Finance Manager

Location: Greater London

Company Description

Publicis Groupe is the world's largest communications holding companies, present in over 110 countries and employing about 108,000 professionals. The Groupe is positioned at every step of the value chain, from consulting to execution, combining marketing transformation and digital business transformation.

Helping Our Clients Unlock Growth in the Platform World

Our clients compete in the platform world, a horizontal marketplace between creators and consumers, between speakers and listeners, between buyers and sellers. To thrive in the platform world, companies must continue to innovate their products and business models. Four imperatives (1. Real Identity, 2. Dynamic, Diverse and Disruptive Creativity 3., Smart Media and 4. Direct Relationships) via our suite of world‑class agencies, are necessary for modern brands to win in the platform world.

At Publicis Groupe, we've invested in capabilities across these four imperatives our clients need to unlock growth. As the only one who can architect, build and orchestrate end‑to‑end solutions, not only do we have a proven record of building bespoke models for clients and leading expertise across all major industry categories, we are able to offer our talents more opportunities to grow and benefit from a richer learning experience.

We call this Power of One. Powered by a 100,000‑strong network via Marcel, our AI‑based platform, we are also able to provide our clients and talents instant access to resources, knowledge for any need, any time, in any market.

The Spirit of Viva La Difference

Viva La Difference is deeply rooted in everything we do. It has always been in our DNA. From the birth of Publicis, 94 years ago, when Marcel Bleustein‑Blanchet, our founder, invented French advertising. Viva La Difference expresses how we value and respect each individual and recognize what makes us distinctive. This is the charge that inspires our teams to celebrate the differences in identity, background, culture, and experience of all of us.

It is how we behave with each other and our clients, and it is deeply rooted throughout our work, to elevate and bring to life our differences throughout the platform world.

Overview

We are looking for a detail‑driven and analytical Financial Manager for a 3 month FTC to manage core accounting operations, own the financial close process, deliver accurate financial reporting, and support audit and budgeting activities. This role partners closely with cross‑functional finance teams to ensure financial integrity, forecast understanding, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities General Ledger & Financial Close

• Manage day‑to‑day general ledger accounting including reconciliations and analysis
• Monitor and reconcile the general ledger, ensuring completeness and accuracy of account analysis
• Lead month‑end and year‑end close activities
• Prepare, analyze, and review monthly financial reporting packages

Financial Reporting

• Prepare all financial reporting requirements, ensuring compliance with internal and external standards
• Produce balance sheet reconciliations, accrual calculations, account analysis, and supporting schedules
• Prepare and post journal entries with appropriate supporting evidence for audit trails
• Maintain organized accounting documentation for audit readiness

Audit Support & Compliance

• Support internal and external audits, including responding to audit queries
• Liaise with auditors to gather and provide required financial data
• Resolve audit issues by supplying substantiating records and analysis

Forecast, Budgeting & Variance Analysis

• Support budget processes by tracking and reviewing actuals vs budget
• Partner with Revenue Controllership and Client Accounting teams to
  • Review month‑end results
  • Analyze variances to forecast
  • Ensure drivers behind variances are clearly understood and documented

Operational Finance Support

• Monitor WIP (Work‑In‑Progress) postings and invoicing activity
• Support invoicing processes and ensure postings align with revenue expectations

Qualifications

• Professional accounting qualification preferred (e.g., ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Experience supporting external audits
• Demonstrable experience with general ledger accounting and…