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At AKQA, we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients.

AKQA Group is seeking a Head of Finance for the Universal Design Studio, responsible for maintaining the financial health of both studios and increasing profitability. In this group role, you ensure regulatory compliance and oversee all accounting activities with your team.

You will craft financial strategies and forecast models to monitor the financial progress of both studios, ensuring you remain ahead of revenue gaps and financial concerns. You partner day‑to‑day with teams across the business, including close relationships with Project Leads, People, the leadership team and our CEO.

Open‑minded, thoughtful and inquisitive, you embody our studio values and engage passionately with every aspect of studio life and culture.

Role Requirements

Project Management

• Owning day‑to‑day activities of our finance function as the main point of contact for the business.
• Responsible for all group reporting to AKQA/WPP, including month‑end and additional quarterly and annual reporting requirements.
• Supporting pipeline and fee tracking activities by liaising with Project Leads and project teams.
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes and financial performance, while supporting the education of non‑financial staff.
• Leading and acting as point of contact during internal and external audits.
• Owning the annual statutory accounts and tax packs.
• Owning, with support from the CEO, the budgeting and re‑forecasting cycles.

Accounting

• Revenue recognition with support from Project Leads.
• Reviewing monthly management accounts and providing commentary on performance versus budget.
• Collating monthly board pack trading updates and including commentary on key KPIs.
• Approving costs in line with pre‑approvals and budgets, ensuring costs are correctly coded and project costs align with contractual agreements with clients.
• Setting up new clients (including DD, portal access and accounting system setup) and supporting the Accounts Payable team in setting up new vendors.
• External reporting and submissions including quarterly VAT returns, R&D tax relief and PSA.
• Providing ad‑hoc cash‑flow projection updates to the Group and CEO as required.
• Liaising with People and Payroll teams to approve monthly payroll and post payroll journals.

Contracts

• Coordinating client and sub‑contractor take‑on procedures end to end.
• Leading and coordinating drafting, evaluation, negotiation and execution of all client and subcontractor contracts, ensuring commercial rigor and maximizing value.
• Co‑ordinating with legal support, Project Leads and Directors to ensure contracts (NDAs, SOWs, framework contracts/MSAs, change orders and PO’s) are accurate.
• Acting as point of contact with insurers for any future insurance claims and annual renewals.

Culture and Team

• Managing the finance team, supporting junior members with training, and ensuring they follow best practices and processes.
• As a senior member of the team, actively leading the development and maintenance of studio culture.

QUALITIES & CHARACTERISTICS

• A positive and proactive attitude.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Proven planning and organisation skills, able to prioritise high‑volume workload.
• Willingness to question assumptions and take control of situations.

We believe great work happens when we’re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That’s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach that includes required in‑office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal‑opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.