Join to apply for the Commercial WIP Manager role at Ogilvy UK

3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Join to apply for the Commercial WIP Manager role at Ogilvy UK

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.

Department: Finance

Location: London - hybrid working

Contract Type: Fixed-Term (12 months)

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time 35 hours per week

About Ogilvy

Our vision is to inspire brands and people to impact the world. To create big ideas that make a significant contribution to the planet, society, and the bottom line. We believe in today’s world this is the best way for our clients to achieve sustainable growth. We achieve this by breaking down the barriers that restrict talent and ideas.

Which is why our teams work fluidly across 5 capabilities: Advertising, Consulting, Experience, PR & Influencer, and Health. This allows us to not only operate but innovate at the intersection of capabilities and talent. We believe impact and magic lies at this intersection. Ogilvy scales this by seamlessly connecting and accessing the deep cultural expertise of 132 offices in 83 countries.

The result is multifaceted ideas for our clients that drive impact and are born from the intersection of platform x culture x technology. We call this Borderless Creativity.

Ogilvy was ranked the number one UK agency at D&AD and was the only UK agency to win a Glass Lions at Cannes. Ogilvy was also nominated network of the year in Cannes Lions, Campaign, Effie Awards EMEA, London International Awards, The One Show and WARC Rankings.

About The Role

Are you our next Commercial WIP Manager? This isn't just a billing role; it's a dynamic position at the heart of our Commercial Finance team, where you'll act as the gatekeeper of our client jobs from inception to closure. You'll be instrumental in ensuring best commercial practice across a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from large annual accounts (up to £1-2 million in value) to smaller, project-based work.

You'll join a close-knit, supportive Commercial Finance team that prides itself on looking out for each other, and tackling challenges collaboratively. We've recently transitioned to Workday, so you'll be joining peers who are on the same journey, actively contributing to process improvements and problem-solving in a fast-paced agency environment. This 12-month fixed-term contract offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact, refine processes, and build strong relationships across the business.

What You’ll Do

Responsibilities

As a Commercial WIP Manager, you will be responsible for the billing and Work In Progress (WIP) management for a portfolio of clients. Your typical day will involve:

• Job Lifecycle Management: Overseeing the entire job lifecycle, from opening and setup (ensuring adherence to Commercial Control guidelines and documentation) to timely closing.
• Client & Team Collaboration: Regularly meeting with client teams to review open jobs, explaining financial processes, and ensuring timely billing in line with client and internal procedures. You'll be a key liaison, not just a back-office function.
• Financial Control & Reporting: Preparing reports on time value vs. fee invoiced, reviewing open Purchase Orders, managing Credit Notes, and advising Senior Commercial Accountants on process adherence.
• Net Working Capital (NWC) Management: Proactively reviewing WIP to resolve issues and escalate concerns, helping to avoid NWC provisions and liaising with Debtors to resolve issues.
• Compliance & Audit: Ensuring compliance with ICFR regulations, assisting with internal and client audits, and adhering to all internal procedures and policies, including the Purchase Order policy.
• System Utilisation: Utilising Workday for client setup, master data management, WIP allocation, and running ad-hoc reports for brand teams. You'll also play a role in ensuring best practice use of Workday and potentially assisting in training new client team joiners.
• Problem Solving: Actively getting stuck in to solve challenges and bottlenecks, contributing to a more efficient and effective finance operation.
  
  

• Experience: Preferred experience in a media or service-oriented business with a strong commercial focus. Familiarity with Billing, WIP, and Net Working Capital management is essential.
• System Proficiency: Experience with Workday is highly desirable. Strong Excel skills (sumifs, vlookups, etc.) are a must.
• Mindset: You'll be an agile, fast learner who is proactive, self-motivated, open-minded, and ready to roll up your sleeves and learn. A desire to identify and improve processes is key.
• Communication & Collaboration: Confident and enthusiastic communicator (written and verbal) with proven stakeholder management skills. You'll thrive on building close working relationships with SCAs, CAs, other WIP Managers, and agency client teams.
• Organisation: Excellent organisation and attention to detail, with strong time management skills to handle multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Problem-Solving: A natural inclination to identify and solve challenges, contributing to a dynamic and evolving environment.
  
  

• 25 days annual leave + 1 Volunteer Day, plus, the option to purchase up to 5 additional days leave each year
• Bupa Healthcare
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm
• A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure
• Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance
  
  

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Industries

  Software Development

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Ogilvy UK by 2x

Sign in to set job alerts for “Commercial Manager” roles.

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago

Greater London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

Commercial Manager, International Home Entertainment

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago

Commercial Manager, EMEA - Beauty / Luxury - UK870261/LI

Surbiton, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 4 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 6 days ago

Stratford, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Hackney, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

Business Manager to Co-Chief Commercial Officer

Woking, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago

Greater London, England, United Kingdom 2 months ago

Business Development Manager – Food & Drink Industry

London, England, United Kingdom 2 days ago

Greenford, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

London, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.