Associate Director, Client Finance
About the role
The Associate Director, Client Finance plays a critical role in managing client revenue commitments and profitability. This role is client-facing and partners with the Client Lead Team to drive business results.
Responsibilities
Client Compensation/Pricing: Oversee fee pricing proposals for clients (annual retainer and incremental projects). Ensure signed compensation agreements are in place on a timely basis. Ensure all client contracts adhere with Agency best practices. Drive compensation matters with Client Lead Team and handle client discussions as required. Propose new compensation / pricing methods to drive profitable growth.
Plan/Forecast/Close Process: Lead annual plan and quarterly forecast process and related analysis (i.e. run rate, signed vs. unsigned revenue, etc.) to ensure information for decision making. Review monthly variance analysis for revenue and client direct expenses. Lead monthly revenue results analysis with Head of Finance and FPA Team.
Client Profitability: Partner with Client Lead Team as a business advisor to promote revenue growth and achieve desired business results. Partner with Client Lead Team in identifying new revenue streams and areas of organic growth to achieve the growth targets set by Groupe and Agency Management. Partner with Resource Management to drive efficient staffing models and ensure proper utilization of employees assigned to business. Lead client P&L reporting process and client account team monthly meetings to review and discuss issues. Propose corrective action plans to client lead team and to BU Finance Director for growth and profit improvement.
Trade Working Capital Management: Ensure Agency working capital targets are met working in partnership with BI team and Client lead team. Drive compliance of current contractual guidelines for portfolio of clients. Drive client contract negotiations with Client Finance team and Business Lead.
Contract Management: Lead contract reviews in conjunction with Re:Sources Legal and Business Lead. Drive compliance of current contractual guidelines for portfolio of clients. Drive client contract negotiations with Client Finance team and Business Lead.
Other: Drive consistent approach/application of best practices across clients on all financial matters. Partner with the Financial Leadership team to drive Agency and department initiatives. Partner with other agencies’ client finance teams to share best practices. Perform miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Key competencies that are required to be successful in the role: Business Acumen, Dealing with Ambiguity, Customer Focus, Planning, Quality of analytics to enable fast and qualitative decision making, Solving problems / corrective action plan driven, Developing Others.
Job Requirements: 8+ years financial management experience in a Public Company, Advanced finance related-credentials preferred (i.e. CPA, MBA, Masters), Appropriate industry experience, including extensive client and executive interaction, Client finance and negotiation experience, Strong interpersonal and communication skills, Ability to work autonomously and with teams, Highly organized and able to work according to fixed calendar cycles.
Additional Information
Our Publicis Groupe motto “Viva La Différence” means we’re better together, and we believe that our differences make us stronger. It means we honor and celebrate all identities, across all facets of intersectionality, and it underpins all that we do as an organization. We are focused on fostering belonging and creating equitable & inclusive experiences for all talent. Publicis Groupe provides robust and inclusive benefit programs and policies to support the evolving and diverse needs of our talent and enable every person to grow and thrive. Our benefits package includes medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401K, as well as parental and family care leave, family forming assistance, tuition reimbursement, and flexible time off.