Financial Controller

Company Description

Operating out of Johannesburg, South Africa, Publicis Groupe Africa consists of many of South Africa's leading communications, marketing, media, advertising, and technology companies. In South Africa we trade as MMS Communications.

We are the African representative of listed French holding company, Publicis Groupe - the world's third largest communication and advertising group; employing over 80 000 people across more than 100 countries.

• We are the ultimate destination for those professionals who seek new ways to achieve greater things, to bring about a better future, faster and we would like to welcome you to our world...

Job Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities Local and global management reporting

• Prepare and present monthly financial reports
• Prepare and present monthly client profitability reports and follow up key findings in the reports
• Maintain and monitor the New Business Pipeline report
• Ad-hoc financial analysis
• Monitor monthly spend vs budget
• Monthly actuals reporting to Global Group; Checking balance sheet recons to ensure items are cleared promptly; Checking allocation of house costs in NAV and ensuring relevant accruals are raised; Prepare analytical review of monthly results and balance sheet
• Periodic Budget preparation; Collating the revenue forecasts from the Client service heads; Prepare the payroll costs forecasts with input from the Agency Head of Talent; Forecast overhead costs; Analyze variances vs Commit/previous Forecast

Revenue

• Complete monthly revenue reconciliation and ensure all necessary take-ups are done/journals are processed so that NAV ties up to revenue recon prior to flash reporting at 12 noon on the first working day of each month
• Monitor retainer billings during each month to ensure that all retainers are billed prior to billing cut off
• Prepare analysis of revenue overs/unders vs forecast by client and revenue type
• Monitor accrued and deferred revenue to ensure cleared on a timely basis

Resource planning

• In collaboration with the Head of Talent, prepare the annual Commit resource plan and monitor actuals vs plan continually so that productivity remains positive even when revenue drops.
• Manage the reforecasting of resource requirements at each new Forecast
• Approve freelance appointments provided these are within budget

Job management

• Monitoring work in progress to ensure that: No external cost are incurred prior to client approval; Non-billable costs are written off to Income Statement timeously; Finished jobs are reconciled and closed promptly
• Perform final check of all jobs marked for closure and send workflow to Resources to close

Balance sheet and FMC files

• Review and approve balance sheet recons and ensure reconciling items cleared quickly
• Approve non-recurring journals, three-way payroll recons, S-forms, CSR reporting prepared by SSC

Payroll

• Review and approve monthly payroll prepared by SSC and approve monthly payroll journal prior to processing
• Accounts receivable
• Monitor debtors Age Analysis and ensure effective follow up of overdue balances is being done by Resources

Weekly vendor payments

• Review weekly payments batches vs supporting documentation and ensure submitted to Resources before deadline

Overhead cost control

• Approve variable cost expenditure prior to spending to ensure that overheads stay within budget

Ad hoc

• Coordinate with FMC auditors and Internal audit to provide them with the pre-work requested, support documentation and explanations required
• Submit monthly input to PGA in order that they can prepare the monthly PiCT report (self-analysis of adherence to Internal control requirements)
• Provide finance training to the Client Service team so that they understand their financial responsibilities in terms of job management, client management and revenue forecasting
• Monitor cash-flow and approve early payment requests where necessary
• Approve credit billing instructions
• Monitor performance of the Shared Service Centre and feedback to senior management
• Develop, document and communicate processes to Agency
• General trouble-shooting.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have/be:

• Relevant Degree (B.Com Finance or equivalent)
• 3-5 years Adverting/marketing agency experience - NON-NEGOTIABLE
• Comprehensive CHASE Production experience - NON-NEGOTIABLE

Additional Information

The successful new candidate will be passionate about the advertising and communications industry, highly motivated with excellent communication and problem-solving skills. The following attributes are also essential:

• Personality Attributes
• Team player with ability to work independently
• Ability to remain calm in a highly pressurized environment
• Ability to accept constructive feedback and learn from it
• Proactive
• Assertive
• "Out of the box" creative thinker
• Reliable
• Resilient
• Solution and deadline driven
• Meticulous with attention to detail
• Flexible to work beyond normal office hours (overtime if and when required)
• Comfortable to work on alcohol brands (if and when required)
• Comfortable to work on-site (at the Agency, if and when required)