Senior Staff Accountant

About Ogilvy

Ogilvy has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across over 120 offices in nearly 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP). For more information, visit Ogilvy.com, and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.

• Department: Enablement
• Location : London, Sea Containers
• Reporting to: Manager of the Staff Costs Team
• Contact type : 12 month FTC 
• Full Time: 35 hours per week

About The Role

We are seeking a Senior Staff Accountant to join our Financial Reporting Team, specifically within the Staff Costs Team. This critical role reports directly to the Manager of the Staff Costs Team, acting as a key support in ensuring stable and reliable financial reporting.

You will be responsible for the comprehensive staff cost reporting and forecasting for Ogilvy UK. This includes providing crucial insights into staff cost calculations and their impact on client profitability, serving as a vital link between finance and our commercial teams. You will also contribute to driving process improvements and maintaining strong financial controls.

What You’Ll Do

• Staff Cost Management: Oversee the staff costs P&L for Ogilvy UK, including actuals and detailed monthly forecasts.
• Reporting & Compliance: Prepare timely staff cost information and headcounts for WPP reporting, ensuring accuracy, compliance with guidelines, and reconciliation with Workday data. This includes pre-commit payroll reviews for multiple entities and quarterly CSR summaries.
• Financial Analysis & Forecasting: Develop detailed staff cost forecasts, collaborating with Talent Acquisition on open positions, and proactively identifying areas for cost efficiency.
• Balance Sheet & Allocations: Manage balance sheet reconciliations and ensure accurate inter-company recharges based on timesheet data.
• Stakeholder Communication: Provide accurate, timely, and reliable financial information to budget holders, department heads, and commercial teams to support strategic decision-making.
• Team Leadership & Support: Act as a key resource for the staff costs team, providing cover for the Manager, driving best practices, and assisting with process improvements and system implementations (e.g., new ERP).

What You'Ll Need

• Professional Qualification: An experienced part-qualified or qualified accountant.
• Financial Acumen: Strong understanding of Profit & Loss accounts, Balance Sheets, and journal postings.
• Staff Cost Expertise: Proven experience in reporting employee headcounts and associated costs, recognizing their impact on profitability.
• Data Proficiency: Excellent Excel and data manipulation skills are essential. Experience with PowerQuery/Power BI is highly desirable.
• Analytical & Proactive: Strong attention to detail, commercial awareness, and a proactive approach to identifying and implementing process and cost improvements.
• Organisational Skills: Highly organised, capable of managing multiple tasks and meeting tight deadlines.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave + 1 volunteer day 
• Bupa Healthcare from day one 
• Enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave
• We have a Flexible Working Model with core working hours: 10am – 4pm
• A 1.5:1 Matching Pension Structure
• Wellbeing and Health: Up to £25.00 per month towards physical or online exercise class membership, Unmind membership, LifeWorks tool and annual eye tests and development budgets and Wellbeing incentives and activities throughout the year 
• Season Ticket Loan and Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance

At Ogilvy, our people are at the heart of what we do: a creative agency that sparks game-changing ideas across culture and business through collaboration, integrity, and a celebration of self-expression. 

We believe in building powerful teams with purpose - and we relentlessly curate transformative initiatives that make our commitment to fairness, and equity a reality. 

Our ultimate mission is to leave a positive impact on the world, creating a better future for all, while supporting and uplifting the global communities we serve.  This is central to our mantra of Borderless Creativity.

Ogilvy 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.

If you need any assistance seeking a job opportunity, or if you need reasonable accommodation with the application process, please contact us at accommodations@ogilvy.com. Please note that this contact is only for candidates who are requesting accommodation. Emails for other purposes, including application status requests, will not receive a response.