Client Finance Manager, Media

Description

Walton Isaacson, LLC’s (“WI”) Client Finance Manager, Media sits within Client Finance and is the bridge between Media and Client Finance. The role owns the financial lifecycle of every media buy, from authorization and actualization through client billing, vendor payment, and month-end close, and is accountable for the controls that keep it accurate, on time, and aligned with client agreements. This is a client-facing leadership role. The Client Finance Manager, Media partners directly with clients and their finance teams on billing, reconciliation, and reporting; works daily alongside Media, Account Management, and external partners; and is expected to anticipate issues, solve them at the source, and continuously improve how the process runs.

• Department: 9020 - Finance & Accounting
• Location: Culver City, CA - Hybrid (candidates must be able to work on-site Tuesday - Thursday [or additional days per the needs of the business] during designated work hours.)
• Reports To: Sr. Vice President, Client Finance
• Direct Reports: Yes
• Job Level: Manager
• FSLA Status: Salary, Exempt
• Employment Type: Regular Full-Time

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

•  Serve as the primary bridge between Media and Client  Finance, translating media plans, buys, and actualized spend into accurate client billing, forecasts, and financial reporting.
• Manage Media and Client Finance working cadence, resolving  open items, budget revisions, and discrepancies before they affect client  billing or vendor payment
• Act as a client-facing finance partner, presenting billing,  reconciliation, and variance information clearly to client marketing,  procurement, and finance stakeholders.
• Lead client conversations on billing questions, credits,  and disputes, and resolve them in partnership with Account Management.
• Validate all client-facing financial figures before they  are shared
• Translate client contract and billing requirements (MSAs,  IO terms, billing deadlines) into WI's billing process and controls.
• Manage timely and accurate client billing submissions in accordance with client requirements and contractual deadlines.
• Manage end-to-end vendor invoice reconciliation within Prisma/Mediaocean (or equivalent), ensuring timely approval, accurate coding, and proper transfer into Maconomy.
• Manage intercompany billing and ensure invoices and revenue recognition align with monthly financial close.
• Reconcile client reporting  submissions to billing and resolve discrepancies ahead of client billing  deadlines to protect revenue timing and cash flow.
• Act as the initial escalation point for reconciliation or billing delays that affect client relationships,  revenue timing, or working capital.
• Maintain the Media Billing,  Vendor Payment & Financial Controls Playbook and its operating tools:  month-end calendar, billing checklist, reconciliation templates, variance tracker, and exception log.
• Coordinate updates to client reporting to ensure all client reporting reflects actualized spending.
• Collaborate with Media and  Account Management to review budget-to-actual reports, identify discrepancies,  and confirm reconciled media spend.
• Actively manage invoice and billing aging (30/60/90+ days), including spend held before invoicing, and own the exception log through resolution.
• Run the media month-end close:  unbilled media, accrued vendor costs, open commitments, and forecast-to-actual variance, with reconciliations evidenced and reviewed.
• Integrate actualized spend and revised estimates into the forecast monthly, with clear timing, ownership,  approvals, and change tracking.
• Prepare/review monthly reconciliations of planned versus actual spend.
• Provide variance analysis and cash flow summaries to leadership monthly.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to track reconciliation status, aging, and exceptions by vendor, campaign, and client.
• Manage, coach, and develop the team supporting media billing and vendor payment, including cross-training to remove single points of failure.
• Identify and resolve problems end to end:  identify root causes, bring forward solutions, and drive them to resolution  rather than escalating without a recommendation.
• Anticipate risks to billing accuracy, cash flow, or client relationships and raise them early, with options.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with all teams involved to improve invoice accuracy and reduce discrepancies.
• Support and coordinate cross-functional process improvement initiatives to identify and adjust recurring blockers in reconciliation or invoice flow.
• Participate in cross-functional reviews on behalf of Client Finance with Media, Account Management, Finance  & Accounting, and external partners. 
• Maintain working knowledge of media planning and buying platforms.
• Utilize financial systems for coding, approvals, billing, and payment workflows.
• Work across the full system landscape, including Prisma/Mediaocean, Maconomy, Wrike, and any buys or billing packages managed outside these systems, and identify where manual work is bridging gaps.
• Support implementation of documentation tools and change management processes to ensure accurate tracking of budget revisions and media plan updates.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with WI’s standards of conduct.
• Duties may be modified or assigned at any time to meet the needs of the business.

Requirements

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum 5 to 7+ years of media finance experience in an agency environment, with a focus on billing, reconciliation, and month-end close.
• Deep understanding of media buying, planning, and billing cycles.
• Demonstrated client-facing experience partnering with client finance, procurement, or marketing teams.
• Experience owning accruals, unbilled and open-commitment reconciliations, and financial controls.
• Proven ability to lead a team and drive cross-functional change, with a proactive, solutions-oriented approach.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Ability to effectively operate within macOS and/or Windows environments and learn agency-specific systems.
• Proficient keyboarding and computer navigation skills sufficient to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position.
• Strong written and verbal business communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies, systems, and business processes.

Physical Demands

• Standing: 5% - 10%
• Sitting: 80% - 85%
• Reaching: 5% - 10%
• Lifting: 0% - 5%
• Bending: 0% - 5%
• Stooping: 0% - 5%
• Walking: 5% - 10%

Other Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, data entry, and operating office equipment.
• Ability to view computer screens for extended periods.
• Occasional light lifting of office materials (files, binders, laptop equipment up to 10 lbs.)
• May require travel for client and/or business needs.

The salary range for this position is $110,000.00 to $130,000.00 (annualized, salary, exempt). Where an employee or prospective employee falls within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual pay ranges for current or former employees in the subject position; the associated discipline; market and budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (for current employees); as well as the employee’s or applicant’s background, pertinent experience, and qualifications. 

At WI, we are committed to cultivating an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster DEI in our workplace and are a global community that believes our unique qualities should be celebrated. We want everyone at Walton Isaacson to bring their authentic selves to work every day, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Benefits Overview

• Medical: PPO, High-Deductible PPO, HMO (California Only)
• Dental: PPO, HMO (California Only)
• Vision
• Flex Spending Account ("FSA"/"DFSA"): Medical, Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account ("HSA"): For High Deductible PPO Medical Plan Only
• 401(K) Retirement Savings: 4% Company Match, Fully-Vested
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid Holidays: Up to 10 Days + Year-End Break
• Electronic Expense Reimbursement
• Gym Reimbursement
• ...& MANY MORE!