ABOUT BBC STUDIOS
BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels & streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences in every corner of the globe.
We work with outstanding creative talent who are responsible for platform-defining shows from Strictly Come Dancing to Bluey, Eastenders, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
The range and quality of our content is unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena.
From BAFTAs to RTS Awards, BBC Studios is Britain's most awarded production company and the only producer with three of the top ten shows on IMDB; we're the home of bbc.com, the widest-read English language news website in the world; and the UK's largest distributor of British content.
BBC Commercial (BBCC) has an ambitious growth plan to double in five years. This commercial transformation will only be achieved if it is underpinned by robust processes and procedures, a solid control environment, and efficient and reliable financial reporting, coupled with accurate & dynamic forecasting that strikes the right balance of strategic risk & opportunity.
This role is a 6-month interim cover for the BBC Commercial Group Finance Director and will provide overall financial leadership across BBCC, encompassing both the Actuals & Reporting ('A&R') and Financial Planning & Analysis ('FP&A') streams. Reporting directly to the CFO and sitting on the BBC Studios Finance Leadership Team, this role will be responsible for internal and external financial reporting, audit liaison, accounting policy, control assurance, and global tax compliance, as well as overseeing the financial forecasts, forward-strategic planning and cash management for the business. This role will also oversee the implementation of the Internal Controls of Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework for the Commercial Group.
THE ROLE
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership & Strategy
* Provide financial leadership to all BBCC divisions, both in the UK and internationally
* Partner with the CFO and other Senior Executive members to drive the financial strategy and performance of the company
* Deputise for the CFO as needed
Controls & Compliance
* Own and ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial reporting and compliance with all regulatory requirements for the whole company
* Lead initiatives to enhance the company's financial governance and risk management practices
* Partner with Divisional Finance Directors, ensuring they exercise responsibility and accountability for their divisional results
* Lead on Tax, Finance Reporting and International Compliance & Controls ensuring a high quality of financial service is provided across the business
* Ensure robust internal controls around our financial reporting processes: maintain a strong internal control environment to safeguard the integrity of financial data and compliance with financial reporting standards and all regulatory requirements
* Have ultimate accountability for BBCC implementation of Internal Controls of Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework in conjunction with BBC
* Identify and mitigate financial risks through proactive monitoring and control measures, ensuring the organisation's financial stability and integrity
* Drive continuous improvements in balance sheet control
* Lead on best practice use of our systems including data management and financial consolidation
* Ensure BBCC stays within its financial quotas e.g. borrowing limit and banking covenants.
* Provide sufficient support, review and co-ordination of statutory accounts and financial statements processes and filings, both in the UK & internationally
* Provide leadership and guidance to the Group Financial Controller, Global Head of Tax, Head of ICFR and other key A&R team leaders
Managing Internal & External Reporting
* Accountable for BBC Commercial Board and executive team reporting with objective analysis of business performance, highlighting key discussion areas and making appropriate recommendations for action to help shape the financial strategy of the company.
* Liaise with and advise the Reward team in tracking performance for employee remuneration targets
* Oversee Treasury and cash management across the company to help drive working capital efficiencies
* Provide leadership on financing requirement, oversight of liability management and liaison with lenders as required
* Own the relationships with and reporting to the NAO, UKGI, DCMS and lending banks
Strategic planning
* Lead the development and execution of comprehensive financial strategies that support the company's long-term growth and profitability
* Identify and evaluate financial risks and opportunities, ensuring a balanced approach to risk management
* Proactively update the CFO, FLT and SEC team on financial performance and progress of strategic initiatives with insightful analysis
* Drive accuracy and reliability of financial forecasts through critical analysis of risk & opportunity, incorporating knowledge of market conditions, business trends and financial outlooks globally
* Advise on appropriate KPIs to effectively track progress against strategic goals and objectives across in-year forecasting cycles and longer-term strategic plans
* Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to communicate the company's financial strategy and performance
Strategic Cost Management
* Leading on cost saving and management initiatives that span the entire company in line with long-range plans
* Managing the teams responsible for allocation methodologies and reviewing benchmarking to ensure our cost management is reported & tracked in an efficient and accurate manner
* Lead on cost-trend analysis and utilise group-vantage point to synthesise key risks & opportunities related to both short- and long-term cost management
* Act as a strategic cost-consultant to ensure the right balance of cost management vs operational impact is achieved
* Ultimate ownership and responsibility for corporate overhead reporting & management
People Leadership
* Provide inspirational leadership and support career development and talent retention across the entire department
* Contribute to the wider development and leadership of the division, promoting and championing collaboration, creativity and diversity
* Lead and develop a high-performing finance team that supports the commercial group's goals
* Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing across the group
* Set clear goals and provide regular feedback to team members under the ultimate finance purpose of designing and driving value
* Cultivate and maintain a culture of inclusion and belonging
* Provide clarity on finance priorities to the global finance team
WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
* As a top subject matter expert you will provide thought leadership, creativity, innovation and clear direction across area of accountability, fostering strong performance and bringing strong operational skills that support BBCS in becoming a simpler and more efficient organisation
* Able to lead the BBCS with long-term vision using cutting edge creative, technical and/or professional skills
* Understanding of taxation, financial controllership at group level
* Ability to critically assess and shape multi-year financial strategy
* Adept at managing numerous, diverse senior and executive level stakeholders, able to undertake significant change and activities with wide-ranging impact, often operating under tight timescales and managing numerous competing priorities.
* A convincing and persuasive communicator, able to influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders across the BBC, and external agencies/stakeholders, often required to present and defend complicated issues which have a wide-ranging impact on the BBC.
* Prior experience of holding senior finance director leadership roles in a matrix managed production or media businesses
* A demonstrated ability to exercise strong judgement from a business perspective to attain positive outcomes
* A professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
LIFE AT BBC STUDIOS
We don't focus simply on what we do - we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you've read about our values and behaviours here.
The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce, that represents the audiences we serve, and encourages applications from candidates from any background, especially people from diverse communities. Equity of opportunity is important to us, and we endeavour to make our processes equal, fair and meritocratic for everybody. More information on our D&I plan can be found here.
BBC Studios puts sustainability at the heart of everything we do both onscreen and offscreen, including delivering against the BBC Group's science-based Net Zero targets. More information on sustainability at BBC Studios can be found here.
As a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. If you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please contact us on reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
PACKAGE DESCRIPTION
Job Reference: 21189
Band: SL
Salary: £165,000 - £200,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience, plus bonus. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Contract type: 6-month FTC
Location: Office Base is London Television Centre. This is a hybrid role and the successful candidate will balance office working with home working.
WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM WORKING AT BBC STUDIOS?
* Flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance
* Parental leave for new parents, regardless of gender, of up to a year with 18 weeks fully paid
* 26 days holiday (plus an additional day which is a Corporation Day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
* A defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more
* A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
* Excellent career progression - access to courses, webinars, workshops and the opportunity to work in different areas of the organisation
NEXT STEPS
We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.
DISCLAIMER
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
WHY JOIN US
Commercial Group Finance Director FTC
Finance
Fixed Term - Full Time #J-18808-Ljbffr