Head of Finance – UK & Middle East

Publicis Groupe; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global strategic communications firm in Greater London seeks a Head of Finance to oversee financial reporting and operations. Responsibilities include providing commercial support, guiding decision-making, and managing a team. The ideal candidate will be a qualified accountant with experience in professional services, strong commercial acumen, and a proven track record in a fast-paced environment. The role offers a competitive salary and benefits, along with mentoring from senior finance leadership.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Private health insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible public holiday policy

Volunteering hours

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a professional services environment.
• Experience managing multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced business.
• Experience with international operations and multi-entity reporting is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial reporting at local entity level and for Parent Group.
• Provide insights and analysis of financial performance to management.
• Manage timely billing and cash collection to promote healthy cash flow.

Skills

Financial leadership

Commercial acumen

Excellent communication skills

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent)

Tools

Finance systems

Job description

Company description

We are a global strategic communications firm that specializes in protecting and enhancing our clients’ reputations. From offices around the globe, our team of 300 professionals provides expert communications counsel, informed by judgment, insights, and data‑led analysis. We apply our communications expertise across high‑stakes corporate, financial, and political matters, helping businesses communicate effectively through periods of disruption, transformation, and growth.

Overview

The Head of Finance is a member of the UK Management team, responsible for overseeing the financial reporting and financial operations of the business as well as providing commercial support and advice. The position partners with our leadership, reporting to the Global Finance Director, while closely engaging with all other levels to enable the smooth running of the business and supporting its strategy and growth.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the UK (£20m turnover, 90 staff) and the Middle East business (£5m turnover, 30 staff). Managing a team of five (two Revenue Accountants, two Management Accountants, one Finance Assistant) and utilising our Group Shared Service Centre, the Head of Finance will manage the following areas:

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting

• Oversee the monthly financial reporting at local entity level, as well as reporting to our Parent Group.
• Provide insight and analysis of financial performance to the Management Team as well as providing guidance and advice to support in decision making.
• Budgeting and forecasting: Analysing and advising the Management Team on potential scenarios both in the short term and long term.

Commercial Oversight and Business Partnering

• Through the revenue accountants, overseeing the correct revenue recognition for all projects and maintaining an accurate revenue forecast to support key decisions such as hiring needs.
• Promoting project profitability, correct pricing, and efficient resource (staff) allocation and servicing levels (hours).
• Support with client contract reviews, RFPs, and client procurement processes, preserving the best interests of the company from a financial and commercial perspective as well as minimizing business risk.
• Analysing and advising the Management Team on overheads and identifying where cost savings can be achieved.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior management, project leaders, and client teams, and internal budget holders by translating financial data into actionable insights.

Finance Operations

• Monitoring and promoting a healthy cash flow through timely billing of our revenue and cash collection.
• Ensuring the smooth running of all other areas of financial operations (including expense claims, accounts payable, credit control, tax, treasury / foreign exchange management, and payroll) by overseeing the shared service centre as well as best practice / policy / compliance internally.

Compliance, Control and Change Management

• Oversee External and Internal audits, ensuring readiness and implementing any improvements.
• Maintain robust internal controls and financial processes, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and Group policy.
• Identify and drive process improvements, translating the needs or direction of the business as well as the adoption of new technologies such as AI into how Finance supports the business and what its priorities and areas of focus should be.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• Proven experience in a senior finance role within a professional services or project‑based business. PR/communications environment preferable.
• Proven track record of financial leadership in a fast‑paced, growing business, managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously through effective team leadership.
• Experience with international operations and multi‑entity reporting is highly desirable.

Skills & Attributes

• Logical and strategic thinker, able to remain calm under pressure and think beyond finance.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills; able to explain finance to non‑finance colleagues.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Great stakeholder management, assertive, proactive, and able to challenge constructively.
• High attention to detail, but also able to see the bigger picture.
• Strong IT skills, including advanced Excel and experience with finance systems.

Personal Qualities

• Collaborative leader who develops and supports their team.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable with change.
• Committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.
• Able to identify how finance needs to adapt and evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly growing business.

Additional information

• We’re a great place to work: Kekst CNC offers an inspiring working atmosphere, characterized by the highest level of professionalism in a challenging environment, plenty of fun at work, and an open, collaborative corporate culture where you can be yourself. We value diversity highly and are certain that we work better because of our differences. We best serve our clients by bringing together diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds. The London office is a sociable and dynamic workplace.
• A great place to learn: The role reports to the Global Finance Director, based in the UK, who will mentor and develop the successful candidate. You will also work with the global CFO and a range of international Partners and colleagues. This is an opportunity to shape the financial future of a dynamic, growing consultancy.
• A range of benefits: We offer a competitive salary, bonus scheme, private health insurance, employee assistance program, flexible public holiday policy (so you can celebrate the days that are special to you without having to compromise your own holiday allowance), volunteering hours, and much more!