Manager, Global Commercial

Job Title

Manager, Global Commercial

Department 

Global Commercial

Location

London

Reporting To

Director, Global Commercial

Department Overview

The Global Commercial team manages commercial matters for the top multi-market clients within the agency, to help build contractually sound and profitable long-term client relationships. The team works with global account management teams to build strong relationships with global and local clients, with agency finance and commercial leadership around the globe, with legal counsel, and with other GroupM agencies as well as WPP.

Objectives of the Role: 

The Manager provides robust support to the Global Commercial Team and manages a portfolio of global clients across commercial, contractual, and reporting initiatives, in addition to global new business commercial proposals.

Business Responsibilities:

• Acting as the Global Commercial lead on a portfolio of existing top global clients, which involves answering contract related questions, managing reporting requirements, guiding client remuneration negotiations, and partnering with Global Account Directors to provide commercial support to the account teams and clients. Example tasks include:
  • Developing and negotiating remuneration proposals for existing global clients across several markets, including pricing out staff plans to determine healthy fees.
  • Monitoring client fees in multiple markets and having oversight into profitability and problem areas at both the local and global level.
  • Aiding in global client bonus calculations and distributions to markets.
  • Managing the delivery of global contractual or internal reporting requirements, such as media rebates and incentives, timesheets and fee reconciliations, unbilled media, etc.
  • Tracking of global client contracts and helping to improve local markets’ understanding and compliance of key contract terms.
• Coordinating the commercial proposals for global new business pitches, including communications to local markets, consolidating data, pricing out fees, analyzing and strategizing about remuneration structures, and presenting the proposal to senior management.
• Working with Global Commercial Directors on international contract negotiations, the finalization of all commercial terms, and briefing local markets, when onboarding a new client or updating a contract for an existing client.
• Managing Analysts on the team and working hand-in-hand with them to complete many of the above tasks thoroughly and accurately.

Skills and Behaviors:

• Very strong analytical and quantitative skills. Proven ability to translate complex ideas and data into layman’s terms for the greater audience.
• Strong organizational, project management, and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; the ability to communicate clear messages to mass audiences through email and navigate difficult conversations with clients.
• Strong understanding of financial concepts such as revenue, costs, profit, invoicing, and cash flow
• Ability to work in a team environment that promotes collaboration, and the ability to work independently and take ownership over assignments.

Qualifications: 

• Experience in commercial-related fields, client finance, or business affairs.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, International Business, or a related business degree is preferred.
• Exposure to multiple markets is a plus.
• Very strong Microsoft Excel skills (advanced level).

#LI-GB1