Associate Director, Client Finance
Assembly Global, New York, NY, United States
About Assembly
Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world’s most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. As a member of Stagwell, we aim to revolutionize marketing with social and environmental impact as a core focus.
Overview Assembly is seeking a
Client Finance Associate Director
to serve as a senior leader within Client Finance for North America, ensuring accurate reporting, strong financial controls, and compliant revenue recognition. This role emphasizes strategic partnership, team leadership, risk management, and process excellence. As a trusted advisor to the Head of Finance and senior client leaders, you will provide insight into business performance, proactively identify risks and opportunities, and position the Client Finance organization for long-term success.
Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Partnership
Act as the primary strategic partner to the Head of Finance for all client finance matters, providing visibility into financial performance, risks, and opportunities across the client portfolio.
Serve as a senior financial advisor to account, commercial, and operational leaders, influencing decisions related to pricing, staffing models, contract structures, and margin optimization.
Translate complex financial results into clear, actionable insights for executive and non-financial stakeholders.
Oversight of Core Finance Operations
Provide executive oversight of month-end close, revenue recognition, and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with GAAP, SOX, and internal controls.
Ensure robust ownership and governance of WIP, STBB, AR, and billing cycles, with a focus on reducing aging balances, improving cash flow, and supporting Net Working Capital objectives.
Oversee revenue forecasting and long-range planning in partnership with Client Finance Managers, ensuring forecasts are realistic, well-supported, and aligned with commercial expectations.
Review and challenge key assumptions underlying forecasts, accruals, and estimates to ensure financial integrity.
Risk Management, Compliance & Audit
Act as a compliance steward, ensuring no gaps across revenue recognition, client contracts, intercompany activity, and internal controls.
Lead Client Finance preparation for internal audits, external audits, client audits, and tax support, ensuring documentation, controls, and responses meet required standards.
Proactively identify financial, contractual, or operational risks and partner with leadership to mitigate them before they escalate.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Client Finance Managers and analysts, ensuring clear accountability, high performance, and consistent execution.
Enable team members’ growth by providing mentorship, stretch opportunities, and exposure to higher-level strategic work.
Establish best practices, standard operating procedures, and clear role definitions to ensure scalability and resilience of the Client Finance function.
Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Process Improvement & Systems Enablement
Drive process optimization, automation, and system enhancements across client finance workflows, reducing manual effort and increasing accuracy and insight.
Partner with Accounting, FP&A, and Commercial Finance to improve data flow between systems (e.g., ERP, media systems, billing tools).
Ensure client-level reporting and dashboards are consistent, reliable, and aligned with leadership and client expectations.
Required Skills
7–10+ years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, with significant experience in a media, advertising, or professional services environment.
Proven experience leading or overseeing client finance, revenue recognition, forecasting, WIP/AR, and billing operations.
Strong command of GAAP, revenue recognition principles, internal controls, and audit requirements.
Demonstrated ability to operate at both a strategic and executional level, providing leadership without being embedded in daily transaction processing.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial analysis, with the ability to review and challenge complex models and outputs (hands-on capability required, though not day-to-day).
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and client-facing teams.
Benefits
We care about your growth – competitive salaries and annual compensation review.
Recognition and celebration of success through company events and recognition programs.
Flexible Time Off policy and caregiver/parental leave policies.
Hybrid in-office/remote policy for collaboration and in-person strategy/goals.
Commitment to social and environmental impact with dedicated Impact Champions.
Employee Resource Groups supporting diversity and inclusion.
Part of Stagwell network with ongoing digital-first growth.
Benefits/perks may vary depending on location. In addition to medical, dental and vision coverage, we offer a generous PTO plan, 401k program, comprehensive family planning benefits (including paid parental leave), and pre-tax commuter benefits.
Qualifications Preferred but not required:
CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional certification.
Prior experience in an agency or marketing services organization with exposure to media finance tools (e.g., Mediaocean, I/O systems, media reconciliation platforms).
Experience leveraging Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools to deliver executive-level reporting and insights.
Background in driving finance transformation, automation, or shared services models.
Equal Opportunities Assembly is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and to providing a fair, accessible environment for all employees. We consider applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristics. EEO Employer M/F/Vet/Disabled. If you require accommodation, please let us know.
Compensation (Text Only)
Base compensation target range for the United States is $120,000–$140,000 USD. Actual compensation is influenced by skill set, experience, and location.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world’s most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. As a member of Stagwell, we aim to revolutionize marketing with social and environmental impact as a core focus.
