Finance Director - Technology, Americas

Company Description

Dentsu is a modern marketing solutions company. Our mission is to help clients navigate, progress and thrive in a world of change. Businesses rely on our integrated network of agencies and specialized practices to champion meaningful progress through creative, media, commerce, data and technology. Part of Dentsu Group, our global network comprises 66,000 diverse people in 143 countries, who are dedicated to teaming for growth and good. Some of our award-winning agencies include 360i, Carat, dentsumcgarrybowen, DEG, dentsuX, iProspect and Merkle. Follow us on Twitter @DentsuUSA and visit dentsu.com/us. 

Diversity is embedded in who we are and all that we do: our mindset, our solutions, and our teams to empower an inclusive, equitable environment. We put our people at the center, creating space for growth, understanding and learning so they can thrive. Our differences make us richer and enable stronger relationships with each other and foster greater impact for our clients. We engage with our communities to drive positive social impact by fostering equity and working to create a digital society that works for all.

Job Description

The purpose of the role is to provide financial advice and guidance to the business leaders for Technology cost within the Americas region, to deliver and support regional financial targets and strategic transformation initiatives. Dentsu International has a renewed focus on Line of Business gross margin and Global Functional support costs.

Reporting to the Global Technology FD & matrix report to VP FP&A Director Americas, this role will establish the foundations for our understanding, management, reporting and strategy for Global Functions, initially focussing on establishing a strong control environment for the existing centralised elements and then working with the functional leaders as we develop the longer term strategy for the function within the Americas region. In addition, this role will assist the Global FD to drive and lead consistency across other regions – APAC & EMEA Technology finance.

This role will lead all financial reporting, control and analysis processes at a regional level, for all IT cost related accounts, driving an appropriate control and compliance environment in line with DI Group policy and IFRS and overseeing the production of insightful, high quality financial reporting to key stakeholders.

The purpose of this role is threefold, (1) to lead the budgeting/forecasting, reporting and analysis of regional Technology spend (Enterprise Technology) and provide financial control and budgeting for the regions Technology spend, (2) to assume responsibility for ensuring that all Technology spend is correctly accounted for, and closely monitored to drive cost optimisation, and (3) to provide financial business partnering and decision support to the Global CIO’s, Regional CTO and Senior management team to ensure the strategic and operational financial goals are delivered. Key activities include forecasting and budgeting, recharges, financial analysis & modelling for/around strategic transformation initiatives. This role will have line management responsibility for 1 FTE

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with 10+ years post qualified experience in a large international company driving the Technology transformation agenda
• Previous experience of working with a Technology team
• Expert level Financial Analysis & Finance Business Partnering skills
• Ability to influence and advise the technology leaders on financial and commercial matter
• Strong evidence of working in a matrix environment in a leadership role
• Ability to work with transactional detail, hosted across several systems all the way up to Board level reports
• Financial modelling / forecasting tools experience essential
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships, whilst driving the agenda with reasonable financial challenge
• Strong cost control experience and ability to drive accountability
• Management reporting / budgeting / forecasting experience
• Financial investment business case experience
• Experience in technology cost recharging models
• Excellent commercial awareness and ability to understand and operate across a wide span of influence
• Excellent communication skills, with the finesse to diplomatically manoeuvre challenging situations with the proven ability to interact with people at all levels of an organization, fostering strong cross-functional teamwork and results
• The ability to work well under pressur