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Commercial Manager

Wunderman Thompson

Department: Finance

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Who we are:

At Wunderman Thompson we exist to inspire growth for ambitious brands. Part creative agency, part consultancy and part technology company, our experts provide end-to-end capabilities at a global scale to deliver inspiration across the entire brand and customer experience.

We are 20,000 strong in 90 markets around the world; our people bring together creative storytelling, diverse perspectives, inclusive thinking, and highly specialized vertical capabilities to drive growth for our clients. We offer deep expertise across the entire customer journey, including communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology.

You will be responsible for a wide range of data management, revenue, scopes, pricing & client savings. You will be required to create timely, sometimes complex, detailed analysis, clearly presented to enable the Directors to make strategic decisions.

You will be working with a range of WT agencies in SA, clients, communicating with staff at a variety of levels, including commercial teams at WPP.

You may also be involved in liaising directly with clients, particularly client procurement departments, and will make complex data simple, compelling, and easy to understand. You will be able to integrate data into a commercial storyline, under the supervision of the Directors.

Key responsibilities

Data management

  • Preparing, for example, sophisticated costing, pricing, and other commercial templates or files
  • Preparing commercial files that are advanced, analyzed, and ready to be shared internally or externally
  • Developing ad’hoc, flexible and smart templates that allow for changes and evolutions while keeping track of changes
  • Preparing and contextualizing commercial analyses or any other analyses required
  • Providing analyses, input, and interpretation of commercial or financial data in the context of Procurement category management initiatives or other commercial discussions

 

Client Engagement

  • Supporting with, for example, scoping, resourcing/staffing, and fee negotiations
  • Attending meetings with Procurement in a support capacity of the Directors
  • Increasing credibility of commercial negotiations by deriving insights from data-based analyses
  • Liaising and engaging with clients and procurement on coordination and day to day matters
  • Coordinating projects with client procurement

Profile

  • Attention to detail and a high level of accuracy is essential
  • Able to ‘digest’ and articulate insights and data outcomes clearly and simply
  • A good communicator who works well both independently and as part of a team
  • Collaborative and collegiate. Working together is best.
  • Calm under pressure
  • Good with people and at creating rapport in a virtual world
  • Understands the finance function, but is not only a “numbers” person

Skills

  • Strong analytical and technical skills
  • Excellent working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint
  • Industry knowledge and experience
  • Bachelors in a Business or related degree required
  • Client-facing – has some experience of liaising OR negotiating with clients
  • Experience in a commercial or client finance role desired
  • Understanding or some experience of contract management a plus

At Wunderman Thompson, we are committed to actively building a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued and heard, and is treated with dignity and respect.  As leaders and creative partners across industries, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment reflective of our greatest asset; our people. We believe that this commitment inspires growth and delivers equitable outcomes for everyone as well as the clients and communities we serve.

Wunderman Thompson is a WPP agency.  For more information, please visit our website and follow Wunderman Thompson on our social channels via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.  

Note: We rely on legitimate interest as a legal basis for processing personal information under the GDPR for purposes of recruitment and applications for employment.

When you click the "Submit Application" button below, this will send any information you add below to Wunderman Thompson. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

When you click the "Submit Application" button above, this will send any information you add below to Wunderman Thompson. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy. California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice. This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.