Staff Costs Accountant

Ogilvy; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Ogilvy seeks a Staff Cost Accountant to join their Financial Reporting Team in London. This role involves managing staff cost reporting and forecasting, ensuring accuracy, and collaborating with various teams to enhance profitability. Ideal candidates are part qualified or qualified accountants with strong attention to detail and communication skills.

Benefits

25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day

Flexible Working Model

Wellbeing and Health benefits

Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme

Life Assurance

Qualifications

• Experience in managing staff costs and profitability.
• Strong financial analysis and reporting skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-finance staff.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for staff costs reporting and forecasting.
• Preparation of timely staff costs information for WPP reporting.
• Liaising with other teams to ensure accurate staff cost forecasts.

Skills

Attention to Detail

Commercial Acumen

Communication

Education

Part qualified or qualified accountant

Job description

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This role will report into the Senior Staff Cost Accountant and be a critical member of the staff costs team and in turn a key member of the Financial Reporting Team.

You will be one of the staff costs accountants in a team size of 5. The Senior Staff Cost Accountant will rely on you as a strong number two to themselves in this team. You will help to drive change and help to deliver a stable and reliable reporting team.

You will be responsible for the staff cost reporting and forecasting for selected BU’s of Ogilvy UK.

You will have a link into the commercial team, assisting them with understanding the calculations used for staff costs and how this impacts on the client profitability metrics.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting

• Responsible for the staff costs reporting – actuals and forecasts
• Preparation of detailed, timely staff costs information and headcounts for all WPP reporting deadlines in line with the internal timetable set by the Financial Controller
• Ensuring all information is complete and accurate
• Checking reporting is in line with WPP guidelines and clearly ties back to Maconomy
• Dealing with any queries or anomalies

Forecasting

• Preparing detailed forecasts of staff costs which are updated on at least a monthly basis
• Liaising with the Talent Acquisition team to ensure all open positions are included within the forecasts
• Making suggestions of how to help improve the staff cost ratio of the new agency – highlighting areas of concern to management

Staff Cost Management & Allocations

• Ensuring recharges between various operating companies are invoiced as appropriate on a timely basis and allocated correctly

Balance Sheet Management

• Preparing detailed balance sheet reconciliations on a monthly basis which are analysed and actions carried out as appropriate to clear the balances down

Liaison with People Team and Department Heads

• Communicating clearly, effectively, and often with the relevant budget holders, finance teams and department heads
• Providing information that is accurate, timely, and reliable for budget holders and management to use to make strategic decisions
• Working with budget holders in relation to the timing and format of the information they require

Teamwork

• Standing in for the staff cost manager when they are absent
• A ’go-to’ for the other member of the staff costs team
• Helping the Senior Staff Cost Accountant on how to set up systems and procedures for the combined agency and the other areas of staff costs
• Working collaboratively within your team and the Financial Reporting and Commercial Finance teams
• Making suggestions for change and efficiency in all areas or reporting including ensuring efficient use of all systems
• Following best practice for all internal procedures and systems and driving governance across the finance and business community.
• Assisting other team members to cover holiday and sickness

Other responsibilities

• Ad hoc projects as directed by the Senior Staff Cost Accountant

Skills

A highly skilled and experienced, part qualified or qualified accountant with an interest in staff costs, the key driver of profitability in our business. A good head for detail, combined with commercial and strategic acumen. An individual who will strive to ensure that Ogilvy UK has a robust, detailed control of the staff costs. Someone who can suggest areas for improvement both to systems and costs. An organized individual who can keep a level head in the face of tight deadlines. A good communicator who is able to deal with non-finance staff at a department head level.

How we help you Thrive:

• 25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm
• Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance

At Ogilvy, our people are at the heart of what we do: a creative agency that sparks game-changing ideas across culture and business through collaboration, integrity, and a celebration of self-expression.

We believe in building powerful teamswithpurpose. This means hiring and nurturing talent across all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientation, and gender identities – and we relentlessly curate transformative initiatives that make our commitment to fairness, and equity a reality.

Our ultimate mission is to leave a positive impact on the world, creating a better future for all, while supporting and uplifting the global communities we serve. This is central to our mantra of Borderless Creativity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.