Global Client Production Finance Lead

Company description

Within Publicis Groupe’s Intelligent Creativity business, we specialize in bringing creative ideas to life, and to consumers. By combining 100 years of craft excellence with 6,000 experts across 52 locations of the world’s biggest studio network, we leverage the industry’s richest data, through the power of agentic AI, to radically redefine content production with Intelligent Content. We intuitively deliver this through Marcel Make, the world’s first Intelligent Content agent. The result? Predictively performing content that unlocks business growth in unprecedented ways. No more guesswork. No more waste.

Just content that works, working a lot harder.

Overview

The Global Client Production Finance Lead (GCPFL) serves as the senior strategic finance partner responsible for leading all client finance activities across a defined client portfolio within Publicis Production’s Global Client Finance organization. This role provides financial leadership and strategic direction to a portfolio of clients, ensuring optimal financial performance, revenue growth, and profitability improvement across each engagement.

Reporting to the EVP, Global Solutions Finance Director, the GCPFL acts as a trusted senior financial partner to Global Production client leadership, collaborating closely with the Global Chief Client Officer and executive stakeholders to drive commercial excellence. The role directly supervises Senior Client Finance Managers, Associate Finance Directors, and equivalent-level team members, fostering a high-performing, accountable team culture built on standardized processes, open communication, and continuous improvement.

Core accountabilities include leading model, fee, and rate card development and negotiations with client procurement; MSA and SOW governance; revenue forecasting and recognition oversight; client profitability strategy; and the leadership of a cohesive Client Finance portfolio team aligned to Publicis Production’s global growth strategy.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for an assigned client portfolio comprising a mix of clients
• Serve as the primary senior finance partner to Global Production Client Leads, ensuring alignment between finance and operational strategy
• Collaborate closely with the Global Chief Client Officer and executive leadership on financial strategy, investment decisions, and portfolio growth priorities
• Define clear roles and responsibilities within the team, balance workload, and ensure the team has access to the training and tools needed to be successful
• Champion continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting standards, and internal controls across the portfolio
• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex client financial matters, deal structures, and transaction flow issues

Commercial Finance & Negotiations

• Lead model, fee, and rate card proposal development and negotiations with clients and client procurement teams in partnership with business leads
• Lead MSA and SOW term negotiation and ensure ongoing compliance with agreed contractual terms
• Align pricing strategies, fee structures, and contractual financial terms across the portfolio in partnership with production leadership
• Partner with the Commercial Finance Director on new business pitches, pricing structures, and rate card development
• Develop and maintain strong client procurement relationships to support commercial outcomes
• Oversee records of approved rate cards, SOWs, and MSAs and ensure compliance in usage across the portfolio

Revenue Oversight & Forecasting

• Oversee revenue forecasting and recognition across the portfolio, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of global results in alignment with Publicis Groupe policies
• Lead monthly revenue and client cost forecasting cycles in partnership with the business and operational leadership team to reflect the most accurate full-year projection
• Develop annual revenue and client cost plans in alignment with organizational strategy and targets
• Coordinate and present revenue reporting to client and executive leaders, tracking actual performance versus forecast and aligning on future projections
• Provide revenue and client cost forecasts to regional and local market leadership and ensure reporting deadlines are met

Client Profitability

• Lead quarterly Client Profitability Review (CPR) meetings with production and client leads, focusing on profitability improvement strategies
• Ensure full analysis of CPR issues, key drivers, and proposed solutions to drive profitable growth across the portfolio
• Lead the implementation of profitability improvement initiatives in partnership with production, operations, and client leads
• Develop and deliver margin analysis for ad hoc requests and key client reviews
• Support management reporting preparation by providing insights and strategic recommendations on revenue and client costs

Process & Financial Controls

• Review potential revenue and client cost variances, and drive resolution of open items to minimize financial impact
• Ensure efficient transaction processing across the portfolio, including billing, WIP reduction, and timely collections in partnership with local markets
• Support implementations of effective controls in alignment with Publicis Groupe policies and procedures, and support audit responses during internal and external audits
• Apply AI tools to support financial analysis and planning, helping uncover key business insights, inform revenue growth strategies, and contribute to broader organizational goals

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit and onboard team members
• Oversee the daily workflow of the Client Finance team within the portfolio, setting clear priorities and performance expectations
• Provide constructive and timely performance evaluations; develop team members through coaching, mentorship, and professional development planning
• Handle performance management and disciplinary matters in accordance with company policy
• Foster a team culture grounded in trust, accountability, collaboration, and standardized best-practice processes

Qualifications

• Significant progressive experience in finance, with demonstrable expertise in client finance or commercial finance within a complex, matrixed organization
• Production or agency client finance experience strongly preferred
• Proven track record of leading and developing high-performing finance teams at a senior level
• Strong commercial acumen with experience leading contract negotiations, fee structures, and rate card development
• Excellent strategic leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills
• Ability to build trusted relationships at the executive level across finance and non-finance disciplines
• Proficiency with financial systems and analytical tools; familiarity with AI-enabled financial planning tools is advantageous
• FMCG / Food & Beverage exposure would be helpful but is not essential
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; Master’s degree or professional qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA) preferred

LOCATION & COMMITMENTS

• Full-time role
• In-person/in-office minimum of 4 days per week
• Travel may be required to support client and organizational priorities across regions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

Additional information

Diversity and inclusion is a core part of who we are at Publicis Production. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture that encourages, celebrates and supports our wonderfully diverse employee group – whatever their age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability or ethnicity. Diversity and inclusion doesn’t just fuel our creativity and innovation, it brings us closer to our people and audiences. We will continue to strive to create a culture and environment where everyone feels empowered and more importantly comfortable enough to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities and for candidates in our application process.  If you need assistance or adjustment due to a disability, please contact us.