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Associate Director, Commercial Finance

VML

Department: Finance

Location: Chicago, IL, United States & New York, NY, United States

Requisition ID: 10584

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse. 

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences.  Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work. 

The Associate Director, Commercial Finance, will be a highly visible tactician, in this hands-on role that reports into VML’s Group Director, Commercial Finance, North America. They will work closely with *portfolio owners as a trusted business partner, along with respective Global Client Leads, as well as with fellow commercial teams in other regions and with WPP executive stakeholders, and with major client’s (existing and prospective) North American external client/account marketing and procurement teams. This function will be the connective tissue between finance, client services, PMO/Operations and executive leadership and they will build the commercial strategies and direct North American commercial operations, including pitch process and operations, building negotiation roadmaps, ownership of all pricing models, and management of the procurement process. 

*Portfolio = cities/locations as well as capabilities, including NA chief success, growth, and chief client officers, finance teams  

Responsibilities  

Growth and Margin Optimization  

  • Will work closely with Commercial Leads and portfolio owners on their strategic pitches and provides hands on commercial advisory on pricing strategies, commercial models, remuneration including tax and FX, to ensure financial targets are met and value is realized; partner with finance teams on costing, works with the portfolio owners to align the commercial storytelling, and provides input and guidance on commercial slides and documents  
  • Partner with Commercial Leads on procurement engagement and negotiation roadmaps. 
  • Protects projected revenues and ensures realization of target margins, by centralizing and managing category management initiatives led by procurement such as efficiency program requests, volume and/growth rebates, (re)negotiation of commercial terms, following a pre-established value and escalation matrix; these discussions might be channeled either via the regional team, the North American team, the global team, and/or WPP executive leadership 
  • Will ensure margin optimization, help design pricing frameworks and will be a major player for all Forecasting/Re-Forecasting and/or Negotiations/Re-Negotiations with top tier clients across North America 
  • Understand holistic view of client account; remuneration, scope, and markets involved in order to provide commercial input and recommendations. 

Commercial Management  

  • Lead and support T50, VML giant, local giant client businesses; includes managing the commercial operations of a matrixed client solution operating across several VML and/or WPP locations  
  • Be a strong business partner and collaborator to GCL, Operations, PMO, Marketing & New Business Team.  
  • Putting together commercial story and approach based on facts, financials, and data. 
  • Support commercial team and review the MSA and ensure compliance 
  • Proactively manage and ensure commercial compliance internally 

Commercial Strategy Activation  

  • Ensures delivery of market rates to portfolio owners, using the Vault; provides inputs and data for updates for North American leadership  
  • Roll out initiatives which Activate Commercial Strategy, ranging from transformation, efficiencies, libraries, and trainings, all related to establishing and maintaining commercial excellence while building a seamless process for revenue realization and growth 
  • Upskills teams’ commercial acumen, maintains expertise, raises confidence, provides mentorship and acts as the lead advisor to commercial and non-commercial teams  
  • Runs regular commercial negotiation “best practice” trainings to all staff, using existing materials or, whenever needed, building a new roadmap  

Skills/profile  

  • Previous experience in a commercial operations role within the Fortune 500 procurement arena, part of team crafting commercial strategies, deal shaping and execution, contract creation with an eye on safeguarding the company’s best interests is essential 
  • Experience working in a commercial role in a large global advertising/creative network  
  • Experience working on multi discipline pitches in a matrixed network  
  • Experience supporting commercial strategy activation in market is highly desirable  
  • Must demonstrate excellent writing and presentation skills  
  • Possesses the ability to work well under pressure, while balancing and integrating interests and incentives from multiple parties 
  • Comfortable dealing with ambiguity at times 
  • High level of cultural fluency  

 

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

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$75,000—$180,000 USD

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 an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to 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. 

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, please visit our website, and follow VML on our social channels via Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. 

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.