FTC - Client Production Finance Manager

Fixed Term Contract - Client Production Finance Manager

Location: London, UK

Mon + Fri WFH, Tues, Weds + Thurs office based

Who We Are

TBWA\Media Arts Lab (or MAL as you’ll hear us called) is the bespoke global advertising agency dedicated solely to Apple. Our mission is to create smart, simple and iconic work that transforms business and makes culture for the world’s best brand. 

We’re headquartered in Los Angeles with 5 further international hubs and over 700 people making great work for Apple in 26 markets around the globe.

Diversity, Equity + Inclusion

Without inclusion, we won’t be diverse. Diversity brings a richness which we believe enables innovation & creativity. As such, MAL is committed to maintaining an open, welcoming, and inclusive culture which allows everybody to bring their whole selves to the workplace and simply be who they are at all times.

Media Arts Lab is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team.

If you need reasonable adjustments at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.  In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (for example, she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc.). 

Summary

We’re looking for a highly skilled and motivated Client Production Finance Manager to join our team. As a key member of the finance department, you will be responsible for managing financial operations and providing financial insights and analysis for our Clients Production projects. The main point of contact for all production finance matters, client set up, estimate submission, client billing, vendor invoicing, job cost tracking, AR and WIP management, ad hoc reporting and new hire training. Reporting into the Finance Director and working closely with the Finance Controller and Finance manager across 2 business unit P&L’s and BS. The Production Finance Team are responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the company, including monthly management and client reporting, analysis and tracking project spend.

The Role

• Main point of contact for all client related finance matters, maintaining a strong relationship with client and addressing any financial inquiries or concerns.
• Management of the Production finance team, providing direction to 2 direct reports.
• Manage all financial aspects of client production projects, including budget preparation, cost tracking and financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with all internal and external policies throughout the production process.
• Oversee external audit for all production finance processes, reviewing detail and accuracy before back up is submitted to external auditors.
• Lead monthly client and LA meetings.
• Collaborate with the wider agency to design, develop and generate system generated reports to support client reporting and day to day tasks.
• Oversee client reporting; review finance reports prepared by the Production Finance team to ensure accuracy and provide an insight to client and management on project performance, potential risks, variances, and trends.
• Work closely with the wider agency, including Production, Print, BA, Creative and Account Management to ensure finance integration across all projects.
• Maintain a good relationship with shared services AP and AR to ensure vendor invoices are posted and paid in a timely manner and invoicing is of a high standard.
• Prepare WIP reports to review with the Financial Controller on a monthly basis providing commentary on ageing and status updates. Ensure all WIP balances are correct and submit journal requests to AR if required.
• Dial in to monthly working capital calls with New York to advise on client AR balances.
• Collaborate with Financial Controller to prepare monthly cashflow forecast, estimate timing and revenue phasing.
• Approve 3^rd party invoices, client billing and reconciliations in the AX finance system.
• Ensure essential finance tasks are completed by the team accurately and to deadline. Client estimates approved, projects set up in AX for all campaigns and ensuring all projects are set up with the correct client mandated dimensions.
• Regularly review and manage job budgets ensuring we do not experience cost over-runs and write-offs.
• Identify opportunities for improvement to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
• Ensure all project costs are identified before billing the client, all back up compiled is sufficient and billing is approved in a timely manner within client deadlines.
• Become a super user in the finance, and internal systems in place as well as finance processes.
• Develop and provide training to non-finance colleagues on production finance processes, client policies and the AX finance system.
• Manage finance inductions for new joiners, ensuring process documentation is up to date and in line with company and client policy and all new users are set up in the finance system with the correct permissions.

Who will thrive in this role?

• Must have experience as a Client Finance Manager in either advertising or production industry.
• Part Qualified/Qualified CIMA, ACA, ACCA preferable.
• Finance system knowledge, previous experience as a system super user is preferable.
• Strong computer skills, ideally Mac based (including Microsoft Excel).
• Experience in manipulating and analysing data.
• Personable team player willing to get involved to mentor and develop junior team members.
• Detail-oriented and organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Able to make decisions to address financial challenges and achieve project objectives.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal and diplomacy skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.

What’s in it for you?

Given we push to create smart, simple, iconic, globally impactful work that makes culture; we understand this requires the hard work and dedication of an extremely talented and innovative collection of people. 

Therefore, we have designed our benefits package to first and foremost take care of our teams, to say, “thank you”, but beyond that, it is there to ensure that you are rewarded for the incredible work you deliver and receive the recognition that goes along with that.  

From continued learning & development, life insurance for protection and peace of mind, family care leave (for those important times), well-being and mental health support – to volunteer days and a great work environment with an international and talented team – basically, we’ve got you covered! 

#LI-LA1