Global Finance Director - Creative Agency
Award winning global Creative Agency are looking for a Global Finance Director who will play a pivotal role in plans for exponential growth over the next 5 years - including optimising existing studios and opening others. The Global FD will sit on the leadership team working with the founders to define an ambitious and robust financial strategy, activate it and be solely accountable for delivering it.
The primary responsibility of the Global FD is to ensure the company is financially secure. They must clearly communicate the performance of the group - and its component companies - to key stakeholders, providing strategy and analysis on all financial aspects of operation, trade and growth.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
GENERAL
- Provide proactive & commercial strategic financial recommendations to allow growth.
- Ensure that the business is financially sound and that the finances are managed robustly in line with the agreed business plans.
- With MDs, Head of Production and the COO, manage client procurement negotiations and ongoing financial health of the client account.
BUSINESS PLANNING AND BUDGETARY CONTROL
- Business Partner with all members of the board on the financial aspects of future growth plans. Having an informed, commercial and forward thinking view on global client opportunities.
- Prepare a group annual budget, cash forecast, revenue forecast and capital expenditure budget.
- Partner with the Group Board and individual company MDs to prepare local business plans providing proactive, strategic financial advice to improve profitability, plan future growth, allocate resources and reduce costs.
- Responsible for the overall profitability of the group ensuring that this is correctly reported by region and business.
- Communicate key financial messages and issues in a proactive, transparent and concise manner to ensure all business stake holders and managers are aware of issues (both positive and negative) impacting on the finances of the group.
- Oversee a budgetary control system monitor actual data against approved budgets, and analyse any variances.
CLIENT SERVICING AND RELATIONSHIPS
- Create a commercial environment for client account teams, ensuring they/you maximise profitability through contract negotiations and gate-keeping of the work flows and time costs on client retainers
- Partner with the relevant managers in analysing clients' P&L and fee calculations
- Be the commercial champion of the group ensuring all account teams / managers are trained in areas of commercial maximisation
WORKING CAPITAL, BALANCE SHEET AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT
- Working with the Shareholders you will be responsible for planning and executing capital investment plans.
- Ensure that the company is making the best decisions in relation to foreign currency transactions.
- Manage transfer pricing.
- Explore opportunities for offshore registrations, as appropriate.
POLICIES, SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
- Run the finance function to enable the business to achieve its ambitions.
- Improve financial and managerial controls.
- Ensure all systems developed are sufficient to support the planned expansion of the business.
- Own the relationship with the external auditors/ Tax advisors to ensure accurate annual accounts and tax computations are finalised and filed on time.
CULTURE & TEAM
- Optimise integration of finance function into all studio departments.
- Ensure tone of voice and company Vision & Values are implicit in all operational communication internally and externally.
- Ultimately responsible for finance team: recruitment, hiring, terminations, inductions, appraisals, pay reviews, training, exit interviews and understanding churn, watching out for burn-out, etc.
THE RIGHT PERSON IS SOMEONE WHO…
- Qualified ACA, ACCA or CIMA
- Is excited at prospect of working with founders and Group board to define global finance strategy for exponential growth.
- Is highly motivated by leading a global finance function - driving meticulous, accurate reporting to the local leadership teams and global board.
- Is passionate, excited and motivated by exponential growth - taking the Group from present to near-future ambition of a capital event.
- Is excited by international expansion and developing product set.
- Works best when autonomous and self-managing to drive and deliver commercial strategy.
- Is able to build, galvanise and motivate finance team and key stakeholders to achieve local and global KPIs.
- Values culture and optimising integration of finance function into all operational functions of business.
- Has clear emotional intelligence - valuing and recognising in others - for optimal communication, internally and externally.
Handle actively welcomes applicants from under-represented backgrounds - we pride ourselves on attracting the best talent for every opportunity through a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
