GroupM Expenses Business Partner

Role objective:

The primary objective of the role is to support the Head of Operations and Expense Management with the overall expense management of Group M and the agencies within its structure. In a newly formed team, the aim is to develop a strong framework by which expenses can be managed, controlled, and analysed to support both a controlled expense management and an ability to look forwards and support the business in decision making.

Reporting Line:

This is a role within the Finance team of GroupM UK reporting into the Head of Operations and Expense Management

Your key responsibilities are:

Expense Management Framework

• Analysis of expense data across multiple parameters for forward performance management. In particular, develop Compensation and Benefits modelling allowing detailed understanding of the current and future cost base.
• Help design processes to identify opportunities, capture activity and monitor delivery of expense management actions to correct or improve future performance
• Monitor impact of business investments in the financial results and provide analysis of investment impact against expected outcomes
• Seek opportunities for process improvement and automation to improve efficiency and timeliness of finance processes
• Support global teams including but not limited to implementation of Workday, Adhoc reporting and query resolution

GroupM Services

• Support in the management of day-to-day deliverables of and financial metrics of the service centre cost base (c750 FTE)
• Provide supporting MI to help manage day to day relationships with Agency CFOs and business partners to coordinate financial processes

Business Partnering – centralised functions

• Provide supporting MI and analytics as well as deputise the Head of Operations and Expense Management in Business Partnering activity
• Overall support to Head of Operations and Expense Management in following key Business Partnering areas:
  • HR - to help the development of data and metrics that will support an understanding both in Finance but across the business of the colleague base, the current costing as well as the future impact on the expense base because of current and past decisions
  • Real Estate - to develop Financial MI around the cost of the GroupM Real Estate footprint as well as support decision making when future leases are due for renewal or exit. Model different scenarios around different desk sharing ratios and agile working strategies
  • IT - to understand all current costs and licensing arrangements as well as the cost and appropriate accounting of software development projects. Track software depreciation to adequately determine a depreciation budget and when assets are expected to fully amortise.

Skills and Behaviours:

Essential

• Advanced level of Excel
• Qualified Accountant
• Extensive post qualification experience Organised with great attention to detail
• Quick to learn and adaptable to changing work allocation and priorities
• Good understanding of business processes
• Strong data management capabilities
• Problem solving and solution design skills – a solution-based approach rather than a focus on the problem is essential to this role

Desirable

• Business partnering experience
• Communicating financial information to non-financial colleagues
• Finance process management capability
• Strong influencing skills across multiple stakeholders, within and outside the finance functions