Kirsty Elliott
Hitchin
Summary
Accomplished professional with expertise in implementing process improvements and pricing strategy, demonstrating strong commercial acumen. Proven track record in team leadership and training and development, enhancing organisational capabilities. Skilled in financial modelling, profit and loss reporting, and ensuring financial reporting integrity. Adept at strategic financial planning and utilising data visualisation tools to present complex data effectively. Committed to building robust business partnerships and leveraging knowledge of ERP systems to drive success.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work history
Head of Finance
MullenLowe UK
London, UK
2024.09 - 2025.08
- Leading a Finance department of 12 employees.
- Work closely with the Executive Leadership team on company finance strategy and processes.
- Lead for finance commercials across all clients.
- Oversee month-end P&L and balance sheet reviews.
- Manage audits and ensure compliance with internal controls and financial procedures.
- Present budget and forecasts to Global Leadership team.
- Leading all Finance training requirements for the business.
- Lead on initiatives to optimise financial systems for improved reporting and forecasting.
- Lead financial strategy in new business pitches.
EMEA Senior Commercial Manager
Ogilvy UK
London
2024.01 - 2024.08
- EMEA Commercial Lead for one of Ogilvy's biggest Global clients.
- Working with markets across EMEA to ensure Commercial best practice is met.
- Supporting on commercials for EMEA New Business pitch proposals.
- Liaising with markets to ensure profitable pricing is being used.
- Training EMEA markets on Commercial Competence (pricing, negotiating and key commercial metrics).
- Working with UK team to implement new ERP system, Workday.
Senior Commercial Manager
Ogilvy UK
London, UK
2022.10 - 2024.01
- Identify efficiency improvements and work with the Global Operations Director to drive integration and efficiencies within the Global piece of business.
- Help drive best commercial best practice and efficiencies in Global markets where relevant.
- Ensure timely, accurate, relevant and useful information and insight is delivered by the finance team to meet deadlines.
- Provide thought leadership/ guidance on Pricing.
- Commercial strategic partner to Unilever MD.
- Lead client negotiations and be a key contact for Unilever procurement departments.
- Oversee revenue and resource reforecasting with client team and drive accountability in client team for accurate and well thought through forecasts/budgets.
- Review spend on direct costs and advise the client team as appropriate ensuring that budgets are tightly controlled.
- Manage a team of four.
Senior Commercial Accountant
Ogilvy UK
London, UK
2020.11 - 2022.10
- Liaising and negotiating with client procurement and legal teams on client contracts and rate cards.
- Managing two commercial accountants.
- Leading and managing any client audits.
- Lead on rolling out internal process to client leads for New Business software.
- Lead monthly meetings with Client Leads and Finance Directors to deliver key financial metrics and insights.
- Worked with Group Programme Director to improve scoping process for all Project managers.
- Ad-hoc training within finance community.
- Completed MSc in Management and Leadership during this period.
Commercial Accountant
Ogilvy UK
London, UK
2020.02 - 2020.10
- Managed revenue recognition and margin improvement for portfolio of clients.
- Worked closely with client teams to optimise resource allocation and profitability.
- Ensured SOX compliance.
- Managed billing, WIP and cash flow.
Commercial Analyst
Ogilvy UK
London, UK
2018.04 - 2020.02
- Produced key financial dashboards and reports for client profitability and resource utilisation.
- Lead meetings with key senior stakeholders to provide insight into findings from monthly dashboards.
- Managed capacity planning tools and partnered with HR to ensure accurate employee data.
Management Accountant
Bite Communications
London
2018.02 - 2018.04
- Produced monthly management reports and supported internal and external audits.
- Delivered month-end commentary and supported statutory accounts preparation.
- Led fee meetings and monitored client profitability through detailed analysis.
- Managed Accounts Assistant.
Assistant Management Accountant
Bite Communications
London
2016.07 - 2018.01
- Processed all month end journals and reconciliations.
- Produced monthly management reports.
- Ensured all relevant client paperwork was fully up-to-date; including contracts, statement of works and project requests forms.
Accounts Assistant
Bite Communications
London
2015.01 - 2016.07
- Processed invoices, managed reconciliations, and supported accounting software migration.
Accounts Receivable Assistant
Royal Garden Hotel
London
2014.06 - 2015.01
- Reconciled credit card balances and ensured timely invoicing and query resolution.
Accounts Trainee (Placement)
Royal Garden Hotel
London
2012.06 - 2013.08
- Gained hands-on experience across various accounting functions during placement year.
Education
ACMA CGMA - Management Accountancy
CIMA
Leicester 2020.11 - 2019.07
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting
Sheffield Hallam University
2015.06 - 2014.06
A-Levels - Maths, Biology and Geography
Kimbolton School
Sheffield 2010.09 - 2009.06
GCSEs -
Hinchingbrooke School
Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire 2007.09 - 2007.06
Skills
- Implementing process improvements
- Pricing strategy
- Commercial acumen
- Team Leadership
- Training and Development
- Financial modelling
- Profit and loss reporting
- Financial reporting integrity
- Strategic financial planning
- Data visualisation tools usage
- Business partnership building
- Knowledge of ERP systems
- Presentation of complex data
- Financial Analysis
- Stakeholder Management
Affiliations
I enjoy keeping fit and I am a running director at my local running club in Hitchin. I have been a part of the social teams throughout my career, organising many events for the companies I have worked for.
Training
I have completed Power BI and advanced Excel training.
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Head of Finance
MullenLowe UK
2024.09 - 2025.08
EMEA Senior Commercial Manager
Ogilvy UK
2024.01 - 2024.08
Senior Commercial Manager
Ogilvy UK
2022.10 - 2024.01
ACMA CGMA - Management Accountancy
CIMA
2020.11 - 2019.07
Senior Commercial Accountant
Ogilvy UK
2020.11 - 2022.10
Commercial Accountant
Ogilvy UK
2020.02 - 2020.10
Commercial Analyst
Ogilvy UK
2018.04 - 2020.02
Management Accountant
Bite Communications
2018.02 - 2018.04
Assistant Management Accountant
Bite Communications
2016.07 - 2018.01
Bachelor of Arts - Accounting
Sheffield Hallam University
2015.06 - 2014.06
Accounts Assistant
Bite Communications
2015.01 - 2016.07
Accounts Receivable Assistant
Royal Garden Hotel
2014.06 - 2015.01
Accounts Trainee (Placement)
Royal Garden Hotel
2012.06 - 2013.08
A-Levels - Maths, Biology and Geography
Kimbolton School
2010.09 - 2009.06
GCSEs -
Hinchingbrooke School
2007.09 - 2007.06