Senior Finance Business Partner

WPP; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global marketing services firm is seeking a Senior Finance Business Partner to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on providing essential financial leadership and support to global Shared Service Centres. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, a recognized accounting qualification, and proven experience in a similar role. Opportunities for career growth and international exposure await in this hybrid position based in London.

Benefits

Challenging and stimulating work

Opportunities for career growth

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Proven strong technical accounting and financial reporting background.
• Exceptional business partnering and stakeholder management skills.
• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential financial leadership and support to global Shared Service Centres.
• Lead financial planning and analysis activities for 11 global SSCs.
• Perform thorough P&L and Balance Sheet reviews for SSCs.

Skills

Analytical skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Education

Recognised professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Workday Financials

Hyperion

Anaplan

Job description

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

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Finance Business Partner to join our dynamic HQ Finance Business Partner team. This pivotal role reports directly to the Finance Director for WPP HQ and will serve as a key strategic partner to the Global Head of Shared Services.

The Senior Finance Business Partner will provide essential financial leadership, challenge, and support to our global network of Shared Service Centres (SSCs). The ideal candidate will possess exceptional analytical skills, strategic thinking capabilities, and a deep understanding of financial planning and analysis. You will thrive in a fast-paced, international environment, demonstrating the ability to influence and drive financial performance across a complex global matrix.

What you'll be doing

As the Senior Finance Business Partner for Shared Service Centres, your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Finance Support

• Partner closely with the Global Head of Shared Service Centre to drive strategic reviews of SSC operations, identifying and executing opportunities for cost optimization and efficiency improvements.
• Develop, build, and critically review complex financial models and robust business cases to support significant investment proposals, including the relocation of existing SSC activities, the migration of new functions to SSCs, or the implementation of new software and tools.

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

• Lead all comprehensive financial planning and analysis activities for 11 global Shared Service Centres.
• Oversee the development of annual budgets and quarterly reforecasts, ensuring accuracy, strategic alignment, and timely delivery.
• Conduct detailed monthly variance analysis, providing insightful commentary and actionable recommendations.
• Assume full ownership and strategic management of the global SSC recharge model.
• Establish annual baselines, execute periodic true-ups, and drive ongoing maintenance and optimization of the model to ensure fairness, transparency, and accuracy across the network.

Month-End Close & Reporting

• Perform thorough Profit & Loss (P&L) and Balance Sheet reviews for the SSCs.
• Prepare consolidated commentary and insightful analysis for senior management, highlighting key financial trends, variances, and strategic opportunities.

Technical Accounting & Compliance

• Provide expert coaching and guidance to SSCs on the interpretation and consistent implementation of WPP Group Reporting directives and accounting policies.

Liaise effectively with the WPP Tax team to ensure all invoices raised by SSCs are fully aligned with WPP’s policies on transfer pricing and intercompany recharges.

What you'll need

• Proven strong technical accounting and financial reporting background, ideally gained within a large, complex global organization or a well-regarded FTSE 350 Plc.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing, managing, and critically evaluating complex financial models.
• Exceptional business partnering and stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to influence and build strong relationships across diverse teams and geographies.
• Outstanding communication (written and verbal), influencing, and decision-making abilities.
• In-depth expertise in investment appraisal techniques and robust business case development.
• Proven ability to thrive and collaborate effectively in a multi-time zone, international environment.
• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving capabilities and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills, with the capacity to prioritize effectively, manage multiple projects concurrently, and consistently meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
• High levels of personal drive, determination, and a proactive approach to achieving success.

Desired Skills & Experience

• A recognised professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience with large-scale ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday Financials).
• Proficiency in financial planning and reporting software (e.g., Hyperion, Anaplan).
• Previous experience working within or closely with a shared services environment, understanding its operational nuances and challenges preferred.
• Experience in the advertising, marketing, or media industry is a plus.
• Demonstrated project management skills, particularly for finance-related strategic initiatives.

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 for 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 #LI-DNI

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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