Director, Client Finance

ABOUT ORCHESTRA

Orchestra is a new communications company that helps brands and organizations reach audiences in a more effective and precise way. Its growing team of 700+ storytellers and strategists is shaping what's next in communications, with experience that spans consumer, technology, climate and sustainability, education, healthcare, philanthropy, real estate, travel, hospitality, and arts and culture, to name a few. Since 2022, it’s acquired nine firms, including: BerlinRosen, Civitas Public Affairs Group, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Small Girls PR. It also launched Brightmode, a talent acquisition firm for communications professionals. Learn more at: www.orchestraco.com.

People of color, people with disabilities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. Orchestra is committed to building and maintaining a diverse staff, and recognizes that its continued success depends on hiring and retaining high-quality creative professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Opportunities for advancement exist, and we are committed to helping all staff develop and grow.

ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA FINANCE TEAM

The Orchestra Finance Team oversees financial results and works with our teams on client finance, growth strategies and the overall financial health of the company. We are responsible for the successful integration with our new partner companies as well as any future acquisition activity.

We work with management and other key agency stakeholders to drive profitability and monitor key performance indicators. We are growing a team of experienced finance professionals, change agents, Excel masters and complex problem-solvers to collaborate cross-functionally to assess financial strategies, systems and processes in an effort to drive the full-cycle financial health of all our clients.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

Orchestra is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Director, Client Finance. This is an excellent opportunity for a solutions-oriented and analytically minded individual who approaches work with a sense of possibility, sees challenges as opportunities and has a relentless passion and curiosity for process improvement.

In this role you will provide financial leadership, mitigate business risks, partner with leaders of the business and take on projects that are central to our short and long-term growth & profitability initiatives. This position is part of a dynamic team that works in a fast-paced environment where keen attention to detail and the ability to work nimbly and cross-functionally are crucial to success.

Role location: This role is based in our New York, N.Y. or Washington, D.C. office on a hybrid basis. The Finance team is in-office at least 3 days per week.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

As a Director, Client Finance on the Finance team, you will…

• Develop and present monthly & quarterly management reporting (i.e. dashboards, P&Ls overservicing, etc.), forward projections and insightful variance explanations to executive leadership
• Proactively identify opportunities and provide strategic counsel to managing directors on business decisions—anything from capacity management and client profitability to new business proposals
• Help develop and implement an integration plan for the financial operations of acquisitions and ensure financial integration supports the overall business strategy including systems, processes and controls
• Maintain client-level financial forecasts for new acquisitions in addition to the digital business unit; indicate when new headcount may be needed and provide all financial modeling
• Create and lead reports that help identify areas of improvement across practices and/or clients; suggest fixes that would drive improvement beyond one account
• Lead annual budgets with YoY analysis and modeling
• Review expenses, AR, pre-billing and WIP for managed practices
• Actively manage vendor selection and relationships, including any and all system implementations with the wider finance team
• Work with other operations and client teams to identify, design, implement and manage policy and process updates/implementations
• Proactively drive ad hoc strategic and operational analyses or projects
• Mentor & train the client finance team while driving the monthly revenue review process
• Set expectations for junior staff and monitor delegated activities while inspiring and motivating others to perform well

Essential skills:

• 10+ years of experience in finance or accounting
• Experience in NetSuite or similar accounting/ERP packages (SAP, Anaplan, Oracle)
• Deep understanding of financial accounting, P&L, balance sheet management and revenue recognition methodologies
• Strong financial analysis and planning skills with demonstrated business acumen
• Ability to effectively manage workloads, prioritize and streamline tasks while juggling deadlines to ensure accuracy
• Self-starter with a growth mindset who is equal parts doer and teacher
• History of effective team management and leadership, ideally within a high-growth and dynamic organization
• Ability to find the root cause of an issue and problem-solve for the long-term while working with or creating off-the-cuff solutions
• Consulting and client service-oriented mindset with the ability to foster positive internal and external working relationships
• Comfort working with multiple stakeholders and managing their expectations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience creating executive-level summary presentations

Preferred skills:

• Agency or client services experience (advertising, PR, communications, media or legal)
• Government contract experience
• Working knowledge of media finance and operations

Note: Interested in this role but it’s not quite the right match? Applicants who meet some but not all or exceed the above criteria are still encouraged to apply! We are eager to speak with candidates with diverse backgrounds and can assess role leveling on an individual basis.

WORKING AT ORCHESTRA

Compensation philosophy: Orchestra offers competitive industry rate salary bands with the goal of retaining and growing talented individuals. We regularly review and adjust our compensation structure as needed to ensure equity across teams and levels.

Salary range (commensurate with experience and skills): $135,000-$160,000

Directors are eligible for end of year bonuses based on firm, team and individual performance.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Pre-tax Health Savings Account Savings Plan (HSA-SP) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401K with a 4% employer match and no vesting period

• Generous paid time off (PTO)

  • 20 vacation days, 10 wellness days, 1 day for your birthday, collective PTO between Christmas and New Year’s Day, plus 11 holidays

• Pre-tax commuter benefits

• Mobile phone reimbursement for data and minutes

• Employer-funded life insurance

• Discounted annual bikeshare membership

• Corporate discounts through Tickets at Work

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We're part of Orchestra, the first communications company built for today’s media landscape. Since early 2022, it has grown into a network of eight strategic communications and marketing agencies including BerlinRosen, Civitas, Derris, Glen Echo Group, Inkhouse, M18, Message Lab, Onward and Brightmode.

To ensure that applicants are matched with the job that best suits their qualifications and interests, information that you submit may be shared with our network agencies. By providing your information, you are consenting to allow us and our subsidiaries to keep your information on file and to contact you regarding job opportunities, recruitment events and other related updates.