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We are seeking to fill a role for a client finance director to lead a key division within our finance department. This role will form a partnership with the agency’s finance director and controller.

This role requires a big-picture mindset with strong organizational skills and an aptitude for managing a dynamic team and working in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for a passionate individual who is a self-starter and exudes energy and a collaborative disposition. The individual will lead a team of billers and will form a key liaison between finance and client account/project management. This person should be enthusiastic about collaboration among different disciplines within McGarrah Jessee to derive the appropriate client revenues on a monthly basis and to project revenue forecasts on an ongoing basis. A close working relationship with the finance director and the controller is a key component of the role.

Broad experience and understanding of agency billing and revenue recognition practices are requirements, and knowledge of GAAP and appropriate regulations is also needed.

Responsibilities:

Manages and supervises the entire billing and revenue recognition process for the agency, as well as its media buying and film production divisions

Manages a staff of billers who are responsible for monthly client billings

Understands the details of individual client contracts and how to accommodate such details within the agency’s established billing processes

Collaborates with project managers, client account staff and billers to ensure the accuracy, consistency and timeliness of monthly billings and revenue recognition for both retainer and project clients

Has a clear grasp of revenue recognition regulations and practices, specifically as it pertains to the advertising industry

Has an intimate understanding of billing and revenue recognition distinctions for agency fee work, media buying and production (both internal and external)

Is familiar with the concepts of, and the applicable revenue recognition practices associate with, “time and materials,” “retainer,” “reconcilable and non-reconcilable,” “deliverable milestones,” “work completed,” etc.

On an ongoing basis, updates revenue budgets and forecasts at the client and at the project level

Calculates and monitors client profitability based on monthly revenue and direct cost (client contribution margin)

Organizes and attends monthly client finance meetings

Collaborates with the controller and finance director to accurately assess in a timely manner the monthly recorded revenue for accounting purposes

Has input into the development of the financial section of client scopes of work in collaboration with project managers

Can work under pressure, especially at month-end and at year-end, so as to facilitate the timely closing of the agency’s financial statements

Has significant (minimum of 4 years) direct experience as a client finance director for agencies with at least $20M in annual revenue

If not currently familiar with Workamajig (the agency’s accounting system), is willing to undergo intensive training and will successfully learn the system in as short a time as possible

Requirements:

Bachelor’s in accounting or finance

At least 5–7 years of accounting experience within advertising/media business

Excellent interpersonal skills, a good listener, proactive, can stand up and drive change

Familiarity with financial accounting working practices and U.S. GAAP

Experience of business planning cycle, budgeting process for agencies, financial analysis, forecasting, profitability analysis and management accounting

Excellent working knowledge of Excel, strong communication, presentation and interpersonal skills (written and oral), organization ability and attention to detail, plus analytical, project management, customer service, documentation and technical writing skills

Has a can-do approach and exudes an energy that is required for a dynamic work environment

Has advanced time management skills to maintain deadlines within a fast-paced and innovative environment

Treats all colleagues with a high level of respect and dignity and is ultimately capable of developing important relationships at all levels of the agency structure

Please do not call. All submissions will be reviewed. Thank you.