Associate Director, Client Operations

About Spark Foundry

Spark Foundry is a global media agency that exists to bring HEAT – Higher Engagement, Affinity, and Transactions – to brands. By combining flawless media fundamentals with aggressive innovation, Spark inspires consumers to pay more attention, to care more about our clients’ brands, and to buy more products and services from them.

Balancing the nimble spirit of a startup with the powerhouse soul of Publicis Media, Spark Foundry delivers the best of both worlds to a client roster that spans some of the world’s best and most beloved brands and companies. We combine boutique-caliber insights and service with the buying clout and first-look access of a global leader, bringing the heat to challenger brands that want to act like giants, and to giant brands that want to act like challengers.

With a bottom-up culture that celebrates diversity and aims for all voices to be heard, Spark has become a magnet for the industry’s best talent, with one of the best retention rates in the industry. And by applying a whole-person approach to professional and personal development, Spark develops a workforce that is well prepared for today’s challenges, and also poised to create meaningful careers in the years to come.

Because we know that heat arises the intersection of complementary forces, our professionals come from myriad disciplines and backgrounds: data, analytics, and insights, content and creative production, communications and strategy, finance and marketing, and sociology, psychology, and other liberal arts disciplines.

Job Description

Overview

The Associate Director, Operations is an integral role within the Spark Foundry team, responsible for monitoring and building internal operational processes throughout the account. The Associate Director, Operations will also be responsible for monitoring and enhancing a reporting tool used heavily throughout the account. Data integrity is of upmost importance, so a keen eye for detail and forward thinking are key attributes required for this position.

Role Objectives:Work alongside the planning, investment, operations, finance, and reconciliation teams to execute the end-to-end financial management process inclusive of budget authorization, client billing, supplier invoice reconciliation and payment, and compliance with internal/external audit requirementsPartner with Finance and Procurement teams to deliver financial reporting and tracking (e.g. monthly analysis of planned vs. actual spend, delivery reporting, etc.)Manage the tools, systems, and process that enable sound financial operations including planning/investment team support and trainingBuild strong relationships with internal stakeholders and groups, facilitating synergy between the planning and activation functions that manage day-to-day client businessBuild and develop relationships with client business directors and brand teams, ensuring that client and overall data proposition is relevant and aligns with strategy directionDrive a culture of always-on, data-driven decision making that will institutionalize the use of consumer-driven analytics in media and marketing investment planningGrow product delivery and agency revenue organically by cross-selling and up-selling value-add analytical products across client divisions, markets & categoriesScope and direct advanced analytics projects to ensure that the deliverables are designed to answer valuable client and media team questions, and that timelines and scope are adhered to

Qualifications

The candidate must have 4-5 years of experience consulting with clients on making strategic investment decisions to improve business resultsStrong Analytical skills with a foundation in strategic business managementExperience implementing a practical and redundant set of double-checks and balances team-wide to consistently strive for flawless execution in all operational areasExtensive experience using MediaTools and ExcelStrong critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills; demonstrated ability to identify actionable insightsSolid communication skills, able to write clearly, speak professionally, and convey complex technical concepts to a non-technical audienceProven history of meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environmentHands-on problem solving abilities and a “can do” approach (someone who is a both a thinker and a doer)

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role, requiring three days in-office each week. If you are contacted for an interview, your recruiter will discuss specifics with you, inclusive of any necessary reasonable accommodations.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding processspecifically, please contacthrcompliance_usms@publicis.com.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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