Senior Media Finance Analyst at Mindshare in Toronto, Ontario, CA

Company Description

Mindshare is a global media agency network dedicated to forging a competitive marketing advantage for businesses and their brands. 116 offices in 86 countries - opportunities at any stage in your career, anywhere in the world. Mindshare is part of GroupM, which oversees the media investment management sector for WPP, the world’s leading communications services group.

Our role in this world is to help clients grow their business and to become their lead business partner and we achieve this through a culture of original thinking driven by speed, teamwork and provocation

Job Description

The Senior Media Finance Analyst is a key member of the Agency Client Finance Team! You are primarily responsible for the coordination and support to the Agency for value added business advice and financial counsel as it relates to the finance process flow specific to billing for internal and external clients.

Analysts will have an active role in the development of business processes with a focus on continuous improvement. You will have the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the management reporting and billing by ensuring strong financial analysis and the strict application of policies and procedures. You should be prepared to acquire a significant understanding of business unit activities such that you can identify opportunities to provide value-added business support to the management team. You will be expected to have strong relationship building skills and be effective in making presentations to business unit management. Examples of value-added support would include analysis of business performance metrics/drivers, business opportunity evaluation, and operational efficiency/effectiveness measurement. This will be supported by your strong understanding of MS Excel and database systems

Responsibilities:

• Provide analytical reporting and on-going development of business solution that strength our client relationships
• Manage the account Monthly forecast process and be responsible for coordinating and resolving all forecast related issues. You will work closely with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, Account Management, Media Operations and Corporate Accounting.
• Schedule periodic meetings with these stakeholders to provide updates to the team and address key issues.
• Improve and streamline existing actuals reporting and forecasting processes.
• Define key process metrics and ensure proper execution.
• Ensure team and personal deliverables are met on time and steward work flow and project management. Establish a work plan for each deliverable and direct and define for the team key task assignments and partner and client liaison.
• Analyze and explain variances versus appropriate comparative periods.
• Support Manager with assessing and communicating monthly risks and opportunities.
• Work with the client to verify and reconcile any issues with the reporting of actuals.
• Work with the Financial Account Coordinators to ensure availabilities of project funding.
• Provide supportive guidance and consultancy in the multi-facet areas of Client Finance:
  • Billing for Media and Production
    • BCR reviews
    • Scheduling changes
    • Special Client requests
    • Bridge with shared financial services
    • Invoices
  • Custom Donovan Data Systems writer reports
  • Payables, receivables and client questions or issues
• Manage the client reconciliation process with media Operations, shared financial services, and corporate accounting as it relates to timely review and reconciliations of client accounts with a view to credits and debits adjustments
• Primary contact for client finance questions and/or issues with Account Management, Media Operations and Client
• Monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures with the purpose of Identify problems and recommendations for process efficiency improvements, and SOX requirements
• Assist with internal audits and be the primary coordinator of Client yearly audits
• Coordination of MPA's, billing approvals with inter-company partner(s)
• Prepare ad-hoc reports for internal and external client(s)

Qualifications

· University Degree or College Diploma or Equivalent Work Experience

· 3+ years in Finance Analysis, Advertising and/or Media industry

· Proven capabilities leading projects from conception to implementation

· Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects

· Excellent leadership skills and the ability to inspire and interact with all levels of staff

· Comfortable and effective presenter, strong interpersonal and communication skills

· Superior problem-solving capabilities

· Ability to focus on details and follow through a high volume of transactions.

· A working knowledge of standard client accounting procedures as it applies to advertising finance

· Effective inter-personal and cross-functional skills and team player.

· Dynamic and self-motivated with a professional image.

· Strong computer skills with intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook required. Intermediate proficiency in other Microsoft programs an asset

· Strong organization skills

· Working knowledge of Donovan Data Systems in a Media Agency would be an asset

· Ability to understand and evaluate procedures within a process with a view to SOX and process improvement

· Media or advertising agency experience an asset

Additional Information

Read more up on us at: www.mindshareintheloop.com

Mindshare encourages applications from all qualified candidates and accommodates persons with disabilities. If you need accommodation at any stage of the application process, or would like more information, please call 416 987 5100.

We are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.