Financial Controller

About WPP Media

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. With exceptional talent, trusted data and intelligence, and world-class partnerships – all united by our pioneering agentic marketing platform, WPP Open – we help clients navigate change, capture opportunity, and deliver transformational growth. 

WPP Media is WPP's AI-driven media operating unit, bringing together media, data, and partnerships to deliver creative personalisation at scale. Connected through WPP Open and powered by Open Intelligence, clients see exactly where, how, and why their media investment is working.

For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.

• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.

• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Role Summary and Impact

The Financial Controllers within WPP Media are responsible for managing and leading the month-end/quarter and year-end processes, ensuring deadlines are met and work is accurate; maintaining efficient control processes; and promoting process improvement. Supporting one aligned, efficient and effective team reporting function that provides the required monthly reporting to WPP (P&L and Balance Sheet) and internal Management information.

Month-end process/ year-end & variance analysis

• Managing and training members of the team

• Managing the month-end, quarter-end, half-year and year-end processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting of P&Ls and Balance sheets

• Preparation of Flash and actuals for review

• Preparation of the internal P&L commentary with variance analysis within the threshold prior to BFC submission (CTB21) for review

• Preparation of Balance Sheet Commentary with variance analysis within the threshold prior to BFC submission (CTB20) for review

• Sign off WD9 SOX and 20th of the month SOX Controls for those controls allocated, including MRC/threshold tools and IUC checks

• Assist in the improvement of SOX controls and balance sheet reconciliations, ensuring unreconciled items are reviewed monthly/resolved (CTB09.1 and CTB09.2)

• Updating RCM matrix for new WPP RCM when required

• Review and approval of monthly payroll

• Part ownership of the PWC external audit and EY internal SOX audit. Checking requests regularly for those assigned to you and ensuring your direct reports have completed their requests.

• Ensuring SOX controls are remediated and updated in Impero.

• Preparation/ Review of quarterly VAT with sample tests and upload in SOFY with commentary for variances to prior quarter

• Manage, support, train and develop your direct reports and improve their knowledge and experience, be on hand to support during month-end, quarter-ends and key reporting dates

• Provide any ad-hoc reporting requested by the WPP Media/WPP

Group / WPP reporting

• Liaise with EMEA to resolve reporting queries

• Submit commentaries to EMEA on a monthly basis

• Submit SOX controls on a monthly basis

• Deal with EMEA’s new reporting requirements

• Prepare and submit quarterly packages

• Prepare and submit the year-end packages

Business Partnering

• Business partnering through engagement with the business on a regular basis, including face-to-face meetings

• Adding value to operational teams through analysis, reporting, etc.

Other and periodic

• Ensuring compliance with company policies and SOX requirements

• Continuously reviewing current processes and making improvements to allow better control and improved efficiencies

• Ad hoc projects as directed by SFC/Head of Accounting

• Dealing with Finance Plus on ad hoc queries

Skills and Experience

Desirable

• Experience working with DDS / Media Ocean

• Experience working with Cartesis / BFC

• Media industry experience

• Experience working with SOX controls

• Audit trained

Essential

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA and CIMA)

• Intermediate / advanced level of Excel (knowledge of sumIFs, sumIF, Pivot tables, and VLOOKUP is essential)

• Organised with good attention to detail

• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and able to prioritise workload to meet challenging deadlines

• Team management experience

• 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

• Experience in setting up and improving processes

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please read our Privacy Notice for more information on how we process the information you provide.