Overview Assembly is seeking a
Client Finance Associate Director
to serve as a senior leader within Client Finance for North America, ensuring accurate reporting, strong financial controls, and compliant revenue recognition. This role emphasizes strategic partnership, team leadership, risk management, and process excellence. As a trusted advisor to the Head of Finance and senior client leaders, you will provide insight into business performance, proactively identify risks and opportunities, and position the Client Finance organization for long-term success.
Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Partnership
Act as the primary strategic partner to the Head of Finance for all client finance matters, providing visibility into financial performance, risks, and opportunities across the client portfolio.
Serve as a senior financial advisor to account, commercial, and operational leaders, influencing decisions related to pricing, staffing models, contract structures, and margin optimization.
Translate complex financial results into clear, actionable insights for executive and non-financial stakeholders.
Oversight of Core Finance Operations
Provide executive oversight of month-end close, revenue recognition, and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with GAAP, SOX, and internal controls.
Ensure robust ownership and governance of WIP, STBB, AR, and billing cycles, with a focus on reducing aging balances, improving cash flow, and supporting Net Working Capital objectives.
Oversee revenue forecasting and long-range planning in partnership with Client Finance Managers, ensuring forecasts are realistic, well-supported, and aligned with commercial expectations.
Review and challenge key assumptions underlying forecasts, accruals, and estimates to ensure financial integrity.
Risk Management, Compliance & Audit
Act as a compliance steward, ensuring no gaps across revenue recognition, client contracts, intercompany activity, and internal controls.
Lead Client Finance preparation for internal audits, external audits, client audits, and tax support, ensuring documentation, controls, and responses meet required standards.
Proactively identify financial, contractual, or operational risks and partner with leadership to mitigate them before they escalate.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Client Finance Managers and analysts, ensuring clear accountability, high performance, and consistent execution.
Enable team members’ growth by providing mentorship, stretch opportunities, and exposure to higher-level strategic work.
Establish best practices, standard operating procedures, and clear role definitions to ensure scalability and resilience of the Client Finance function.
Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Process Improvement & Systems Enablement
Drive process optimization, automation, and system enhancements across client finance workflows, reducing manual effort and increasing accuracy and insight.
Partner with Accounting, FP&A, and Commercial Finance to improve data flow between systems (e.g., ERP, media systems, billing tools).
Ensure client-level reporting and dashboards are consistent, reliable, and aligned with leadership and client expectations.
Required Skills
7–10+ years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, with significant experience in a media, advertising, or professional services environment.
Proven experience leading or overseeing client finance, revenue recognition, forecasting, WIP/AR, and billing operations.
Strong command of GAAP, revenue recognition principles, internal controls, and audit requirements.
Demonstrated ability to operate at both a strategic and executional level, providing leadership without being embedded in daily transaction processing.
Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial analysis, with the ability to review and challenge complex models and outputs (hands-on capability required, though not day-to-day).
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and client-facing teams.
Benefits
We care about your growth – competitive salaries and annual compensation review.
Recognition and celebration of success through company events and recognition programs.
Flexible Time Off policy and caregiver/parental leave policies.
Hybrid in-office/remote policy for collaboration and in-person strategy/goals.
Commitment to social and environmental impact with dedicated Impact Champions.
Employee Resource Groups supporting diversity and inclusion.
Part of Stagwell network with ongoing digital-first growth.
Benefits/perks may vary depending on location. In addition to medical, dental and vision coverage, we offer a generous PTO plan, 401k program, comprehensive family planning benefits (including paid parental leave), and pre-tax commuter benefits.
Qualifications Preferred but not required:
CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional certification.
Prior experience in an agency or marketing services organization with exposure to media finance tools (e.g., Mediaocean, I/O systems, media reconciliation platforms).
Experience leveraging Power BI, Tableau, or similar tools to deliver executive-level reporting and insights.
Background in driving finance transformation, automation, or shared services models.
Equal Opportunities Assembly is committed to equal opportunity in the workplace and to providing a fair, accessible environment for all employees. We consider applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristics. EEO Employer M/F/Vet/Disabled. If you require accommodation, please let us know.
Compensation (Text Only)
Base compensation target range for the United States is $120,000–$140,000 USD. Actual compensation is influenced by skill set, experience, and location.
#J-18808-Ljbffr