Commercial Finance Director

Marc Daniels; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 148,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

Marc Daniels is seeking an experienced Interim Finance Director to lead the finance function for a fast-paced international media business. You will combine strong financial control with commercial insight to influence senior stakeholders.

You will partner with agency and client leaders to improve revenue growth, project profitability, cash performance and resource utilisation, with a hybrid London-based work pattern.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with senior finance leadership experience in media or creative businesses.
• Strong commercial finance, business partnering and performance management experience.
• Deep understanding of agency, media or creative business models and revenue streams.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and financial planning across markets and service lines.
• Partner with senior leaders on client profitability, pricing, scopes of work and negotiations.
• Oversee revenue recognition, work-in-progress, project accounting and forecasting of income.
• Analyse pipeline, new-business opportunities, client budgets and risks.
• Monitor staff utilisation, costs, headcount and resource requirements.
• Strengthen working-capital through billing, collections and cash forecasting.
• Ensure timely month-end and year-end reporting with robust controls.
• Provide financial oversight of major clients and campaigns.
• Lead and develop the finance team and improve systems and processes.
• Collaborate across international operations with creative, client service and production teams.

Skills

Senior finance leadership

Commercial finance

Management reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Media industry knowledge

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)

Job description

We have an immediate opportunity for an experienced Interim Finance Director to lead the finance function for a fast-paced, international media business, combining strong financial control with commercial insight.

Commercially astute, analytical and confident influencing senior stakeholders, with strong knowledge of agency economics, working capital and international operations. The Finance Director will partner with agency and client leaders to improve revenue growth, project profitability, resource utilisation and cash performance. A competitive day rate is on offer, working in fabulous offices in central London on a hybrid working pattern.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and financial planning across markets and service lines.
• Partner with senior leaders on client profitability, pricing, scopes of work, rate cards and commercial negotiations.
• Oversee revenue recognition, work-in-progress, project accounting and accurate forecasting of retained and project-based income.
• Analyse pipeline, new-business opportunities, client budgets and delivery risks.
• Monitor staff utilisation, freelance and production costs, headcount investment and resource requirements.
• Strengthen working-capital performance through effective billing, collections, cash forecasting and supplier-payment management.
• Ensure timely month-end, year-end, statutory and corporate reporting, supported by robust financial controls.
• Provide financial oversight of major clients, campaigns, partnerships, content production and experiential activity.
• Lead and develop the finance team while improving systems, processes and management information.
• Collaborate with creative, client service, production, commercial and corporate teams across international operations.

Requirements

• Qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA) with senior finance leadership experience in media or creative businesses.
• Strong commercial finance, business partnering and performance management experience.
• Deep understanding of agency, media or creative business models and revenue streams.
• Commercial acumen across client negotiations, pricing, investment and new business.
• Able to influence senior leaders and turn financial insight into action.
• Experience improving finance processes, models and capabilities.Strong people leader who builds collaborative, high-performing teams.