Client Finance Manager (Chicago, Denver, New York

Motive is a dynamic agency and creative community operating at the speed of culture. We’re a collective of deep thinkers, creative makers, cultural connoisseurs, and executional aces. We create meaningful engagements between brands and their audiences, cultivating relationships that drive tangible results for our clients. And we do it with sharp strategy and powerful creative executed across all the media and touch-points key to our targets’ lives.

As pioneers in the area of content, digital engagement, and innovative experiential programs, and award winners for work in TV, event, digital and social, Motive has created a culture where every individual is given an opportunity to stretch and flex their creative and executional muscles daily. We are a team of hard-working, fast-moving, energetic, passionate, driven, straight-talking creative thinkers. We like being challenged and we love the collaboration necessary to overcome the challenges and succeed.

If this sounds like a place you would thrive, let’s see if we can make something happen.

Great creative work deserves great financial stewardship.

At Motive, our Client Finance team sits at the intersection of creativity, client service, and business strategy. As a Client Finance Manager, you'll partner closely with our Account, Production, and Leadership teams to ensure our work is financially healthy from project kickoff through final billing.

You’ll serve as the financial lead for a portfolio of client business; guiding budgets, forecasting revenue, monitoring project profitability, supporting resource planning, and ensuring accurate client billing. You’ll help our teams make smarter business decisions while giving them the financial visibility they need to deliver exceptional work for our clients.

This isn’t a traditional accounting role. It's a highly collaborative position for someone who enjoys translating numbers into insights, partnering with cross-functional teams, and helping drive better business outcomes.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you’ll play a key role in strengthening financial discipline across the agency while supporting the entrepreneurial culture that defines Motive.

• Serve as the primary finance partner for an assigned portfolio of client accounts.
• Partner with Account Directors, Producers, and project teams to establish, monitor, and manage project budgets.
• Monitor project financial performance, identifying risks, opportunities, and margin trends throughout the lifecycle of work.
• Provide proactive recommendations to improve profitability and financial outcomes.
• Support financial planning for new projects, change orders, and client scopes.

• Prepare ongoing revenue forecasts for assigned accounts.
• Monitor project burn rates, utilization, and revenue recognition.
• Ensure financial forecasts accurately reflect project progress and anticipated revenue.
• Partner with leadership to understand revenue trends, risks, and opportunities.

• Lead the monthly client billing process for assigned accounts.
• Review project costs and reconcile billable and client related non-billable expenses.
• Ensure invoices are accurate, timely, and aligned with client contracts and billing schedules.
• Partner with Account teams to resolve billing questions and client financial inquiries.
• Monitor outstanding receivables and support collection efforts as needed.

• Develop financial reporting that provides meaningful insights to Account and Agency leadership.
• Responsible for preparing project and client P&Ls.
• Present project financial health, profitability, and forecasting information in a way that supports decision making.
• Help educate non-financial stakeholders on budgets, revenue, profitability, and financial best practices.
• Partner with Finance leadership during month-end close and reporting activities.
• Lead revenue recognition at month close across the portfolio.
• Provide commentary at month end on revenue variances.

• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes,…