Job Description

VP Finance

About the Finance Team:

Collectively’s Finance team believes in partnership and collaboration. We work closely with other departments in helping to achieve overall business success. We are proactive and service oriented. We share our knowledge and are interested in understanding and learning about the opportunities and challenges that both our teammates and clients face on a daily basis. We are committed to working efficiently, to providing timely and accurate information, and to offering the advice and finance expertise needed to achieve our financial goals.

We are hiring a VP Finance to join the Finance team. Our ideal candidate has 10 or more years of experience, advertising agency or PR agency experience strongly preferred. We are looking for an empathetic, highly organized leader who has led and transformed an ad agency finance department.

Responsibilities

Collectively’s VP of Finance will play a critical role in the finance reporting, strategic planning, operational excellence and overall financial health of the agency.

The role maintains two distinct but connected responsibilities: ongoing management of Collectively’s finance function and team, as well as oversight of the organization’s offshore accounting team. Working closely with the COO and CEO and with the support of a team, the VP of Finance will evolve and manage a solid operational foundation for planning, administration, and reporting. This role will also support and direct cross-functional collaboration, providing valuable perspective in a variety of projects and decisions.

Finance Leadership

• Own the agency P&L, balance sheet and cash flow forecasting; provide clear insights and recommendations to the executive team, focusing on analyzing and synthesizing key trends, highlights, and challenges.
• Develop financial forecasts for executive review on a regular basis, providing forward-looking insights and recommendations.
• Own and manage to all financial and reporting deadlines of Collectively’s parent company and act as a liaison to key members of that organization
• Direct and oversee the work of Collectively’s offshore accounting team to oversee month-end and quarter-end close, revenue recognition, AR/AP and WIP.
• Work with Production and Client Partnership team leadership to ensure accurate pipeline and project revenue forecasting
• Champion a culture of commercial awareness and financial accountability across the agency, helping non‑financial leaders understand drivers of profit and cash.
• Strengthen commercial management and support pricing, scope, and budget conversations as needed
• Partner closely with Client Partnerships, Production and HR leaders, and presenting to Executive‑level stakeholders
• Work with COO, CEO, and other executives to consider and implement new tools and systems to enhance financial reporting and operation effectiveness
• Ensure robust financial controls, policies, and compliance with accounting standards, financial laws and guidelines, tax and regulatory requirements, audits, and client procurement obligations
• Identify and build upon processes that support increased efficiency or greater financial clarity
• Oversee and manage Finance team members to support key finance responsibilities, including AP/AR and Client Accounting. This includes serving as a mentor and leader for junior Finance team members.
• Provide analysis and inputs into Collectively’s pricing models and support conversations with client side sourcing and procurement teams
• Maintain a strong perspective on Collectively’s values, principles, and culture to guide the team effectively

Skills & Attributes

• Highly organized and strong people leader, able to mentor and upskill a finance team while delegating effectively
• Clear, persuasive communicator who can translate financial insights into simple narratives and options for creative and client leaders.
• Expertise in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and management reporting, with excellent financial modeling skills.
• Strong command of accounting principles and revenue recognition for project/retainer‑based work; comfortable challenging assumptions and spotting risk.
• Commercially sharp: understands scopes, rates, utilization, fee structures, and how Collectively work turns into profit and cash.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and comfort operating in ambiguity as the agency grows or changes structure.
• At least 10 years experience working with marketing and/or advertising focused companies. Time working with PR, Influencer or adjacent agencies is very beneficial.

Key Performance Indicators

• Maintains exceptionally high fidelity financial processes and reports for Collectively
• Consistently brings value and insight to financial and operations discussions at a leadership and executive level
• Oversees key accounting, invoicing and bookkeeping functions so that they run smoothly and effectively
• Is considered a trusted partner to cross-functional team members during financial and operational collaborations
• Upholds Collectively’s leadership and management principles in leading Finance team members
• Exceptional communication, including in all-company settings (email, meetings, etc)
• Delivers on the goals and visions of Collectively’s Executive team

Pay

The pay range for this position is $200,000 – $235,000. Collectively takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.