Job Description

Reporting to the Commercial Director, the Commercial Finance Associate Director will take the lead in managing all commercial aspects of one or more major existing global client relationships. This will include negotiating the fee and contractual relationship with client procurement, supporting the relevant Global Client Leads on all commercial matters, and cascading the globally agreed deal down to Regional/Local offices for implementation.

They will also be expected to manage the commercial aspect of new business pitches with a regional/global footprint. This will entail developing the remuneration model and ensuring a competitive yet sustainable commercial proposal, as well as acting as a primary point of contact with senior stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Managing ‘mid-level’ Global/regional pitches, establishing the commercial proposal and being a key contact for senior internal stakeholders.
• Facing one or more global clients on commercial discussions.
• Acting as commercial business partner to Global Client Leads for global/Regional media clients run out of London.
• Engage with Regional/Local business and finance leads on commercial and financial discussions, to ensure global deals are successfully implemented in a contract-compliant manner.
• Guide the junior Commercial staff.
• Cover for the Commercial Finance Director(s) during absences.
• Coordinating with Legal on commercial contracts for clients and pitches.
• Regular interaction with client procurement.
• Oversee (with Global Client Leads) scopes of work and ensure out of scope work captured, costed and highlighted.
• Ad hoc commercial and finance queries across clients.
• Manage the commercial timeline of all reporting to be completed within the fiscal year, e.g.:
  • FTE preparation and reconciliation - reviewing costing, hours reports, formulas and calculations.
  • Collate and review the annual bonus calculations and assist with any queries.
  • Unbilled media and AVBs as required.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of commercial contracts terms and relevant fee propositions are essential.Teamwork, proactivity, and ability to meet deadlines is very important in a small team.

Excellent communication skills are essentials, especially when dealing with colleagues where English is not their first language. An ability and confidence to communicate with senior stakeholders within the agency group, external clients and consultants is also required.

• Extensive experience with Microsoft Office, but specifically Excel.
• Ability to understand and construct detailed spreadsheets is essential, and any proficiency with VBA is desirable.
• Commercial or Financial background or quantitative discipline and commercial negotiation experience advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills in various methods.
• Previous experience in a similar global/regional commercial role desirable.