Founded in 1994, the PlowShare Group (https://www.plowsharegroup.com) works exclusively with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and their partners on important cause-related campaigns. Our dedicated and passionate team of experts believe in our mission, to harness the power of communications for social good. Our core expertise as a full-service communications agency and consultancy includes unique capabilities in Public Service Announcement (PSA) creative development, distribution services, and media monitoring and reporting. 

Acquired in 2017 by Publicis Health, PlowShare now brings the full suite of marketing services to our clients and an array of career path options to our employees. Publicis Health is one of the four solution hubs of Publicis Groupe, the third-largest advertising and media company in the world, giving us unparalleled global reach. At Publicis Health, we are united around one purpose: to create a world where people are equipped and motivated to take control of their health. With 40 offices and 11 brands across the globe, Publicis Health’s worldwide staff is comprised of more than 3,000 healthcare professionals who are experts in advertising and branding, data and analytics, strategic planning, service design, digital media and technology, science, and medicine.

The Finance Director works closely with the Business Unit (BU) Leadership, the senior team and staff to drive value and long term success, providing strategic leadership to create improved business performance.  He/She has overall responsibility for financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and is responsible for maintaining a strong internal control environment across all financial operations of the BU.  The Finance Director partners with Senior Leadership to ensure that the organization efficiently and effectively delivers on its financial objectives.  The Finance Director reports directly to the BU President and has a functional relationship to the Publicis Health Group CFO.  The individual must be able to set appropriate priorities, organize a team for maximum efficiency and effectiveness, communicate well with senior and executive management, peers, business partners, team members and clients, and have a high level of technical aptitude and business sense.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Analysis – Anticipate risks and initiate actions to achieve financial objectives

• Prepare the annual business plan, taking into account business initiatives and financial targets
• Analyze actual performance against key benchmarks and highlight to management any areas requiring action
• Prepare rolling forecasts as needed to maintain visibility on full year financial performance
• Provide management with information regarding financial and operational performance of individual business segments against internal KPIs

Financial Operations – Work with business unit management to maximize profitability and optimize operational performance of the BU

• Provide financial counsel to management to assess financial risk/benefit of operational initiatives and actions
• Provide “what if” analysis to management, with corresponding financial impact
• Assist management with development of both commercial and government pricing (i.e. functional hourly rates, piece rates, value at risk pricing models, etc.) and interaction/negotiations with client procurement, including implementation of particular client billing arrangements.   
• Provide operational analysis to management (ie client profitability, capacity management, etc)
• Ensure that financial operations across separate locations and/or business segments are delivering incremental value and/or financial efficiencies
• Liaise with Shared Service Center for key operational areas (ie, Real Estate, Supplier Procurement, Legal, Treasury, etc)
• Assess and prepare requests for all financial operation activities requiring approval, including capital expenditures, consultancy arrangements, real estate, etc.
• Ensure that financial systems are properly set up and optimally utilized by the agency teams

 Financial Reporting – Ensure that monthly reporting is performed accurately, completely and timely

• Review transactional accounting performed by Business Financial Insights(BFI) team
• Perform all subjective areas of financial reporting, particularly revenue recognition and provisions for risks & charges
• Ensure that all financial reporting is performed in according with Publicis Groupe Corporate Policies and Procedures (“Janus”)
• Ensure performance of, and compliance with, Financial Monitoring Controls
• Perform monthly analysis and submit reports to BU, Group and Corporate management
• Liaise directly with Corporate Finance team to provide information as requested
• Work closely with BFI on tracking meaningful KPIs and creating financial insights    

Financial Controlling and Client Accounting Management – Manage the BU accounting team responsible for these functions

Client accounting areas of responsibility: Review of client contracts; control over receipt of client documentation (project estimates and purchase orders) for initiation of services; management of agency timesheet system; client billing and payment follow up; client reconciliation and contract compliance/adherence

Financial controlling areas of responsibility: Supplier management (issuance of purchase orders, validation of receipt of non-billable services); cost control, particularly areas of high variability/discretion (ie, freelance support, non-client travel, capital expenditure, etc); trade working capital management, particularly maintenance (timely billing, reconciliation and collection) of accounts receivable and work in progress; coordination and direction of all audits, including internal, external, client and regulatory audits.

Critical Job Dimensions (Indication of level within job family)

Span of Control – Reporting Relationships

• Reports directly to Business Unit Group General Manager/President
• Functional reporting relationship to Group CFO
• Manages Business Unit finance team
• Works in close collaboration with Business Unit Senior Management team,  Account Management team and functional department heads

Strategy & Innovation (high, med, low) 

• High

Client Partnerships

• Medium

Decision Making Impact 

• High

Competencies 

• Key competencies that are required to be successful in the role:
• Decision Quality
• Dealing with Ambiguity
• Business Acumen
• Planning
• Customer Focus
• Developing Direct Reports & Others
• Strategic Agility
• Autonomous/Self-starter

Job Requirements   

 Essential

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required, MBA or CPA preferred
• 10+ years experience managing an accounting/finance department
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work autonomously
• Highly organized and able to work according to fixed calendar cycles
• Strong presentation skills

Desirable

• Experience with Enterprise Reporting Planning software (SAP, Hyperion, etc)
• Experience in federal governmental and non-profit (with knowledge of the “FAR” (Federal Acquisition Regulation)) and/or marketing and communications sector(s) in the US, particularly at one of the top five global holding company networks