Client Budget Analyst

The role of a Client Budget Analyst is integral to the smooth operation of Havas client accounts. This position demands precision, analytical skills, financial acumen, and a proactive approach to managing the financial aspects of clients’ media campaigns. As a Client Budget Analyst, you'll be responsible for ensuring that our client's media plan-to-pay journey is accurately budgeted, forecasted, tracked, and reconciled. Providing vital support to the client directly and to Havas' internal media planning and buying teams. Your role will be a bridge connecting various stakeholders, ensuring clarity and efficiency in the Client's budget management.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• 15% - Track client media budget purchase orders (POs) and authorizations (MAF/SOW)
• 40% - Manage and quality-assure client PO/MAF/authorizations against media placements
• 20% - Manage and track client invoicing against client PO budgets and authorizations, and QA planning tool actualization updates.
• 10% - Lead monthly client budget meetings with client brand leads in collaboration with the Havas media planning lead
• 5% - Collaborate with the media control, commercial, FP&A, and AR/Collection teams to ensure smooth monthly financial closing
• 5% - Collaborate among biddable and investment teams to resolve buy entry issues
• 5% - Support internal and client audit needs and ad hoc reporting requirements on a monthly, quarterly, or biannual basis

Specific Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Client Brand and internal Havas planning leads to identify media activities for billing, from planned budgets to final reconciliation
• Develop client-specific Budget that reconciles the client's authorized spend against media flowcharts and internal media buying & financial systems
• Understand the media flowchart and liaise with the media control and planning team to reconcile media placement against the client budget
• Use Mediaocean systems to pull and review relevant reports (financial summaries, client activity reports, insertion order summaries, estimate log reports) to ensure all media activity is accounted for; follow up with the activation team where necessary
• Establish timelines related to billing and media budget/flowchart reconciliation
• Work with various teams to support processes, resolve billing issues, and maintain consistent communication with the Account and Media teams on budget status updates
• Ensure media campaign actualization and billing timelines are met, and proactively raise any potential delay concerns
• Support, audit, and enforce new process rollouts across all team members, troubleshoot common issues, and serve as an escalation point for blockers
• Coordinate unclear campaigns with media control and the investment team to ensure timely supplier invoice clearance, compliance, and payment to media partners
• Facilitate communication between activation and the client finance team to ensure timely reconciliation in compliance with company policies and contractual obligations
• Clarify any budget discrepancies with the Client Brand Team and/or Media Buyers/Planning Leads
• Prepare client billing and budget package, including cover memo and required supporting documents and reports
• Collaborate with the commercial and FP&A team to deliver accrual/deferral requirements
• Manage billed vs. unbilled reports, revenue postings, and accruals across clients.
• Prevent errors and review deferrals and accruals by reviewing billing before issuing it to clients
• Review commission structures based on SOW/MSA and ensure compliance & accuracy
• Work closely with the Commercial Lead and Billing Specialist to verify commission structures
• Monitor client master billing and miscellaneous reports to ensure accurate commission postings and accruals for the commercial team and month-end reporting
• Monitor production system “open job” reports of estimate and reconciliation billing (where applicable)
• Support internal and external audit needs
• Flag and escalate any audit and budget management concerns to the managing partner
• Act as the central point of contact for clients for all items mentioned above

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications Required:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in media/finance at a large media agency
• College Degree in Finance or Marketing required, or equivalent work experience
• Preference for candidates with knowledge of Digital, Broadcast, and Print media
• Strong analytical, project management, and Excel skills are required, along with the ability to discuss financial concepts
• Interpret financial terms in layman's terms to clients and internal key stakeholders
• Previous knowledge of standard media billing processes and the media industry is preferred
• Understanding of media planning fundamentals, including buying approaches and metrics such as GRPs, CPMs, impressions, etc.
• Ability to analyze how clients obtained numbers and produce clear backup documentation that can be understood quickly by others
• Ability to maintain calm and professional behavior at all times, including on the phone, email, in person, and in virtual meetings (Teams/Zoom)
• Ability to identify ways to improve budget reporting, tracking, and processes
• Ability to establish trust, good working relationships, and understanding with various teams and clients to ensure flawless execution
• Quality Control: Must be able to identify errors in your own and others' work

Key Competencies:

• Resourceful and proactive
• Exhibits a strong business work ethic and client orientation
• Possesses strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Quick learner and effective team player
• Motivated and ready to begin
• A problem-solver who approaches challenges with a constructive attitude.
• Capable of working independently; entrepreneurial, yet values collaboration for effective teamwork and ideas
• Enjoys resolving complex problems and views numbers as an interesting challenge, particularly when working with a supportive team

Additional Information

This role represents an active vacancy at Havas. You will be joining a collaborative, growth-oriented environment where ideas are encouraged and career development is supported. The base salary range for this position is CAD $50,000 to $80,000, with final compensation determined based on factors such as work location, skills, experience, and background. Havas uses artificial intelligence-enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made by our recruiting and hiring teams.