Management Accountant - #1701032

Job Description

Operating Company

GroupM

Job Title

Management Accountant

Department / Team

GroupM Finance

Reporting To

Finance Manager

Location

1 Southwark Bridge, London

About GroupM

GroupM is the world’s leading media investment company responsible for more than $45B (COMvergence) in annual media investment through agencies including Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence and m/SIX, as well as the outcomes-driven programmatic audience company, Xaxis. GroupM creates competitive advantage for advertisers via its worldwide organization of media experts who deliver powerful insights on consumers and media platforms, trading expertise, market leading brand-safe media, technology solutions, addressable TV, content, sports and more. Discover more about GroupM at www.groupm.com.

About The Team And/or Client

This role sits within the central finance team of GroupM UK Market reporting into the Finance Manager. The role will work closely with the rest of the GroupM team as well as the Agency Commercial teams.

The Role Objective

The main purpose of the role is the timely and accurate preparation of the monthly management accounts for reporting to both GroupM management and WPP group (EMEA). This requires detailed variance analysis and exception reporting. Liaising with Finance Plus on Payables, Receivables and BFC reporting. The role will also support on key financial objectives that promote driving efficiencies within the team but also within the business. To be successful in this role, engagement with various parts of the business is required, often at different levels of seniority.

Responsibilities

Month-end/Year end & Sox Controls

• Support on preparation of monthly Management Accounts reconciled to TB.
• Calculation of accruals, using IFRS principles and preparation of journals.
• Bank reconciliations in SAP and cash pooling reporting.
• Intercompany P&L reporting and resolving mismatches with counterparties.
• Provide monthly variance analysis (by comparing to budget/forecast) and exception reporting.
• Monthly balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring that all are reconciled monthly
• Action any queries post month-end; i.e AP mis-posting etc.
• Preparation of supporting BFC schedules that tie back to main P&L and Balance Sheet (TB).
• Preparation of the monthly Sox files for review and approval.
• Preparation of information to be provided to the auditors for SOX, interim and year end audit.
  
  

Group / WPP reporting

• Prepare management & external numbers and supporting schedules for reporting in BFC.
• Liaise with EMEA to resolve reporting queries.
• Submit commentaries to EMEA monthly.
• Prepare and submit quarterly and year-end packages (i.e. corporate responsibility packs).
  
  

Other and periodic

• Ensuring compliance with company policies and SOX requirements.
• Continuously reviewing current processes and making improvements to allow better control or improved efficiencies.
• Dealing with Finance Plus on ad hoc queries.
• Ad hoc projects as directed by SFC / FC or Finance Leads.
• Assist with preparing the PSA and Transfer Pricing submission.
  
  

How Success is Measured

• Accuracy
• Adaptability
• Timeliness
• Cleanliness of balance sheet accounts
• Adherence to WPP accounting policy and UK GAAP
• Completion of key responsibilities in line with GroupM overall activity
  
  

Skills and Behaviours

Desirable

• Experience working with DDS / Media Ocean /SAP
• Experience working with BFC
  
  

Essential

• Part or fully qualified accountant or equivalent (e.g. CIMA, ACA, ACCA) – relevant experience is essential.
• Intermediate level of Excel
• Organised with good attention to detail
• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and able to prioritise workload to meet challenging deadlines
• Strong analytical and reconciliation skills
• Strong communication & relationship building skills
• Enthusiastic with a can do attitude
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  
  

Behaviours:

• Must show a proactive approach to problem solving and take initiative
• Desire for continuous improvement
• Ability to work collaboratively in a large team and across the Agencies
  
  

(Please note this is a UK based role and requires individuals to have the right to work in this location)