Group Management Accountant

Department: Commercial Finance 

Location: London 

Full Time/Part time: Full Time 

Reporting into: Group Financial Controller

About Ogilvy:  

Ogilvy UK has been creating iconic ideas that deliver impact at scale for clients ever since David Ogilvy founded the company in 1948. Ogilvy UK specialises in bringing together brand advertising, customer experience marketing, PR, influence and consulting, all fuelled by Behavioural Science. Our world-class award-winning creative campaigns deliver solutions for clients including Sainsbury’s, Argos, , Mondelēz International, Unilever, TK Maxx and Pernod Ricard.   

In 2023, Ogilvy UK celebrated their 75th anniversary and was the most awarded agency in Europe. Ogilvy is home to the largest influencer marketing practice globally, and hosts the world’s biggest festival of behavioural science and creativity, Nudgestock – now in its 12th year. 

The Role: 

The Ogilvy Group UK Finance Team is an integral part of Ogilvy UK. The team reports into the Group Finance Director. The group team has overall responsibility for reporting to WPP, statutory reporting, compliance, and systems. The team manages and controls the group P&L and balance sheet. The team also focuses on sharing financial knowledge and information throughout the Ogilvy Group UK Finance community. The Ogilvy Group UK Finance team also leads on overall group financial performance, setting, and reviewing target KPIs, recommendations for systems improvements which will improve the financial and operational performance of all the units of the Ogilvy UK Group.

This role is responsible for the reporting, control and forecasting of all operating costs for the Group operating unit.

This role is supported by an Assistant Group Accountant who reports into this role and who will assist with managing the P&L, Balance sheet and recharge process for the Group unit.

You will be a key contact in Group Finance, building a strong relationship with key suppliers, partners and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities: 

Management & Financial Reporting

• Oversee the preparation and submission of all reporting in line with the WPP group reporting calendar
• Own the Group P&L and Balance Sheet Accounts
• Review monthly reports prepared by the Assistant Group Accountant and ensure they are distributed to budget holders and meet with them on a regular basis to discuss forecasts and YTD spend
• Ensure all costs and reporting are in line with SOX and other internal policies
• Prepare quarterly financial forecasts and annual budget.
• Review the fixed asset register monthly and ensure all assets are accounted for correctly
• Ensure all stakeholders are aware of their responsibilities in terms of reporting
• Responsible for group recharges, ensuring all costs are charged on a true and fair basis in a timely manner
• Business partner with the wider Finance team, communicate regularly and provide guidance around accounting policies and procedures.

Compliance & Statutory Reporting

• Preparation of quarterly VAT return for the VAT group
• Manage the production of the Statutory Accounts and lead on the year-end audit process with external auditors
• Manage the submission of the Corporation Tax Return
• Work with the Financial Controller to prepare transfer pricing documentation to evidence that any intra-group transactions are priced correctly
• Work with the Financial Controller to manage the submission of the PSA return
• Assist with all other financial submissions required under UK Law
• Suggest updates to internal policies and highlight any areas of duplication
• Assist the Group Financial Controller in ensuring a strong financial control environment
• Provide relevant information as requested by the Risk and Controls Manager for all internal audits
• Perform company secretarial duties

Systems

• Ensure best practice adopted in terms of all systems (Excel, Maconomy/Workday & Cartesis) for efficient and accurate reporting and cost management
• Advise on system improvements or best practice improvements that can be implemented in the finance team or the wider agency

Team management

• Manage the assistant group accountant

Skills:

• Qualified accountant or Qualified by experience
• Strong Excel skills
• Strong analytical and financial skills
• Ability to summarise complex information effectively
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• A proactive and inquisitive approach at all times and, a desire to contribute to continual improvements to processes and working methods
• Effective organisational and time management skills
• Positive, solution driven individual who works well under their own initiative
• Be a natural team-player capable of participation at all levels

How we help you Thrive: 

•  25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day  

• Bupa Healthcare 

• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave 

• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm 

• A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure 

• 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 

Our ambition is to attract the very best diverse talent to Ogilvy, and to be the employer of choice in the UK. We want everyone to feel welcome when they join us, and once they’re here, for them to want to stay with us, grow their career, and to feel they belong with us.  

We are an equal opportunity employer and we’re committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for anyone who wants to work at Ogilvy. We believe that for creativity to flourish, everything about how we work must have diversity at its core. Your race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know and we will do everything we can to accommodate.