Market Financial Controller DACH

3 нед. назад

GermanyEuropeSeniorOnsite

financial reportingstatutory compliancefinancial governance

Leadership role responsible for financial controllership, governance, statutory compliance, and operational finance across the DACH region.

Обязанности

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing finance and operations organisation, with 5-6 direct reports and overall responsibility for approximately 60-70 employees across Accounting, Controlling, Billing, Payroll, Fleet/Operations, and Finance Systems.
Own the execution of financial reporting, accounting, governance, and controls across all in-scope WPP entities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and the delivery of actionable financial insights.
Serve as the senior controllership partner within the market, working closely with Regional Controllership, GBS Finance, Tax, Legal, and executive stakeholders.
Support WPP's finance transformation programme, Project Lighthouse , ensuring Germany-specific statutory, controls, ERP, consolidation, and operating model requirements are embedded into both the transformation roadmap and execution plans.
Drive continuous improvement across finance operations, strengthening governance, enhancing reporting quality, and supporting the standardisation and optimisation of financial processes.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence both the financial performance and transformation agenda of one of the world's leading marketing and communications organisations.
What you'll be doing:

Другое

We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.    We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.   Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.    For more information, visit
Why we're hiring:
We are seeking an exceptional Market Controller DACH to join our finance leadership team, reporting directly to the Regional Group Financial Controller .
This is a critical leadership role with responsibility for financial controllership, governance, statutory compliance, and operational finance across the DACH region. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting, maintaining a strong control environment, and driving operational excellence across all in-scope WPP entities.
The position combines strategic financial leadership with operational oversight and transformation support, acting as the primary controllership lead within the market and a key partner to Regional Finance, Global Business Services (GBS), and senior business stakeholders.
Hold Managing Director mandates with joint signing authority for relevant WPP HQ entities in Germany, ensuring statutory representation, legal accountability, and the timely execution of corporate, tax, legal, and governance requirements.
Deliver accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting to support both statutory compliance and group reporting requirements.
Ensure compliance with IFRS, Group policies, and local statutory regulations, including the implementation of key accounting judgements and estimates.
Maintain strong balance sheet governance through robust reconciliations, substantiation, and control processes.
Lead audit readiness activities and manage external audit relationships across the market.
Oversee SOX compliance, including controls execution, testing, remediation, and continuous improvement activities.
Own the German local GAAP consolidation process for WPP Germany, including responsibility for the Konzernabschluss, external audit coordination, statutory filings, and ongoing enhancement of the Lucanet consolidation platform.
Partner closely with the Market CFO to provide accurate financial insights that support strategic decision-making and business performance.
Deliver clear financial commentary and variance analysis to explain results and key performance drivers.
Contribute financial expertise and actuals analysis into budgeting, forecasting, and planning activities.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with auditors, regulators, and external stakeholders.
Act as the escalation point for complex accounting, reporting, and compliance matters, collaborating with Tax, Legal, and other specialist functions to resolve issues effectively.
Oversee retained in-market tax and treasury activities, ensuring compliance with WPP policies, statutory obligations, and control requirements.
Provide oversight of Record-to-Report, Transactional Finance, and Controllership activities delivered through Global Business Services across all countries and legal entities within scope.
Monitor GBS performance against agreed service levels and drive resolution of service or process issues.
Ensure the consistent implementation of global finance standards, policies, and governance frameworks.
Drive improvements in reporting quality, financial controls, and close cycle efficiency.
Identify opportunities for automation, standardisation, and process optimisation to enhance operational effectiveness.
What you'll need:
Significant experience in financial controllership, including significant experience operating in a Financial Controller or equivalent leadership role.
Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
Strong technical accounting expertise, gained within a complex external audit and IFRS reporting environment.
Proven experience operating within a complex multinational, multi-entity environment with strong governance and US SOX control requirements.
Experience partnering with Global Business Services organisations to deliver Record-to-Report, Transactional Finance, and Controllership processes.
Strong knowledge of statutory reporting, group reporting, and consolidation requirements.
Experience working within multi-ledger ERP and finance systems environments.
Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively at executive and C-suite level.
Strong leadership, communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
Fluent German language skills (minimum C2 level) are mandatory. Native-level proficiency is strongly preferred, as the role requires working with German statutory regulations, legal documentation, and German-speaking stakeholders.
Experience within Media, Creative, Advertising, Professional Services, or similarly complex project-based organisations.
Exposure to and active participation in large-scale finance transformation programmes.
Knowledge of modern finance systems and reporting technologies, including: Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP BFC, Lucanet, DATEV
Understanding of the accounting and revenue recognition complexities associated with media and marketing services businesses.
 
Who you are:
You're open : We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.
You're optimistic : We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.
You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.
 
What we'll give you:
Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.
Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.
Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?
#LI-Hybrid 
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.
WPP 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.