Credit Controller

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities.

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 talented people dedicated to doing extraordinary work for our clients. We operate in over 100 countries, with corporate headquarters in New York, London and Singapore.

WPP is a world leader in marketing services, with deep AI, data and technology capabilities, global presence and unrivalled creative talent. Our clients include many of the biggest companies and advertisers in the world, including approximately 300 of the Fortune Global 500.

Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow. 

Why we're hiring:

WPP Shared Service Centre (SSC): Driving Financial Excellence for WPP UK

The WPP Shared Service Centre (SSC) is dedicated to providing comprehensive transactional financial services to WPP companies throughout the UK. Our expertise spans critical financial functions, including:

• Accounts Payable: Managing all supplier payments, including complex intercompany transactions.
• Accounts Receivable: Ensuring efficient billing, proactive credit control, and accurate cash allocation.
• Treasury Operations
• Financial Accounting & Reporting
• Statutory Compliance Reporting

Our core mission is to enhance efficiency by consolidating these activities. We achieve this by systematically standardizing, streamlining, and aligning our processes, and by strategically deploying cutting-edge tools and technology. This approach not only drives effectiveness across our operations but also empowers WPP agencies to concentrate on their core strengths: commercial growth, client relationships, and strategic revenue and cost management.

In 2021, to further optimize our operations, specific process and transactional activities were strategically transferred from the WPP SSC UK to our WPP SSC team in India. Today, our UK and India teams collaborate seamlessly, working in unison to deliver integrated financial services to WPP companies in the UK.

Your Opportunity:

The WPP SSC is undergoing a significant global transformation. We are seeking a talented individual to join our UK team and contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional financial services, directly supporting the success of WPP's UK operations.

What you'll be doing:

The Accounts Receivable Department is a vital component of our financial infrastructure, encompassing Credit Control, Cash Allocation, and Media Billing functions. Our Credit Control team, consisting of 3 Senior Credit Controllers, 12 Credit Controllers, and 1 Reporting Analyst, is instrumental in managing the collection of approximately £350 million each month. This impressive volume spans over 1,650 'Blue-Chip' external clients and supports more than 40 internal companies.

This position is critical for managing the cash collection for a specific client portfolio and for providing detailed, actionable commentary that informs our daily, weekly, and monthly reporting. The successful candidate will report to a Senior Credit Controller.

Core Responsibilities:

• Debt Management: Oversee the collection of payments for an assigned debtor ledger and ensure timely dispatch of client statements.
• Proactive Collections: Utilise the "Get Paid" Credit Control platform to proactively chase clients, ensuring adherence to contractual payment terms and meeting set collection targets. Maintain daily, meticulous records of all calls, correspondence, and remittances within "Get Paid."
• Relationship Building: Cultivate and update key contacts at both client and agency levels to streamline payment facilitation.
• Issue Resolution: Swiftly identify potential payment roadblocks and escalate them to the appropriate parties for prompt resolution, safeguarding payment timelines.
• Reporting & Analysis: Contribute comprehensive debtor commentary for crucial weekly and month-end financial reports.
• Collaborative Engagement: Participate in weekly agency debtor calls (via Teams) to review current positions and address concerns on high-value accounts.
• Financial Forecasting: Prepare accurate cashflow forecasts on a bi-monthly basis.
• Stakeholder Interaction: Attend client and agency meetings as necessary to discuss account status and build relationships.
• Data Integrity: Uphold the highest standards of data integrity for all notes and supporting documentation, in strict accordance with established processes.

What you'll need:

• Exceptional Communication: You possess outstanding verbal and written communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Commercial Acumen & Service Orientation: A commercially astute individual with a proactive, service-driven mindset, always seeking to add value.
• Relationship Builder: Proven ability to cultivate and maintain robust working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Tech-Savvy & Analytical: Proficient in IT, including intermediate to advanced Microsoft Office (especially Excel), and comfortable navigating accounting systems. You combine strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with meticulous attention to detail.
• Organised & Collaborative: Adept at managing your own workload efficiently while seamlessly collaborating with your team to uphold consistent, high service standards.
• Foundational Finance Knowledge: A solid understanding of general accounting principles, particularly those related to the sales ledger, complemented by relevant finance experience.
• Flexibility for Collaboration: Willingness to undertake occasional travel to various WPP companies within central London for collaborative meetings.
• Adaptability to Deadlines: Prepared to occasionally work additional hours to meet critical deadlines and support month-end processes.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

#LI-Onsite

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

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