FTC Commercial Manager

COMMERCIAL MANAGER

Full time FTC (12 months)

Bristol (BS8) based with regular travel

WHO ARE WE?

MISSION Group is a collective of specialist agencies delivering marketing, communications and digital services for Clients across the UK and internationally. The Group combines deep sector expertise with connected capabilities across brand, digital, customer engagement, sponsorship, media, social, technology and communications.

THE COMMERCIAL TEAM

The commercial team works closely with the Mongoose Group and MISSION PLC’s centralised accounting services, supporting the global business with day-to-day commercial decision-making, analysis and reporting and acting as a key link between the two.

THE ROLE

The Commercial Manager is responsible for maximising the commercial performance of Mongoose, ensuring client work is accurately scoped, effectively governed and profitable.

Working closely with the Managing Director, Group Commercial Director and teams across the agency, the role drives strong pricing, forecasting, margin performance and commercial discipline throughout the project lifecycle.

The role also supports Mongoose Group with monthly reporting, profitability analysis and consolidated Group performance, and suits a commercially astute individual who is confident challenging assumptions and embedding best practice.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with leaders to meet revenue, utilisation and margin targets and to fully support with key commercial decision making.

• Prepare revenue forecasts and budgets.

• Complete monthly and ad hoc internal reporting, ensuring that data is accurate and relevant to the stakeholder.

• Track performance and understand variances, flagging any risks and opportunities to ensure targeted margins are achieved and proactive actions are taken where targets are not met. Monitor profitability, challenge variances and drive action.

• Oversee accruals, deferrals and monthly reporting with MISSION Finance.

• Maintain pricing models and rate cards.

• Review and scrutinise commercial models created for pitches, proposals and tenders Fully support MSAs, tenders and contracts end to end.

• Monitor contractual obligations and ensure timely, accurate reporting.

• Ensure scopes, budgets and terms are realistic, profitable and resourced.

• Review utilisation and resource plans to improve margins.

• Coach teams on scoping, pricing and margin management ensuring consistent commercial process across the agency

• Build relationships with client procurement, finance and commercial teams.

• Manage and develop the Commercial Assistant.

• Lead the agency’s year-end external audit contact.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

You are a highly credible and commercially astute individual who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.

You will bring:

• Experience in a commercial, commercial finance or business-partnering role, ideally within a creative, marketing, events, or professional-services agency.

• Strong financial knowledge to fully support the agency with preparation of budgets and forecasts, ensuring accurate revenue recognition and targeted profitability, margins and utilisation are realised.

• Ability to review and challenge scopes, budgets and resource plans to ensure work is profitable and deliverable.

• Experience supporting new-business pitches, contract negotiations, client commercial proposals and key commercial risk.

• Strong analytical and Excel skills, with the ability to turn financial information into clear, practical recommendations.

• Confident stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence and constructively challenge senior leaders and agency teams.

• Commercially minded, collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-paced, project-led environment.

• Part-qualified or qualified accountant status—such as CIMA, ACCA or ACA—is advantageous but not necessarily essential where there is strong relevant experience.

AND IN RETURN…

This is a great opportunity to join a progressive business. You will have autonomy to get the job done, with as much support as you need, when you need it.

• Generous Holiday Allowance – Start with 25 days of annual leave (plus Bank Holidays) and watch it grow to 29 days after just 2 years with us.

• Future-Proof Pension – Enjoy peace of mind with our company pension scheme, boosted by enhanced employer contributions after your first year.

• Health & Wellbeing Support – Access our Medical Cash Plan with contributions towards dental, optical, physio and more, plus an employee assistance programme.

• Drive the Future – Take advantage of our Electric Car Purchase Scheme via salary sacrifice.

• Exclusive Discounts – Unlock a huge range of savings on shopping, gyms, travel and more with our Employee Discount Platform.

• Travel Perks – Benefit from a UTC Travel membership.

• Learn & Grow – Outstanding training and career progression opportunities, with access to LinkedIn Learning and The Mission Group’s LMS.

• Own a Piece of the Mission – Join our Share Purchase Scheme and invest in our collective success.

• Work Hard, Play Hard – Enjoy regular staff socials and team events.

• Festive Bonus Time – Company-wide Christmas closure (just 4 days taken from annual leave).

• Stay Active – Save money and stay fit with our Cycle to Work Scheme

We believe that diversity of thought, background and experience makes us stronger. We are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, neurodiversity, or socioeconomic background, feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed (Level 1) Employer. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we have committed to: ensure our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible, communicate and promote vacancies, and offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria.

We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We’re working to ensure equity is at the heart of everything we do, from recruitment and progression to how we support and celebrate our people every day.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know, we will do everything we can to support you.

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