Senior Financial Analyst, Specialist Financial Reporting

WPP is a creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities.

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 accomplished people in 110 countries. We create transformative ideas and outcomes for its clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce, and technology. WPP and our award-winning agencies work with most of the world's biggest companies and organisations – from Ford, Unilever and P&G to Google, HSBC, and the UN. Our clients include 61 of the FTSE 100, 325 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 62 of the NASDAQ 100.

WPP has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and a corporate presence in major markets worldwide. We are quoted on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Key performance indicators for WPP (2020) include Billings of £46.9bn and Revenue of £12bn.

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Why we're hiring:

WPP is on a global transformation journey for its accounting and finance departments.  This is an opportunity to join a dynamic team with a great learning environment.  We are looking for a Financial Analyst to join the Group Financial Reporting team at US Corporate Headquarters.

What you'll be doing:

The Senior Financial Analyst will be part of the Specialist Financial Reporting team; the position will support the team’s managers in the various specialist financial reporting areas that are under the team’s responsibility.

The team is responsible for financial accounting areas at the corporate level and supports WPP’s operating companies with professional guidance on complicated transactions or technical accounting issues. WPP follows International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The team’s responsibilities include:

• Providing accounting guidance for new pronouncements and complicated transactions, particularly M&A;
• Preparing and updating WPP’s accounting policies and providing related guidance to the operating companies;
• WPP reporting to the SEC, including the 20-F annual report (equivalent to the 10-K), half year financial statements and other SEC filings as needed (e.g. bond prospectus), as well as working on WPP’s annual report and financial press releases;
• M&A accounting for WPP’s acquisitions, reviewing financial & legal due-diligence reports and purchase agreements, identifying fair-value adjustments and contingencies, and assessing intangible-assets (WPP is an acquisitive company);
• Managing WPP’s goodwill and intangibles balances;
• Performing impairment tests of WPP’s £7 billion goodwill balance;
• Earnout accrual and put option accounting – valuing and recording;
• Accounting for WPP’s £0.2 billion pension liability;
• Media credits income – analyzing and recording;
• Performing various analyses;
• Monitoring compliance with appropriate WPP Policy and Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
• Working within a highly collaborative team and fast-paced environment to provide financial rigor;
• Reporting to government authorities; and
• Ad hoc requests.

Who you'll be working with

The team is responsible for financial accounting areas at the corporate level as well as supports WPP’s operating companies with professional guidance on complicated transactions or technical accounting issues. WPP follows International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

The team’s responsibilities include: Providing accounting guidance for new pronouncements and complicated transactions, particularly M&A; Preparing and updating WPP’s accounting policies and providing related guidance to the operating companies; WPP reporting to the SEC, including the 20-F annual report (equivalent to the 10-K), half year financial statements and other SEC filings as needed (e.g. bond prospectus), as well as working on WPP’s annual report and financial press releases; M&A accounting for WPP’s acquisitions, reviewing financial & legal due-diligence reports and purchase agreements, identifying fair-value adjustments and contingencies, and assessing intangible-assets (WPP is an acquisitive company); Managing WPP’s goodwill and intangibles balances; Performing impairment tests of WPP’s £13 billion goodwill balance; Earnout accrual and put option accounting – valuing and recording; Accounting for WPP’s £1 billion pension liability; Media credits income – analyzing and recording; Performing various analyses; Reporting to governmental authorities; and Ad hoc requests.

What you'll need:

• BA/BS in Accounting or Finance
• Three to five years of professional experience in accounting field and SEC reporting
• CPA preferred or working towards CPA designation
• Proven track record of effective management in a fast-paced environment with challenging deadlines
• Strong technical skills on complex accounting areas
• Experience in Public Accounting (big 4 preferable, specialization in Communications and Media preferable but not necessary)
• In-depth knowledge of accounting guidelines and Sarbanes-Oxley rules and regulations
• Rigorous analytical skills, accuracy with figures, and exercise sound judgment in decision making
• Ability to communicate with people tactfully and effectively as there is significant correspondence with various operating companies within the WPP network
• Robust time management and organizational skills
• Self-motivated, comprehends and responds constructively to instructions
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word

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 accepting: of 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 promote a culture of people that 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?

In New York City, the base salary for this position at the time of this posting may range from $115,000 to $230,000. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including business needs, experience, level of responsibility and qualifications. 

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

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