
• The Pursuit of Happiness Fund devoted to helping Crossmedians find their happy (be it travel, enrichment class, fitness membership or professional development)
• Cell phone/tech reimbursement
• Student Loan payment plan 
• Tuition reimbursement
• Learning & Development and training programs
• And burgers – lots and lots of burgers

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Diversity is in our DNA. As a minority-owned company, our commitment to an inclusive environment has long been embedded into agency practices and at every level. Almost one third of senior leadership identifies as a person of color and over half of our executive leadership are women. We have active mentoring & internship programs that create opportunities for underrepresented groups. Internal agency programming is anchored by XMEquity365, a permanent, year-round initiative fostering acknowledgement and support of marginalized communities within five pillars – Excellence, Voices, Education, Giving & Representation.

Crossmedia is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and creating a diverse and inclusive company culture and that does not discriminate against candidates and employees because of their disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

All job requirements are subject to possible revision to reflect changes in the position requirements, business necessities and/or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws).

Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.” Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Ability to stand, bend, and reach
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Crossmedia, please email people.team@xmedia.com.