We’re looking for a commercially minded Commercial Finance Manager to join the finance team of a leading agency group. This is a senior, highly commercial role, managing a team of three Revenue Accountants and partnering closely with Client Services and senior stakeholders to drive profitability, revenue performance, recoverability and financial control across a portfolio of clients.
Initially a 6-month temporary assignment with the potential to become permanent, this is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to take ownership, develop their team, challenge the status quo and make a tangible difference to business performance.
Reporting to the Financial Controller, you’ll lead the commercial finance agenda, overseeing revenue forecasting, WIP, job profitability, recoverability and working capital. With transactional finance and monthly reporting managed centrally by Group Finance, you’ll focus on commercial business partnering, developing your team and improving financial performance.
Key Responsibilities Manage and develop a team of three Revenue Accountants, providing leadership, direction and support while strengthening commercial understanding and financial control.
Own revenue forecasting and recognition across the division, leading regular revenue reviews and investigating significant variances between time and revenue.
Lead recoverability reviews across the client portfolio, identifying unrecoverable time, unbilled costs, scope creep and potential write-offs, ensuring risks are quantified and addressed promptly.
Partner with Client Services to challenge recoverability issues, agree corrective actions and improve the conversion of WIP into revenue and cash.
Review SOWs, project scoping and pricing to ensure work is commercially viable, appropriately budgeted and recoverable from the outset.
Own the WIP process, ensuring third-party costs are accurately captured, reconciled and billed promptly, with clear accountability for aged and at-risk balances.
Analyse estimated versus actual project costs, highlighting overspends, margin erosion and commercial risks before they affect profitability.
Lead regular WIP and profitability reviews with Client Services, providing clear recommendations and driving actions through to resolution.
Monitor client profitability, utilisation and working capital, working closely with Client Services and Group Finance to resolve aged WIP, debtors and billing issues.
Oversee billing and ensure revenue and costs are appropriately recognised, with robust controls around revenue recognition and recoverability.
Provide meaningful commercial analysis, insight and recommendations to the FC, FD and wider leadership team.
Support resource forecasting and broader commercial planning, helping the business make informed decisions around capacity, costs and profitability.
Drive improvements in commercial processes, financial controls and reporting, taking ownership of initiatives from idea through to implementation.
Act as a trusted finance partner to the business, influencing decisions and driving accountability rather than simply reporting the numbers.
We’re looking for someone proactive, commercially astute and confident challenging stakeholders, with the leadership skills to manage and develop a team while remaining close to the detail.
You’ll have a strong understanding of agency economics and know how to identify and address recoverability issues before they become write-offs. You’ll be comfortable challenging Client Services on scope, budgets and unbillable work, influencing senior stakeholders and turning financial analysis into practical action.
You might currently be a Senior Commercial Finance Analyst or Revenue Manager ready to step into a broader management role, or an established Commercial Finance Manager looking for a hands-on position with genuine commercial ownership.
Ideally, you’ll have:
At least three years’ commercial finance experience, ideally within an agency, media, marketing or other project-based environment.
Experience managing, mentoring or developing finance professionals, ideally within a revenue or client finance team.
Strong knowledge of revenue recognition, WIP, job accounting, recoverability and project profitability.
Experience leading WIP and recoverability reviews, identifying risks, challenging stakeholders and driving corrective action.
The ability to assess project margins, identify scope creep and improve billing and revenue recovery.
Experience partnering with non-finance stakeholders and influencing commercial decisions.
Strong analytical skills, with the confidence to investigate performance, challenge assumptions and identify commercial risks.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate financial data into actionable insight for senior stakeholders.
A proactive, solutions-focused mindset, with the ability to improve processes and drive change.
ACCA, CIMA or ACA qualified, part-qualified or actively studying.
If you’re ready to lead a team, improve recoverability, influence commercial decisions and drive profitability across a leading agency group, we’d love to hear from you.
Media Geeks is an equal opportunity employer. We and our clients welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics.
Due to the volume of applications, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Thank you for your understanding.
No reliable IR35 determination was found in the title or listing text. Treat the status as unconfirmed and ask for the SDS before accepting the engagement.
