Senior FP&A Analyst, EMEA (9 month FTC)

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. 

Role Description 

A 9-month contractor opportunity for an enthusiastic Senior Financial Analyst within the EMEA FP&A team at the Mediabrands Regional HQ, to support the EMEA Manager, Senior Manager and Director in managing the region’s financial planning, analysis and reporting requirements.

• Provides consolidated financial reporting and analysis for agencies across over 20 EMEA markets
• Is based in London with limited/no travel required
• Works with:
  • EMEA FP&A team
  • Markets FP&A teams and CFOs across the region
  • US head office FP&A team

Key Responsibilities

• Support the region’s monthly flash forecasting exercises, co-ordinate with the markets on timely submissions, consolidation of EMEA results and prepare financial commentaries
• Responsible for group of markets across the region and coordinate the implementation of the annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting cycles across these markets
• Gather and investigate financial data to produce monthly reports on actuals, with variance analysis and commentary by market and brand
• Prepare financial reports with reliable conclusions that management can use to implement more effective operational strategies
• Produce brand financials on each reporting cycle to the regional brand leads
• Support EMEA FP&A Manager, Senior Manager and Director in preparation of financial slides for presentation to global leadership team
• Support the EMEA FP&A Manager, Senior Manager and Director in developing strategic action plans for markets achieving financial and business targets of the EMEA markets
• Act as key liaison to market CFOs and finance teams on EMEA FP&A and reporting requirements
• Monitor EMEA working capital and capital expenditure
• Assist in EMEA review and preparation of working capital forecasting and quarterly report to Global
• Maintain reporting systems and liaise with Global team to ensure chart of accounts is up-to-date
• Attending to ad-hoc projects, as required
• Manage the weekly regional new hire, replacement hire and operating costs requests process, which supports approvals of these requests by our cost approval committee

Desired Skills & Experience

• A confident and curious candidate with strong analytical skills
• Self-starter, keen learner and independent individual
• A flexible mind-set who enjoys working in a dynamic and multi-tasking environment
• Excellent organisation skills to be able to prioritise and juggle many conflicting deliverables/deadlines
• Experience of working with a variety of stakeholders, from junior level through to Director/CFO level
• Flexible to adapt to changing reporting requirements
• Proactive and willing to work on improving reporting processes and efficiency
• Strong writing skills to present clear financial commentaries to senior leadership
• Excellent communication skills to business strategy and data analysis skills
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills a must
• Ability to learn new financial consolidation system
• Prior experience in FP&A in a media (ideally advertising), or services environment, preferred
• A part or newly qualified finance professional with a proven track record in analytically focused positions within international businesses