Financial Controller

BRAND: Publicis Groupe
Job Function: Finance
Location: London, United Kingdom
Experience Level: Specialist
Workplace Type: Hybrid

Company description

OVERVIEW
Publicis Groupe is one of the world's largest communications holding companies, present in over 110 countries and employing about 100,000 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 resource, 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

Job Role:

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Financial Controller.

You will lead a team of accountants providing financial information to support delivery of business objectives while ensuring adherence to Groupe's policies and internal controls framework. You will be collaborative and proactive with a growth mindset, focused on process improvement and standardization.

Key responsibilities

• Own delivery of accurate, timely management reporting (P&L & Balance Sheet) in line with Groupe policies and accounting standards
• Provide insightful financial commentary, variance analysis, and performance tracking against KPIs, benchmarks, and growth targets
• Drive profitability and risk management, including effective currency risk mitigation and identification of financial risks/opportunities
• Partner cross-functionally (Commercial, Finance Ops, SSC, and senior stakeholders) to ensure seamless processes and clear financial communication
• Maintain strong financial controls, lead audits, and ensure compliance while continuously improving processes, systems, and ways of working
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing, collaborative team while supporting strategic planning and business decision-making
• Support the Head of Controllership in strategic planning and execution

Essential Experience :

• Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ACA) with demonstratable post qualification experience
• Production background as an advantage
• Experience of multi-currency financial management and knowledge of hedging techniques as an advantage
• Ability to interpret and manipulate data in a logical manner
• Demonstrable experience of problem solving and creating efficiencies
• Ability to understand the impact of financial transactions and processes
• Ability to explain financial controls and management to non-finance colleagues
• Excellent communication skills
• Resilience and ability to work under time pressure in a fast-moving, matrix environment
• Team leader and team player

Full job description and further details available on request

Additional information

Publicis Groupe offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees. Full details are shared when you join, but highlights include core benefits such as Pension, Life Assurance, and Private Medical cover, alongside enhanced policies like Reflection Days and Shared Parental Leave. You'll also have access to a range of additional initiatives, including:

Please check out the Publicis Career Page which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG's (Employee Action Groups).

Publicis Groupe works primarily from the office or our clients' office four days per week.

At Publicis Groupe , we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, disability, age, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic.

We are committed to providing a fair, accessible, and inclusive recruitment process. If you have any access needs - for example, related to disability, neurodivergence, or a health condition - please let us know. We'll work with you to ensure the process works for you. Sharing this information will never impact your application.

Guided by our values, we listen with empathy, uplift each other, take responsibility, and embrace change - building a culture where everyone feels seen, respected, and genuinely included.

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