Job Description
The Associate Director oversees day to day operations of the Client Finance group. Key responsibilities include client compensation / contracts, monthly / quarterly close and reporting for client financial issues, client profitability reporting and analysis, and monthly actual versus forecast process.
Client Compensation / Contracts
- Develops fee proposals and strategies while working closely with the Account team to ensure agency objectives are met.
- Oversees implementation of standard rate card approach to pricing and maintains rate structure on an ongoing basis.
- Ensures the securing of signed compensation agreements on a timely basis (i.e. agreement or interim letter is signed in first quarter of client fiscal year).
- In conjunction with Legal, reviews all Client contracts to ensure adherence with Agency and Groupe best practices contract.
Obtains approval from Finance Director, CFO, or CEO on all deviations from standard contract.
- Ensures Agency is in compliance with current contractual guidelines for each client.
- Liaises with senior Account Management personnel on compensation matters and handles client discussions.
Monthly / Quarterly Close & Reporting
- Reviews and approves all journal entries related to revenue, A / R and WIP. Ensures all revenue is recorded in compliance with revenue recognition guidelines.
- Oversees the preparation of Client Burn Reports (i.e. actuals vs budget, reforecast, etc.).
- Coordinates monthly variance analysis for revenue and client direct expenses.
Monthly Forecast Process
Oversees monthly forecast for revenue and client direct expenses, and provides related analysis (i.e. run rate, signed vs.
unsigned revenue, etc.) to Finance Director.
Oversees monthly / quarterly client P&L reporting process to meet agency management and Groupe requirements (includes implementation of new client P&L reporting tool).
General / Management / Other
- Answers questions from Account teams and management regarding revenue and client direct expenses.
- Ensures consistent approach / application of best practices across clients on all financial matters.
- Maintains catalog of all client-specific reporting requirements and ensures timely completion.
- Oversee the monitoring of client production and media budgets.
- Develops and documents standard approach to client audits.
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Accounting or Finance
- 7+ years work experience, must have prior agency experience
- Proficient in Office 365, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
- SAP experience preferred
- Strong communication skills given high degree of interaction with Account Management and Client personnel.
- Excellent organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Understands Agency operating model and service offering.
- Strong managerial skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.