Role
At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:
Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.
Role Summary
The CFO, Brazil is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of WPP Media Brazil, a key entity within the WPP network. This role will oversee financial activities in WPP Media Brazil and will provide leadership and direction to the finance, ensuring financial governance, and driving sustainable growth. The CFO will lead the development and execution of financial strategies that align with global, regional, and local business objectives, maximizing value and return to shareholders in both the short and long term.
This position demands an experienced finance professional with deep knowledge of the Brazilian media market a proven track record of success in complex, multinational organizations, particularly within the media or advertising industry. The CFO will orchestrate processes, practices, and teams to ensure compliance with all internal and external regulations applicable to the business and the country in which it operates. This role is responsible for the administrative, financial, and risk management operations of the company and is actively involved in the development of operational strategy, KPIs, and ongoing performance monitoring.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Strategy:
Serve as a strategic business partner to the senior executive leadership team, providing financial insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
Assess and evaluate the financial performance of the organization in relation to long-term operational goals, budgets, and forecasts.
Provide insights and recommendations for both short-term and long-term growth plans of the organization.
Create and establish yearly financial objectives that align with the company's plan for growth and expansion.
Implement policies, procedures, and processes as deemed appropriate by the senior leadership team across the region.
Communicate, engage, and interact with the Regional Board of Directors, CEO, and Executive Leadership Team.
Financial Analysis, Budgeting & Forecasting:
Oversee Brazil financial budgeting reports, including monthly profit and loss by agency and country, and forecast vs. budget analysis.
Review and analyze monthly financial results, providing recommendations for improvement.
Identify, develop, and execute analysis of business initiatives, product launches, and/or new service offerings to clients.
Develop and maintain monthly operating budgets and annual company operating budgets.
Manage the financial planning and analysis department, supervising the creation of reports for budgeting and forecasting.
Pricing and Third-Party Negotiations
Lead direct client negotiations alongside business management, ensuring appropriate pricing and favorable financial outcomes.
Partner with other WPP Finance Leaders to deliver the best integrated service and pricing to clients, maximizing results for the group.
Participate in vendor’s partnership negotiations to maximize return on overall media investment.
Accounting, Administration, Operations & Internal Controls:
Supervise regional accounting functions to ensure the proper functioning of all systems, databases, and financial internal systems (reporting).
Review and ensure the application of appropriate internal controls, SOX compliance, and financial procedures across the region.
Ensure the timeliness and accuracy of financial and management reporting.
Oversee the region's month-end close process, continuously reviewing procedures and eliminating inefficiencies.
Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
Review regional month-end closing activities, balance sheet accounts, and overhead cost allocation.
Financial Management:
Oversee market cash flow planning process and ensure funds availability.
Oversee cash, investments, and asset management.
Utilize forward-looking models and activity-based analyses to provide financial insight into the organization's plans and operating budgets.
Team Leadership & Development:
Provide mentorship, guidance, and development opportunities to the finance team.
Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the finance organization.
Risk Management & Compliance:
Ensure compliance with all relevant financial and tax regulations in the market.
Oversee the implementation and maintenance of robust internal controls to mitigate financial risks.
Stay abreast of changes in regulatory requirements and ensure the organization's financial practices are compliant.
Desired Skills And Experiences
Minimum of 15 years of proven experience as a CFO, Executive Director, finance officer, or relevant role.
In-depth knowledge of corporate financial law and risk management practices.
Previous experience in financial risk management and growth strategies.
Extensive knowledge of financial and tax regulations in the region.
Strong preference for candidates with a proven track record of financial leadership roles in publicly traded companies.
Experience in the financial reporting and compliance requirements associated with publicly traded entities is essential.
Extensive experience in managing financial processes and controls in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) or similar regulatory frameworks.
A demonstrated ability to ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting is crucial.
An extensive background in business-to-business (B2B) environments, with a deep understanding of the unique financial dynamics and challenges in B2B transactions.
Proven expertise in managing and optimizing financial operations with a high volume of transactions, demonstrating an ability to streamline processes and drive efficiency.
Possess knowledge and ability to ensure all actions follow appropriate employment laws, company policies and sound business practice.
Strong, impactful leadership skills, with proven experience leading within matrix organizations.
Ability to work in a multicultural environment and collaborate with international teams.
Excellent communication skills in both Portuguese and English.
Due to the international character of the organization, there may be some travelling required for this role.
Ability to manage a complex business environment, with different stakeholders, in multinational companies (preferably)
Key Competencies
Action Oriented: Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; seizes more opportunities than others.
Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, fostering a culture of financial transparency and accountability.
Managing Vision and Purpose: Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision shareable by everyone; can inspire and motivate entire units or organizations.
Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
Data-Driven Decision-Making: Strong analytical skills and proficiency in using data to drive financial decisions, optimize processes, and maximize financial performance.
Cultural Sensitivity: Cultural awareness and adaptability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
Ethical Standards: A commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in financial management and decision-making.
Decision Making: Makes decisions in a timely manner, based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; able to make a quick decision; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field is required.
MBA or Master's degree in Finance is highly preferred.
CPA or equivalent certification is a plus.