Finance Director

Company description

OVERVIEW

Publicis Groupe is the world’s largest communications holding companies, present in over 110 countries and employing about 108,000 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

The Finance Director will be a strategic business partner to the senior leadership team, driving financial performance, operational efficiency, and commercial insight across the agency. You will play a key role in shaping growth strategies, ensuring financial rigour, and embedding Groupe financial policies and governance.

This is a high-impact leadership role for a commercially astute finance professional who thrives in a fast-paced, creative, and matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

• Lead all aspects of financial management — including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and long-term financial planning.
• Partner with agency leadership to develop and deliver strategic growth plans, ensuring alignment with Publicis Groupe UK objectives.
• Provide insightful analysis on revenue drivers, margins, client profitability, and cost efficiency.
• Challenge and influence key decisions with data-led recommendations that balance creativity with commercial discipline.

Commercial & Client Finance

• Oversee client contracting, pricing, and scope management to maximise profitability and mitigate financial risk.
• Collaborate with client service and production leads to ensure accurate revenue recognition and project financial control.
• Support new business development through financial modelling, pricing strategies, and commercial negotiations.

Operational Excellence

• Lead monthly and quarterly financial reporting in line with Groupe timelines and standards.
• Implement and continuously improve financial systems, processes, and controls.
• Drive working capital efficiency and ensure robust cash management.
• Partner with production operations to optimise resource allocation and cost structures.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, agility, and collaboration.
• Act as the key liaison with Publicis Groupe UK Finance, ensuring compliance with statutory, tax, and internal audit requirements.
• Contribute to the wider Groupe finance community, sharing best practices and supporting cross-agency initiatives.

Essential Experience_:

• Proven experience in a similar role, preferably within a multinational or group structure (but not essential)
• Qualified accountant (eg. ACA, ACCA, CIMA) with demonstrable post qualification experience.
• Lateral thinker with an ability to thrive in a fast-moving, agile and matrix environment
• A focus on ‘customer service’ – both internally & externally, via a positive, collaborative mindset
• Ability to successfully manage multiple initiatives/projects in a deadline-driven environment
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Effective communication skills

Additional information

Publicis Groupe operates a hybrid working pattern with full time employees being office-based three days during the working week.

We are supportive of all candidates and are committed to providing a fair assessment process. If you have any circumstances (such as neurodiversity, physical or mental impairments or a medical condition) that may affect your assessment, please inform your Talent Acquisition Partner. We will discuss possible adjustments to ensure fairness. Rest assured, disclosing this information will not impact your treatment in our process.

Please make sure you check out the Publicis Career Page

which showcases our Inclusive Benefits and our EAG’s (Employee Action Groups).