Finance Business Partner - Property

Why we're hiring:

As a Finance Business Partner, you'll play a vital role in shaping the financial future of WPP's global headquarters. Collaborating closely with the Global Director of Real Estate and the HQ Property team, you'll provide strategic financial leadership across our entire property portfolio, encompassing both operating expenses and capital expenditures. You'll be a trusted advisor, offering insights and guidance on budget management, forecasting, and robust financial reporting. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the exciting transformation of our campuses into vibrant HQ locations, navigating the evolving financial landscape and driving impactful decisions.

What you'll be doing:

Stewarding WPP's Global Real Estate Investment:

• Portfolio Oversight: Manage a substantial and growing property portfolio, currently with ~$150M in operating expenses and ~$70M in global capital expenditures. As we integrate our campuses into global HQ locations, you'll see this portfolio grow to ~$600M in operating expenses, offering significant career development and exposure to complex financial management.
• Financial Planning & Analysis: Drive the financial planning cycle for our HQ property portfolio, developing annual budgets and quarterly forecasts that align with WPP's strategic objectives. Your insightful analysis of key performance indicators, variances, and trends will inform critical business decisions.
• Financial Control & Compliance: Ensure the accuracy and integrity of our financial records by overseeing property-related transactions, including accounting entries, intercompany transactions, and reconciliations. You'll be a champion for strong financial controls and compliance with accounting standards.

Shaping Strategic Real Estate Decisions:

• Trusted Advisor: Partner with the Global Director of Real Estate and the HQ Property team, providing strategic financial guidance on all property-related matters. Your expertise will shape key decisions related to acquisitions, disposals, lease negotiations, and other strategic initiatives.
• Value Creation & Cost Optimisation: Identify and implement initiatives to optimize costs and maximize the value of our global HQ property portfolio. You'll leverage data analysis, process improvement, and industry best practices to drive efficiency and achieve significant cost savings.
• Relationship Management: Build strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including regional property teams, finance shared services, and external vendors. Your ability to effectively communicate and influence will be essential to your success.

Leading the Campus Transformation:

• Integration & Standardisation: Play a pivotal role in the exciting transformation of our campuses into vibrant HQ locations. You'll lead the financial integration of these campuses, ensuring a seamless transition of budgets, reporting, and accounting processes. Your efforts will drive standardization and efficiency across our global real estate footprint.

What you'll need:

• Financial Acumen in Real Estate: A solid understanding of property finance principles, including lease accounting, capital expenditure management, and property valuation. Experience navigating the financial complexities of a real estate portfolio is desirable but not essential.
• Collaborative Business Partnering: Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, provide insightful financial guidance, and influence key decisions. We seek candidates who thrive in collaborative environments and can effectively communicate financial information to diverse audiences.
• Financial Planning and Analysis Expertise: Strong financial management and control skills, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and accounting. A meticulous approach to financial data and a commitment to accuracy are essential.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities: Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends, analyse data, and develop effective solutions. We value innovative thinking and a data-driven approach.
• Effective Communication Skills: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex financial information clearly and concisely to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Tech Proficiency: Proficiency with financial systems and tools, including ERP systems, budgeting software, and data analytics platforms. We appreciate candidates who embrace technology to enhance efficiency and drive insights.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is preferred. We also welcome candidates with equivalent practical experience and demonstrated success in similar roles.
• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent) or an MBA is a plus.
• We are looking for candidates with experience in property finance, commercial finance, or a related field, with a demonstrated ability to build strong business partnerships.

Who you are:

You're open: We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are accepting: of new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We promote a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

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