Finance Manager/Head of reporting

Summary

Assist Director Finance on financial operations, governance, and reporting for the Sri Lanka market, ensuring compliance with WPP frameworks, statutory requirements, and APAC reporting cycles.

The role partners closely with business teams and senior leadership, providing strategic/operational financial insights, enhancing commercial discipline, and improving operational efficiency across the organisation. Head finance team  & provide direction on finance operations. 

Key Accountabilities

Financial Reporting & Control

• Lead month end close, including journal approvals, reconciliations, schedules, and financial controls.
• Maintain strict compliance with WPP financial governance, policies, and internal control frameworks.
• Manage and respond to Internal/External Audit queries, providing evidence, corrective actions, and remediation tracking.
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency across all financial submissions.
• Assist Director Finance on managing working capital.

Commercial & Operational Finance

• Overlook vendor invoice validation process and client invoicing process including credit notes, purchase orders for operational expenditures.
• Strengthen commercial governance by ensuring proper pricing, contract compliance, cost discipline, and margin protection.
• Support commercial teams with financial evaluation, profitability analysis, and deal modelling.
• Improve operational efficiency through financial insight, process optimisation, and risk mitigation.

Taxation & Statutory Compliance

• Oversee statutory filings, tax submissions, documentation reviews, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide consultancy to internal teams in all tax matters and, act as the liaison between internal teams, auditors, tax authorities, and external consultants where required.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure timely adherence to new compliance requirements.

Regional Reporting & APAC Cycle Management

• Manage Budgets, Forecasts, Net Sales Tracking, and APAC reporting cycles with accuracy and timeliness.
• Coordinate with APAC Finance teams and regional reporting heads to resolve queries and ensure alignment.
• Provide insightful commentary on variances, risks, and opportunities.

Vendor Due Diligence & Intermediary Governance

• Oversee the due diligence process for all vendors including influencers, digital partners, intermediaries, and vendors under Global compliance requirements.
• Ensure full documentation, financial checks, risk assessments, and compliance approvals are completed before onboarding.
• Maintain an up to date due diligence repository for audits and governance reviews.

Strategic Partnering & Business Advisory 

• Act as the trusted business advisor to business teams, providing strategic/operational insights, scenario analyses, and commercial support.
• Translate financial data into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Influence operational decisions through data driven advice, risk assessment, and performance insights.
• Provide proactive guidance to strengthen profitability, cash flow discipline, and ROI across initiatives.

Strategic Financial Planning

• Lead forecasting, budgeting, and long-term planning processes with cross-functional alignment.
• Prepare strategic insights for senior leadership, highlighting trends, opportunities, and risks.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary finance team, providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback.
• Support succession planning, upskilling initiatives, and capability development.
• Foster a high performance culture rooted in accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.

Skills & Competencies

Functional Competencies

• Financial reporting (IFRS), management accounting, audit readiness
• Tax compliance & statutory knowledge
• Forecasting, budgeting, planning & analysis
• ERP systems, SAP/BFC, tools expertise
• Internal controls & risk management

Leadership Competencies

• Thought leadership and strategic advisory capability
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Effective communication and commercial storytelling
• People leadership and coaching

WPP Behavioural Competencies

• Collaboration across regions and functions
• Compliance and ethics mindset
• Continuous improvement and simplification

Scope & Impact

• Financial responsibility for the Sri Lanka operations including revenue, cost, statutory, and vendor spend oversight.
• Direct leadership impact on finance team performance and capability growth.
• Operational influence across commercial, operational and finance teams.
• Material contribution to business performance, compliance posture, and audit outcomes.

Key Stakeholders

• Market leadership (Managing Director, FD), commercial teams, HR, operations, APAC Fnance teams, Internal Audit
• External: Auditors, Tax Authorities, Banks, Vendors