Job Description

Operating Company

GroupM

Job Title

Senior Management Accountant

Department / Team

GroupM Finance

Reporting To

Senior Financial Controller

Location

Red Lion Square, London

About GroupM

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company responsible for more than $45B (COMvergence) in annual media investment through agencies including Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the outcomes-driven programmatic audience company, Xaxis. GroupM creates competitive advantage for advertisers via its worldwide organization of media experts who deliver powerful insights on consumers and media platforms, trading expertise, market leading brand-safe media, technology solutions, addressable TV, content, sports and more. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

About the team and/or client

This role sits within the central finance team of GroupM UK Market reporting into the Senior Financial Controller. The role will work closely with the rest of the GroupM team as well as the Agency Commercial teams.

The Role Objective

The main purpose of the role is the timely and accurate preparation of the monthly management accounts for reporting to both GroupM management and WPP group (EMEA). This requires detailed variance analysis and exception reporting. Liaising with Finance Plus on Payables, Receivables and 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

• Own preparation of monthly Management Accounts reconciled to TB
• Calculation of accruals, using IFRS principles and preparation of journals
• Lead monthly variance analysis (by comparing to budget/forecast) and exception reporting
• Monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring that all are reconciled monthly
• Action any queries post month-end; i.e AP mis-posting etc.
• Review of monthly payroll and identifying reasons for variances to prior month
• Reconciliation of monthly payroll to rolling budget
• Reporting of headcount to gross salaries on a monthly basis understanding movements
• Ensuring all supporting schedules tie back to main P&L and Balance Sheet
• Provide all relevant information to the auditors for SOX, interim and year end audit
• Ownership of ONS reporting

Group / WPP reporting

• Prepare management & external numbers and supporting schedules for reporting in Cartesis
• Liaise with EMEA to resolve reporting queries
• Submit commentaries to EMEA on a monthly basis
• Prepare and submit quarterly and year-end packages

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 directed by FC or Finance Leads

How Success is Measured

• Accuracy
• Adaptability
• Timeliness
• Cleanliness of balance sheet accounts
• Easy to follow workpapers and files
• Adherence to WPP accounting policy and UK GAAP
• Completion of key responsibilities in line with GroupM overall activity

Skills and Behaviours

Desirable

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

Essential

• Fully qualified accountant or equivalent (e.g. CIMA, ACA, ACCA) Ideally 3+ years post qualification
• Intermediate level of Excel
• Organised 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

Behaviours:

• Must show a proactive approach to problem solving and take initiative
• Desire for continuous improvement
• Ability to work collaboratively in a large team and across the Agencies