Senior Manager, Specialist Financial Reporting

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 talented people in 112 countries. Our company creates 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 69 of the FTSE 100, 348 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 70 of the NASDAQ 100. 

WPP has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and a corporate presence in major markets worldwide. The company is quoted on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

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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 Senior Manager to join the Specialist Financial Reporting team at New York or London Corporate Headquarters.

What you'll be doing:

The Manager is a key player supporting the various Specialist Financial Reporting areas that are under the team’s responsibility as well as work on the accounting for ad hoc transactions and projects involving the tax, treasury and real estate departments as well as the operating companies of WPP.

This role reports into the Senior Manager and will involve supporting and assisting the team where applicable. 

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.
• Accounting and reporting for the Group’s leases.
• 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.

What you'll need:

• Bachelor of Science (“B.S”) Accounting OR ACA/CIMA/ACCA.
• Certified Public Accountant (“CPA”). 
• Five years of professional experience in accounting field and SEC reporting.
• 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.
• 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.
• Sound project management skills – able to meet multiple deadlines under pressure.

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 confidence: 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 deliver extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, driven people – We champion a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and deliver 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

At WPP, we are an equal opportunities employer. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion. We strive to recruit from a diverse slate of candidates and foster an environment which provides the right conditions for long term success. We welcome all applications regardless of race, color, religion or belief, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, military veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation and physical or mental disability. 

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