Senior Management Accountant (Costs)

Group M Worldwide Inc.; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company seeks a fully qualified accountant to manage the preparation of monthly management accounts and support key financial objectives. This role demands strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication to ensure accurate reporting within the organization. The successful candidate will engage with various business units and uphold compliance with financial regulations as part of a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Competitive medical insurance

Group retirement plans

Paid time off

Preferential partner discounts

Employee mental health awareness days

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant or equivalent professional certification.
• Intermediate/advanced level of Excel proficiency.
• Organized and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly management accounts and perform variance analysis.
• Ensure compliance with SOX and assist with audits.
• Business partnering and engagement across departments.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work independently

Education

CIMA, ACA, ACCA

Tools

Excel

Job description

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

Role Summary and Impact

The main purpose of the role is the timely and accurate preparation of the monthly management accounts for reporting to WPP group (EMEA). This requires detailed variance analysis and exception reporting. Liaising with Finance Plus on Payables, Receivablesand also Cartesis reporting. The role will also support on key financial objectives that promote driving efficiencies within the team but also within the business. To be successful in this role, engagement with various parts of the business is required, often at different levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

• Month-end process/Year end & variance analysis

• Calculation of accruals & prepayments of costs, including inter-company, using IFRS principles, preparing journals.
• Prepare monthly Management Accounts reconciled to TB
• Monthly variance analysis (by comparing to budget/forecast) and exception reporting
• Month end folder preparation in line with SOX controls
• Monthly & quarterly balance sheet reconciliations / ensure that all salary control accounts are reconciled monthly
• Action any queries post month-end; i.e AP mis-posting etc.
• Review of monthly payroll changes, investigating all changes to prior month
• Reporting of headcount to gross salaries on a monthly basis
• Assist with the SOX and year-end audit by providing all relevant information to the auditors

Group / WPP reporting

• Liaise with EMEA and Global teams to resolve reporting queries
• Submit commentaries to EMEA on a monthly basis
• Deal with EMEA’s new reporting requirements
• Prepare and submit quarterly packages
• Prepare and submit the year-end packages

Business Partnering

• Business partnering through engagement with business on a regular basis
• Adding value to operational teams through analysis, reporting etc.

Other and periodic

• Ensuring compliance with company policies and SOX requirements
• Continuously reviewing current processes and making improvements to allow better control or improved efficiencies
• Dealing with Finance Plus on ad hoc queries
• Ad hoc projects as required

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.

• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.

• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Desirable

• Experience working with DDS / Media Ocean
• Experience working with Cartesis / BFC

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant or equivalent (eg: CIMA, ACA, ACCA)
• Intermediate / advance level of Excel
• Organized with good attention to detail
• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and able to prioritise workload to meet challenging deadlines
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
• Strong communication & relationship building skills
• Enthusiastic with a can do attitude
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media 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.

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.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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