Commercial Finance Director

Design Bridge Group; City of London; Hybrid; GBP 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading brand design agency in London is seeking a Commercial Finance Director to lead the finance team, negotiate client contracts, and manage commercial operations. The ideal candidate will foster strong client relationships, improve financial processes, and ensure timely financial reporting. This role offers a competitive salary ranging from £175,000 to £225,000 per annum and supports a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Outstanding benefits

Career development opportunities

Hybrid work environment

Qualifications

• Desire to form strong relationships and trusted partnerships within Client Leadership teams.
• Dynamic and open to change, improving processes.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract and rate negotiations with clients and suppliers.
• Own and present the quarterly revenue re-forecast to the UK Managing Director and CFO.
• Manage the commercial team to ensure continued development and progress in their careers.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Dynamic and open to change

Ability to meet deadlines

Strong relationship building

Job description

Commercial Finance Director

About us

At Design Bridge and Partners we design brands with the power to move. Pulling people towards them with an irresistible force that compels and connects. With 900 creative minds across 17 studios worldwide, diverse in expertise, experience, backgrounds and beliefs, we are united in our ambition to achieve real impact for our clients’ brands—benefiting their business, people and the planet.

Our expertise spans brand strategy, brand design, brand engagement and brand effectiveness. Clients worldwide include NASA Artemis, Unilever, Coca‑Cola, Diageo, Mastercard, Intel, HSBC, Tencent, Twitch, Heineken, Reckitt and the BBC.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Commercial Finance professional to join us as a Commercial Finance Director. This role will lead the commercial division of the finance team at Design Bridge and Partners’ UK studio in Sea Containers House.

Reporting to the CFO and with a dotted line to the Group Chief Commercial Officer, you will line‑manage a team of five: two Commercial Business Partners, one Commercial Client Accountant and two Commercial Systems Administrators.

Commercial Management

• Lead contract and rate negotiations with clients and suppliers, supported by the UK & NL CFO, Group Chief Commercial Officer and WPP legal counsel as appropriate.
• Pricing lead for all UK clients.
• Review, update and benchmark new business ratecard.
• Lead negotiations for all UK client ratecards.
• Review pricing/scopes of work for projects prior to sharing with clients.
• Review existing pricing across the UK businesses to drive growth.
• Manage any financial pitch or new business requirements.
• Review and improve client profitability.
• Drive the Client Leadership department to adopt a high‑value mindset in scoping and pricing.
• Identify and investigate overservice on jobs and lead/assist with any scope change and over‑run conversations with clients.
• Proactively seek ways to grow revenue through strategic investments, whilst retaining an acceptable margin.
• Encourage and drive commercial acumen in the business and commercial best practice (including commercial processes). This may include training roll‑outs.
• Brief client teams on negotiated contract terms.
• Liaise with other studios in Design Bridge and Partners and the WPP group regarding global clients and best practices.

Commercial Forecasting and Analysis

• Own and present the quarterly revenue re‑forecast to the UK Managing Director and CFO.
• Ensure Client Profitability reporting is timely and includes appropriate follow‑up actions, including reviewing project overservice.
• Produce and review investment reports and wealth and other commercial reports with UK management and Client Leads.
• Approve and manage investments, including freelance spend.
• Manage the Commercial Team to ensure revenue projections are updated, reviewed and communicated weekly.
• Flag any variance from revenue targets early and explain with appropriate action to keep margin under control.
• Ensure month‑end revenue reporting is accurate and timely, including appropriate balance‑sheet accounts.
• Keep project management systems updated with the latest rate cards and timesheet information.

Commercial Administration

• Manage the commercial team to ensure continued development and progress in their careers.
• Manage client‑related trade working capital, ensuring the team bills on a timely basis.
• Sign off month‑end revenue position, including reviewing deferred and accrued revenue balances.
• Work with the New Business team to keep the pipeline up to date, pitch budgets adhered to, and flag any investments in new business early.
• Key contact for Dash project‑management system and Maconomy accounting system.
• Key contact for internal and external audit on Commercial and revenue matters.

About you

• Desire to form strong relationships and trusted partnerships within Client Leadership teams.
• Dynamic and open to change, improving processes.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.
• Able to meet deadlines.
• Strong written and oral communication, with influence skills.

Why us?

We’re passionate about our people and their careers. We’ll help you develop your skills and provide outstanding benefits. You’ll have a chance to make your mark on our future—and we’ll make a mark on yours.

We’re the world’s most awarded brand design agency, with 28 Cannes Lions and Creative Review Annual’s Most Creative Design Agency of the Year 2024. Join a connected team of brilliant, tenacious people across the globe.

We believe the best work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

Design Bridge and Partners, a WPP company, is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

Due to the volume of applications, we unfortunately can only respond to successful candidates. We will not accept unsolicited CVs or approaches via recruitment agencies.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

• Finance, Accounting/Auditing, and Management

Industries

• Advertising Services, Design Services, and Marketing Services

London Area, United Kingdom £175,000 – £225,000 (23 hours ago)