Vice President Finance

Stella Rising is the leading marketing and media agency for spirited, high-growth consumer brands and service companies. We combine deep category expertise with a data-driven approach and a passion for elevating the brands people love most.
The VP of Finance is responsible for managing and oversight of accounting team with particular focus on financial reporting, budgeting & analysis and will serve as the agency's financial business partner, providing strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and performance analysis across the organization. This position is designed for a hands-on finance leader who can operate effectively in a small to mid-sized agency environment. The role requires both strategic thinking and day-to-day collaboration and support across all Departments with responsibility for providing financial reporting, developing financial insights that lead to operating efficiencies and improved profitability. This position will play a primary role in helping to plan, develop and support all aspects of financial planning while providing key insights and analysis for executive decision-making. The ideal candidate must be located in the New York Metropolitan area.
Key Responsibilities including but not limited to:
Financial Planning and Forecasting
Lead the annual budgeting process
Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts
Work with HR and Department Leads to determine and plan proper staffing based on Client contracts and quarterly bookings along with Business Development activity and expected conversions
Work with HR on developing and monitoring Department incentive plans
Develop and monitor key operating metric goals to help drive improved profitability across the Agency
Analyze variances between actual results, budgets, and forecasts providing key insights
Agency Financial Management
Analyze Direct contribution margins by team
Monitor headcount productivity, billable hours and capacity utilization trends
Analyze Client profitability to determine potential contract pricing or servicing revisions
Evaluate pricing strategies and client profitability with Client Leads
Track labor costs, compensation, and overhead expenses and develop recommendations to help improve operating margins or EBITDA
Reporting and Performance Analytics
Prepare monthly financial reporting packages for executive leadership, Board Members and Lenders providing analysis and insights on comparisons to budget and prior year
Work with Executive Leadership to develop and monitor key performance metrics and agency dashboards
Provide visibility into the next quarter based on the latest Client bookings, new client wins and changes in staffing needs or operating costs
Analyze Net Client fee revenue, direct service costs, direct contribution margins, operating expenses and EBITDA and EBITDA margins and provide trend analysis
Process Improvement and Systems Management
Improve budgeting and forecasting processes
Develop standardized reporting tools and dashboards
Ensure the integrity of financial data and reporting systems
Collaborate with accounting on financial data accuracy
Evaluate and implement FP&A technologies and reporting tools as needed
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field
MBA, CPA, CFA, or FP&A certification preferred
10-15+ years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, budgeting and financial planning and analysis
Experience within an advertising agency, marketing services firm, consulting firm, or other professional services organization strongly preferred
Experience supporting executive leadership and cross-functional teams
Experience in identifying and implementing software, new operating procedures or processes that help to drive efficiencies and improve productivity and profit margins
Advanced Excel modeling skills
Experience with financial planning and reporting software
Experience with Sage Intacct (Current Accounting system) or other similar agency management platforms
Strong verbal and written communications skills
Ability to work collaboratively across all levels of the organization
Critical thinking and analysis
Ability to provide accurate and timely reporting and key insights to Executive management and Board members
Stella Rising is a women-led company that prizes diversity, creativity, hard work and intelligence, while keeping warmth, balance and human understanding at the core of our values. Named an Ad Age Best Workplace and an Inc. Best Workplace for five consecutive years, the company fosters an energetic and collaborative work environment where employees come first. In addition to surprising and delighting our team, we offer an environment where employee learning and recognition is prioritized. We take care of our team through a highly competitive benefits package that includes health, vision, dental, life insurance, a 401k with company match, wellness and technology reimbursements, home office setup support, over 7 weeks of PTO, plus Summer Fridays. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we would love to hear from you. Please send a resume and any work samples you are most proud of to kdillon@stellarising.com or fill out the form on this page.
Due the volume of candidates, we will only contact qualified candidates. EOE
THIS COMPANY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Work arrangement
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