Client Finance Manager

Overview

Walton Isaacson, LLC's ("WI") Client Finance Manager role is an essential contributor to the success of the agency's financial operations. This role provides financial partnership and accountability support to account teams and production departments, ensuring sound fiscal management, accurate labor tracking, and strong budget-to-actual discipline. The individual in this role must be highly analytical, collaborative, and results oriented.

• Department: Finance & Accounting
• Location: Culver City, CA - Hybrid (Candidates must be able to work on-site 3 [or more per the needs of the business] days per week during designated work hours.)
• Reports To: Sr. Director, Client Finance
• Direct Reports: N/A
• Job Level: Individual Contributor
• FSLA Status: Salary, Exempt
• Employment Type: Regular, Full-Time

Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary financial partner to assigned account teams, providing insights and support related to client scopes, budgets, and staffing plans.
• Schedule and lead monthly financial reviews for assigned accounts, including reporting on revenue, time tracking, billing status, and financial performance.
• Prepare detailed analyses of labor tracking data and variances between actual spending and budgeted allocations.
• Manage the fee component of client scopes to ensure alignment between service delivery, staffing assumptions, and compensation.
• Monitor client budgets, including labor, production, and out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses.
• Forecast revenue and billings in partnership with the broader Finance and Accounting team.
• Maintain integrity across all financial reporting systems and ensure compliance with internal controls and client financial requirements.
• Manage the accounts receivable process, monitor aging reports, and escalate issues to senior leadership as needed.
• Oversee monthly reconciliations, job closeouts, and preparation of billing summaries and profitability reports.
• Support compliance with time entry expectations across departments.
• Assist with month-end close activities, including journal entries and reconciliations.
• Participate in internal and external audit processes as required
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with WI's standards of conduct.
• Duties may be modified or assigned at any time to meet the needs of the business.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5 to 10+ years of progressive experience in client finance, financial planning and analysis, or a related role, preferably within a marketing, advertising, or professional services firm.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including use of pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and advanced formulas.
• Familiarity with enterprise financial systems; experience with Deltek Maconomy is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining accuracy and timeliness.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing financial data and developing insights to guide business decisions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of client master services agreements (MSAs) and statements of work (SOWs).
• Experience managing fee-based scopes and understanding the alignment between fees and labor plans.
• Prior responsibility for labor tracking systems or time entry compliance.

Physical Demands

• Standing: 5% - 10%
• Sitting: 85% - 90%
• Reaching: 5% - 10%
• Lifting: 0% - 5%
• Bending: 0% - 5%
• Stooping: 0% - 5%
• Walking: 5% - 10%

Other Physical Requirements

• Ability to occasionally travel by car to an assigned WI office or approved remote workspace.
• Travel may be required to WI headquarters (Culver City, CA) or other out-of-state locations; this is expected to be infrequent and based on business need.
• Must be able to stand, sit, stoop, bend, reach, walk, and lift.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 pounds.
• Frequent use of a keyboard and computer monitor throughout the workday.

The salary range for this position is $110,000.00 to $130, annualized, salary, exempt). Where an employee or prospective employee falls within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual pay ranges for current or former employees in the subject position; the associated discipline; market and budgetary considerations; tenure and standing with the company (for current employees); as well as the employee's or applicant's background, pertinent experience, and qualifications.
At WI, we are committed to cultivating an environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We foster DEI in our workplace and are a global community that believes our unique qualities should be celebrated. We want everyone at Walton Isaacson to bring their authentic selves to work every day, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Benefits Overview

• Medical: PPO, High-Deductible PPO, HMO (California Only)
• Dental: PPO, HMO (California Only)
• Vision
• Flex Spending Account ("FSA"/"DFSA"): Medical, Dependent Care
• Health Savings Account ("HSA"): For High Deductible PPO Medical Plan Only
• 401(K) Retirement Savings: 4% Company Match, Fully-Vested
• Flexible Time Off Policy
• Paid Holidays: Up to 10 Days + Year-End Break
• Electronic Expense Reimbursement
• Gym Reimbursement
• ...& MANY MORE