Overview
The Associate Finance Director serves as a strategic financial business partner to production leadership team supporting operations reporting and implementation of best practices across the organization. This role involves leading key client finance initiatives for specific clients collaborating with cross functional teams focusing on growth and profitability. Main accountabilities include revenue forecasting, pricing, fee negotiations, client contracts, new business partnership, revenue growth and client profitability improvement strategies. The Associate Finance Director will partner with Business Intelligence team on revenue recognition and client costs during month end close and as well as billing, WIP and accounts receivable.
Responsibilities
RESPONSIBILITIES
Revenue Oversight
- Supports VP, Finance Director in revenue growth discussions with client leaders and collaborates on development of long-term growth plans supported by pricing and negotiation strategies
- Coordinates and presents revenue reporting to client leaders closely tracking actual performance versus forecast and aligning on future projections
- Partners with operational leadership and other Publicis Groupe agencies to drive revenue process consistency
Pricing and Fee Negotiations
- Supports fee pricing and negotiations in partnership with VP, Finance Director and production leadership team
- Develops and implements efficient pricing processes to meet fast paced project needs
- Partners with Commercial Finance Director, Growth on fee pricing and rate card development for new business pitches
- Owns records of approved rate cards and ensured compliance in usage
- Regularly reviews established rate cards to assess profitability and updates standard rates
- Partners with legal to review client and vendor contracts
- Drafts and manages approval workflow of intercompany agreements
- Collaborates with agency finance and resource management teams on cost recovery agreements
- Owns records of approved SOWs and MSAs and ensured compliance with terms
Forecast/Planning
- Develops annual revenue and client cost plan in partnership with production leadership and in alignment with organizational strategy and targets
- Leads monthly revenue and client cost forecasting to ensure it reflects the most accurate projection of full year performance in partnership with Business Intelligence
- Reviews and updates the status of new business growth opportunities
- Reviews client profitability forecasting and ensures timely reporting in partnership with Business Intelligence team
- Provides revenue and client cost forecast to FP&A and ensures that reporting deadlines are met
- Supports management reporting presentation preparation by providing insights on revenue and client costs
- Applies AI tools to support financial analysis and planning, helping uncover key business insights, inform revenue growth strategies, and contribute to broader organizational goals
Client Profitability
- Leads monthly CPR review meetings with production and client leads focusing on profitability improvement strategies
- Ensures full analysis of CPR issues, key drivers, and proposed solutions to drive profitable growth
- Actions implementation of profitability improvement strategies in partnership with production and client leads
- Completes margin analysis for ad hoc requests and key clients
Close Process
- Partners closely with Business Intelligence team on revenue recognition during month-end close
- Reviews potential revenue and client cost variances and drives resolution of open items to minimize the impact
- Reviews preliminary and final revenue results with US Production Leadership and supports flash and STF reporting
Transaction/Process Oversight
- Partners with Business Intelligence to ensure efficient transaction processing including billing, reduction of WIP and timely collections
- Supports implementations of effective controls across the organization in alignment with Publicis Groupe policies and procedures
- Supports audit responses during internal and external audits
MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Recruits, interviews, hires, and trains new staff
- Oversees the daily workflow of the team
- Provides constructive and timely performance evaluations
- Handles discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy
LOCATION & COMMITMENTS
- Full-time role, currently hybrid status
- In-person/in-office minimum of 3 days per week
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting, Master’s degree preferred
- Progressive experience in finance
- Production experience strongly preferred
- Management experience required
- Strong strategic leadership skills
- Effective communication skills
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Additional information
Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent.
Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.
If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Compensation Range: $97,375.00 annually- $155,961.00 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off.
