Finance Director

About Memac Ogilvy

Memac Ogilvy is one of the leading creative networks in MENA with its flagship office in the UAE and a strong local footprint in the GCC and North Africa. It is part of the formidable worldwide WPP & Ogilvy network. It’s the only truly integrated comms network – with Growth & innovation, Advertising- Brand & Content, PR, Experience & Health under 1 P&L and under single leadership. Memac Ogilvy is the most integrated modern creative and effective partner for client growth in MENA. We deliver on this by combining expert and new capabilities for modern marketing solutions, with solid project management expertise for agile and effective delivery as well as a thorough and passionate People agenda.

The agency is the most awarded Middle Eastern agency in Cannes as well as a big winner at the local award show Lynx. It counts around 500 staff members.

About the Role  

Reporting to the CFO/COO & MD, this is a senior management position directing and developing the financial team that secures the client financial business side of our relationship.  The individual will be clearly identified as a high potential employee, ultimately a logical candidate for senior-most financial and operations positions within Ogilvy. The role of the Client Finance Director demands attention to detail that removes the possibility of careless errors and will work with the team to maintain and continually improve quality procedures. The Finance Director will be party to sensitive company and personnel information where a high level of confidentially will be required.

What You’ll Do 

• Leader and guarantor of clients’ finances flow
• To be a financial and commercial partner to the Ogilvy Account team (and other internal departments as appropriate), by being their strategic financial business partner in properly: developing, reviewing, approving and presenting: scopes of work, pricing and staff plans for clients’ engagements
• Together with Account team, prepare annual client business plan to gain approval. This is the key planning tool of the corporation and is a vital ingredient to the proper management of the client business and ultimately the company. This includes being responsible for: Accurately forecasting, analyzing and reporting client revenue; Constant analysis of resource allocation and utilization (planned and actual); Revenue capacity analysis based upon revenue by client and staff levels and costs
• Responsible for revenue recognition following corporate guidelines and clients contracts
• Responsible for managing all clients finance including P&L, WIP and AR
• Liaise and advise with Account Head and on all commercial matters regarding account teams and clients. Specifically interact with account teams on issues related to: budgets, billings, expenses and collections and work in conjunction with account team leadership to reach appropriate solutions to issues related to these areas with clients.
• To manage the client portfolio, so as to achieve the quarterly and annual financial targets (net revenue, compensation and profit and risk levels). The company needs to continue the tradition of achieving its yearly targets
• Actively partner with client’s procurement team, finance and audit team on all key financial and contract compliance matters
• Project management, communication and emerging business development skills
• Supervise Client Finance Manager + team Contracts
• Active leadership role in managing contract negotiation process: negotiating key commercial terms including compensation and working with the client and Ogilvy’s external legal counsel
• Work with each practice team to prepare all contracts, & close on contract issues
• Develop and monitor contractual relationships with clients to ensure compliance with all commercial and compensation terms. Seek improved term of business. Our industry is under client pricing pressure and together with management; CFD will be required to develop programs that will allow improvement terms of business
• Review and negotiate contracts with suppliers and consultants Workload Management
• Manage multiple tasks, prioritize and organize workload and meet deadlines
• Keep management updated of progress on projects and report back any difficulties, drawing on analytical or problem solving skills to resolve any difficulties
• Meticulous eye for detail & Quality Control
• Maintain the integrity of the financial and management reporting process, and ensure compliance with all SOX and specific client requirements
• Setting and maintaining all quality standards, and positively encouraging teams to participate
• The Finance Director will also work to maintain all company quality standards according to company policies

What You’ll Need  

• Previous service creative/industry experience (10+ years), which bills fixed price project or time based fees plus expenses, or equivalent
• Strong preference for advertising/design business background
• Definite knowledge of a creative fast paced environment
• Client financial experience required
• Sparky, excellent interpersonal skills, good listener, can stand up and drive changes
• Familiarity with financial accounting working practices
• Experience of business planning cycle, budgeting process for the business, financial analysis, forecasting, profitability analysis, management accounts
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel, strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills (written and oral), organization ability and attention of detail, analytical, project management, customer service, documentation and technical writing skills
• Self-starter and highly motivated
• Bachelors in Accounting or Finance required
• CPA/MBA preferred but not compulsory

How We’ll Support You 

Ogilvy celebrates its people. Fully. Enthusiastically. Unhesitatingly. We’ll empower you with the tools you’ll need to succeed. We’ll give you the autonomy to seek out new paths and better ways of doing things. We’ll support you with colleagues who are experts in their disciplines, drawn from across the Ogilvy network. And we’ll provide opportunities for you to do work of which you’ll be proud, with people you’ll be proud to call your teammates.