Finance Manager – Transformation

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. We work with the world's most valuable brands and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise. Our people are the key to our success. We're committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow. For more information, visit WPP.com. Why we're hiring: What you'll be doing: Transformation Financial Management & Analysis: • Track and manage financial performance across WPP ET Media Transformation programmes and the Worldwide IT function, including budgets, forecasts, actuals, and variances • Support Programme, PMO, and WPP Media Finance teams with financial insight, identifying risks, trends, and cost pressures • Ensure clear linkage between approved business cases, funding decisions, and actual spend • Support monthly actualisation of costs, quarterly reforecasting and annual budget cycles, ensuring transformation financials are accurate and timely • Assist with investment, savings, and benefits tracking for approved Transformation initiatives Reporting & Governance • Prepare regular financial reporting and analysis for Media S&T Business Operations, WPP ET and WPP Media Finance, and senior stakeholders • Ensure financial information presented to portfolio and governance forums is clear, consistent, and evidence‑based • Maintain strong audit trails for assumptions, changes, approvals, and financial movements • Support adherence to WPP and ET financial governance, controls, and policies Business Operations & Finance Support • Partner with Finance, PMO, Programme Managers, and Procurement to resolve data issues and improve transparency • Support vendor‑related financial activities including spend analysis, accrual visibility, and invoice tracking • Contribute to continuous improvement of financial models, templates, and trackers used across Media S&T • Provide broader Finance and Business Operations support during peak planning and reporting cycles Important Role Clarification • This is an individual contributor role with no direct line‑management responsibility • The “Manager” title (Chennai) reflects scope of financial accountability and judgement, not people management • Career level, expectations, and progression opportunities are consistent across all locations What you'll need: Essential • Qualified or recently qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) • Strong grounding in financial analysis, management accounting, budgeting, and forecasting • High attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities • Strong Excel and Powerpoint skills; confidence working with complex financial data sets • Excellent verbal and written communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills • Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance stakeholders - able to articulate or convey complex data well • Quick to learn, with the ability to reshape, reconfigure and realign solutions to meet challenging deadlines without jeopardising the successful delivery of the team’s objectives Desirable • Exposure to project, programme, or transformation finance • Experience in technology, media, professional services, or large matrix organisations • Familiarity with financial planning and reporting tools (e.g. Adaptive or similar) Who you are: You're open : We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partn…