Finance Director

Company Description

For decades, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness has provided consumer and professional marketing, strategic consulting, and medical education to pharmaceutical and wellness brands. Our mission is to inspire a healthier, happier, well-er world through award-winning work.

If you google us (which you may have done already), you'll see that spreading wellness is literally our mission. We don't just talk about making your well-being the most important thing, we mean it. Having a flexible hybrid-work policy, plentiful time off, and colleagues who want you to do well are all part of the gig. Oh, and of course the opportunity to work on some of the good-vibiest campaigns on the planet with very caring, very resourceful people. So, if you're a rockstar writer, aspiring strategist, jill-or jack-of all trades, or just an all-around nice person, let's chat.

Job Description

We are seeking a strategic, results-driven, and business-minded Director of Finance to lead Client Finance and Business Management for our agency. This is not a back-office role-this is a strategic finance position that will directly influence business decisions, drive financial performance, and help shape the future of the agency.

Reporting directly to the SVP, Finance & Operations, this leader will be a key business partner to agency leadership, ensuring that financial insights translate into smarter, more profitable decisions. The right candidate will be proactive, curious, and solutions-driven, with a passion for driving growth, optimizing profitability, and strengthening client partnerships.

Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & Business Partnership:

• Serve as the financial lead for the agency, providing real-time insights and strategic recommendations to drive profitable growth.
• Partner closely with account leadership, project management, and operations to optimize scopes of work, staffing plans, and revenue opportunities.
• Provide forward-looking financial analysis and business intelligence to guide key decision-making.
• Own financial reporting and forecasting-ensuring that the numbers tell a clear, strategic story that helps leadership take action.
• Lead proactive discussions on opportunities, risks, and operational efficiencies to improve overall agency performance.

Client Finance & Profitability Optimization:

• Ensure strong financial oversight of client accounts, driving revenue recognition, pricing strategies, and profitability management.
• Collaborate with teams to ensure scopes of work are structured for both agency and client success.
• Oversee monthly close, revenue projections, and variance analysis, ensuring financial clarity and accountability.
• Play a lead role in contract negotiations and financial discussions with clients, ensuring that deals are structured for long-term success.

Operational & Business Management:

• Lead annual planning, forecasting, and budgeting to align financial goals with agency strategy.
• Drive operational efficiencies to improve margins and unlock new growth opportunities.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase speed, accuracy, and impact of financial insights.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align staffing, resources, and investment decisions with business needs.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 2 Business Managers and 3 Client Finance Analysts, fostering a high-performance, business-driven finance team.
• Cultivate a culture of ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure finance is seen as an integral part of the agency's leadership and decision-making process.

What Success Looks Like:

• Finance is a Growth Engine - The finance team is not just reporting on the numbers; it's helping drive revenue growth, optimize profitability, and unlock new opportunities.
• Clear, Actionable Insights - Leadership has the right financial intelligence at their fingertips to make bold, confident business decisions.
• Client Partnerships are Strengthened - Clients see finance as a strategic partner, helping structure profitable, sustainable engagements.
• Operational Excellence - The agency runs more efficiently, with better processes, smarter resource allocation, and stronger financial discipline.
• A High-Performing Finance Team - The team is empowered, proactive, and seen as essential to the agency's success.
• Finance is at the Table - Business decisions are made with financial strategy at the core, not as an afterthought.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For:

• 8+ years of progressive finance experience, ideally within advertising, marketing, or professional services.
• A strategic mindset with a proven ability to drive business results through financial insights.
• Strong expertise in client finance, business management, and operational finance.
• A proactive leader who can challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, and influence key stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical skills with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable strategies.
• Strong experience with financial systems (SAP, Hyperion, or similar), Excel modeling, and reporting tools.
• A collaborative, business-first approach-someone who sees finance as a driver of success, not just a function.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead finance as a true business partner, helping shape the future of a dynamic, high-growth agency. You won't just be reporting numbers-you'll be driving the business forward, influencing leadership, and making a lasting impact.

If you're a driver, not a passenger-ready to challenge the status quo and lead with impact-we want to hear from you.

Additional Information

Compensation Range: $119,510 - $188,025 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 04/10/2025.

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