Finance Director United Kingdom & Ireland

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention services across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Meta, eBay, and OpenAI. We have been certified B Corp and Climate Neutral since 2021.

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director of Finance for the UK and Ireland (UKI) market. This critical leadership role is responsible for driving financial performance, ensuring operational excellence, and providing strategic counsel as part of the UKI leadership team. The VP will report directly to the SVP of Finance, EMEA, and be accountable for the financial health and compliance of the UKI market, leading a team of approximately 6 FTE.

• Leading the following functions within UKI:
• FP&A - Provides strategic financial insights through budgeting, forecasting, modelling and performance analysis, turning data into clear “stories” and actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Client Finance - Provide client and commercial teams with strategic and financial support on client-related and new business initiatives.
• Operational Excellence - Streamline internal processes and systems to ensure smooth execution of internal projects and client delivery, monitor operational KPIs and escalate concerns to relevant Client/Delivery teams

• Support the Financial control function within UKI:
• Preparation and analysis of financial statements to provide an accurate picture of a business's financial health.
• Statutory financial statements and tax compliance of UKI corporate entities to ensure timely filing and quality assurance.

• Part of the UKI leadership team, working alongside the Head of Market and stakeholders, ensuring they are supported and challenged in assessing performance against financial and data-led KPIs
• Report directly to the SVP of Finance, EMEA and work alongside other market VPs & Directors of Finance to create a cohesive finance team and focus on finance-wide initiatives.
• Responsible for people management and team development (approx. 6 FTE)
• Develop and implement financial strategies and plans to support the UKI market
• Provide accurate and timely financial reports, forecasts, and insights to senior management and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with regional, client and growth teams to develop financial models and projections for new commercial initiatives.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive landscape to identify opportunities and risks related to the UKI market.
• Lead the financial planning and budgeting process for the UKI market, ensuring alignment with overall company goals.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with external partners to negotiate favourable terms and drive cost efficiencies.
• Responsible for ensuring Group Policy and Procedure is applied in all areas of finance in UKI.
• Responsible for compliance with the internal control environment/framework set by the Group.
• Accountable for:
• All non-billable costs management versus the budget and forecast
• Lock-up/WIP/DSO days targets and management
• DPO days, targets and management
• Working capital management overall
• Cash conversion targets

Hard

Skills:

• Leadership skills in an organisation within a fast paced and ever changing environment
• Solid accounting, reporting, analysis skills
• Affinity with data, systems
• Knowledge of Agency model and commercial agreements
• Knowledge of cost drivers and revenue models for marketing agencies
• Ability to challenge management on assumptions and be able to apply industry and economic environment knowledge to forecasting

Soft Skills:

• Lead team members with a keen interest in developing their skills and maintain a trusting team environment
• Ability (and willingness) to handle peaks and down time during the reporting…