Vice President - Finance, North America Risk & Controls

More about the role:

The Vice President of North America Risk and Controls is the primary business partner operating as a "bridge" between Burson and the internal and external auditors for the North America Region, and works to achieve the goals of:

• Driving continuous improvement in the Company's control environment through ownership and accountability for internal controls at all levels of the Company.
• Supporting the culture of control compliance and continuous controls improvement.
• Providing training and development as to "what good looks like" in relation to controls, supporting controls implementation and demonstrating the value of good controls throughout the Company.

This above includes advising the company on remediation solutions for identified control deficiencies identified and meeting WPP's requirement guidelines for Risk and Controls frameworks which includes internal controls over financial reporting (ICFR) and various accounting and control policies.

The role requires a proactive self-starter with exceptional communication skills, attention to detail, and an objective approach to learning and problem-solving.

What you'll do:

• Collaborate with team members to support the Global Head of Risk and Controls with local and global initiatives focused on the North Americas region.
• Identify risk areas and partner with local finance teams to design and implement controls aligned with WPP's Risk & Controls framework, ensuring readiness for upcoming audits.
• Work closely with regional and local finance teams to identify control gaps, establish improvement timelines, implement remediation plans and improve process documentation.
• Develop practical, sustainable solutions to strengthen the control environment.
• Continuously seek opportunities to enhance efficiency and deliver greater value across all activities.
• Support the rollout of new policies, assisting regional and local teams in adapting procedures to ensure compliance.
• Provide training and guidance to local finance teams on control requirements to help develop and maintain appropriate control documentation.
• Assist the Global Head of Risk and Controls and senior finance leaders in preparing communications for internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across the organization, including with the Network, WPP, and external auditors.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including Internal Audit, Finance, IT, Legal, and Business Integrity.
• Monitor audit schedules and track pending reports and outcomes.
• Respond to ad hoc requests from WPP Internal Audit and Risk and Controls teams.

Experience that contributes to success:

• 6-10+ years of accounting and auditing experience with the skills and experience to be able to identify control deficiencies and partner with local finance teams to develop a strong controls framework.
• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance; CPA/Chartered accountant a plus.
• Experience with IFRS, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, SEC, PCAOB requirements, etc.
• Public accounting audit experience a plus.
• Big 4 accounting firm managers experience a plus.
• Experience as an internal auditor in a regulated industry (e.g., banking) a plus.
• Experience with the PR industry a plus.
• In addition to English, proficiency in any other languages is a plus.
• Effective communicator with strong presentation, oral and written skills.
• Excellent organization skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, manage time, and work under pressure in an environment with constantly changing variables.
• Smart and patient, with a willingness to learn and assist at all levels.
• Unwavering ethics and dependability (a background check will be required).
• Builds strong partnerships. Can communicate diplomatically and skillfully; can settle issues calmly and win concessions without damaging relationships.
• Ability to work independently, troubleshoot, and collaborate with others both within the team and externally.
• Above average proficiency with Microsoft Suite.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Our careers page is designed to be accessible to everyone. If you need any specific accommodations during the application process, feel free to reach out to us at appaccommodations@bursonglobal.com. Please note that this email is for applicants needing special assistance, so we may not be able to reply to other inquiries.

Burson 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.

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