Head of Finance - MAP / Universal

At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients.

AKQA Group are seeking a Head of Finance for Universal Design Studio, where you are responsible for maintaining the financial health of both studios, helping to increase profitability.

In this group role, you ensure that we are complying with regulations and maintain all account activities with your team. 

You can craft financial strategies and create forecast models to determine the financial progress of both studios, to ensure we are kept abreast of upcoming gaps in revenue and financial concerns.

You partner day-to-day with teams across the business, including close relationships with Project Leads, People, the leadership team and our CEO.

Open-minded, thoughtful and inquisitive - you embody our studio values and engage and participate passionately with every aspect of studio life and culture.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Project Management

• Owning the day to day activities of our finance function as the main point of contact for the business.
• Responsible for all group reporting to AKQA/WPP including month end as well as additional quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
• Supporting pipeline and fee tracking activities by liaising with the Project Leads / project teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and financial performance of the business, whilst supporting the education of non-financial staff across the business.
• Lead and point of contact during internal and external audits.
• Own the Annual Statutory Accounts and tax packs.
• Own (with support from the CEO) the budgeting and re-forecasting cycles.

Accounting

• Revenue recognition with support from the Project Leads.
• Review monthly Management Accounts and provide commentary on performance vs budget.
• Collate monthly board pack trading update and include commentary on key KPI’s etc.
• Approve costs in line with pre-approvals and budgets and ensure costs (billable, non-billable and overheads) are correctly coded, and project costs are in line with contractual agreements with clients.
• Setting up new clients (including DD, portal access and accounting system setup) and supporting the Accounts Payable team in setting up new vendors.
• External reporting and submissions including quarterly VAT returns, R&D tax relief and PSA.
• Give ad hoc cashflow projection updates to the Group and CEO as required.
• Liaise with People and Payroll teams to approve monthly payroll and post payroll Journals.

Contracts

• Coordinate client and sub-contractor take on procedures end to end.
• Lead and coordinate drafting, evaluation, negotiation and execution of all client and subcontractor contracts. Throughout the process ensuring contractual agreements are commercially rigorous and that we are maximising commercial value.
• Close coordination with the appropriate legal support, Project Leads and the Directors to ensure contracts including all NDAs, SOWs, Framework Contracts/MSAs, Change Orders and POs are accurate.
• Act as a point of contact with insurers and for any future insurance claims and annual Renewals.

Culture and Team

• Managing the finance team, supporting junior members with training as required and ensuring they are up-to-speed on necessary practices and processes.
• As a senior member of the team, you will have an active and leading role in developing and maintaining our studio culture.

QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS

• A positive and proactive attitude.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Proven planning and organisation skills, able to prioritise high volume workload.
• Willingness to question assumptions and take control of situations.