Commercial Manager

About Us 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). Mediabrands manages approximately $40 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients and provides strategic services and solutions across its award-winning, full-service agency networks UM and Initiative and through its innovative marketing specialist companies Kinesso, Magna, Orion, Rapport, Healix, Mediabrands Content Studio and the IPG Media Lab. Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors. The company employs more than 13,000 marketing experts in more than 130 countries representing the full diversity of humanity. For more information, please visit our website: www.ipgmediabrands.com. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a permanent position in the Global Client Finance/ Commercial team, reporting into the Commercial Director.

ABOUT GCF (Global Client Finance)

GCF is the department within Mediabrands tasked with financial management of the Global Accounts.  These include Dyson, Just Eat, Mattel and others. The primary goal of this department is to drive increased Global Client profitability and revenue across the Mediabrands companies.  GCF partners with agency leadership in client negotiations, introduces innovative compensation models where possible and provides global financial leadership and best practices. GCF also plays a critical role in new business pitches with respect to compensation and operational questions.  Mediabrands is a global network and GCF frequently liaises with the global markets. Global Client Finance is also responsible for regular reporting of Client Profitability and supporting Mediabrands Senior Leadership on various operational initiatives.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

New Business:

• Liaise with New Business department/Account leads/Trading team to gather information required to put together a commercial proposal for new business opportunities, e.g. media budgets, media mix, scope of services, etc.
• Lead the communication with local market finance leads to obtain accurate market resourcing plans for multi-market briefs, dealing with questions and ensuring accuracy in response.
• Challenge market submissions proactively whilst providing clear guidance to construct commercial proposals in line with the client brief.
• Work with the New Business team to ensure timelines for commercial submissions are appropriately managed.
• Lead the structuring of remuneration proposals and other related aspects of the commercial submission for new business opportunities
• Produce summaries for internal review and the pitch response. Requiring succinct presentation of numerical information into written and visual formats.
• Keep a repository of finance responses to typical pitch questions.
• Ensure the correct paperwork is in place for pitch consultants e.g. managing the Non-Disclosure Agreement process.
• Lead the markets onboarding process if successful following new business pitch, this entails liaising with local market finance leads to provide accurate commercial guidance and manage the billing process.

Financial Management of Current Clients:

• Lead commercial contact. Partnering with account leads to deal with fee, finance and contractual questions.

• Drive operational excellence and client service with regard to client reporting and compliance obligations. Most notably compiling client ready reports for AVBs, hours worked and unbilled media based on contractual requirements. Completing the client reports to a standard suitable to send directly to clients, sending to clients and dealing with questions.
• Responding to client requests for information, working with internal stakeholders to gather and compile data.

• Client rate card creation and ongoing maintenance.
• Out of scope service fee negotiation, where required.

• Provide advice to client leads and markets on; remuneration models and commercial best practice, incentive schemes (i.e. service evaluations, media buying incentives), contractual issues and compliance and understanding accepted terms and conditions of local markets.
• Review local market budget and forecast client profitability information to ensure submissions are accurate and timely.
• Identify key variances and gather commentary from local markets to explain these.
• Provision of accurate budget/forecast revenue and pitch cost guidance to global finance Directors for global and regional clients.
• Developing a relationship with the client account leads, working with them to manage and when appropriate escalate ad-hoc commercial issues with respect to global clients.
• Commercial best practice sharing with the wider finance community.
• Support IPG treasury in client working capital and currency risk reviews
• Ensure all appropriate contractual paperwork is in place and signed

General:

• There will be many opportunities to get involved in ad-hoc finance projects relating to internal and external investment decisions and/or management reporting.

ABOUT YOU

Profile:

• Commercial outlook with experience of delivering commercial finance matters, undertakings and challenges.
• Ability to process and, most of all, interpret financial data in support of commercial decisions.

• Good level of numeracy with an analytical mindset and a high level of attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to succinctly communicate with finance and non-finance people alike and to accommodate language and cultural differences.
• Proven verbal and written communicator who is able to measure the requirements of different audiences and adapts his / her communication style accordingly.

• Proactive approach to problem solving.
• Qualified ACA, ACCA, or equivalent, with a minimum of 1 years’ post qualification experience.
• Good time management skills with an adaptable/flexible attitude.

• Communication at all levels of the company
• Media experience desirable, but not essential.

Systems:

• Advanced Microsoft Office, Powerpoint and in particular excel.
• Hyperion / ForecastWise experience is desirable, but not essential.

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