Marketing Finance Operations Specialist

Marketing Finance Operations Specialist to support the Marketing organization through ownership of financial operations, budget management, and cross-functional coordination. This individual will serve as the primary liaison between Marketing, Finance, Procurement, Accounts Payable, and Agency partners, ensuring efficient management of purchase orders, invoices, budgets, and payment processes. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes ownership of problem-solving, and continuously looks for opportunities to improve processes and increase operational efficiency. Key Responsibilities Financial Operations & Budget Management Serve as the primary Finance Operations contact for the Marketing organization - inclusive of Paid Media, Earned & Owned and the internal Creative team. Own the end-to-end management of purchase orders, including setup, maintenance, tracking, and annual PO creation for marketing programs, agencies, consultants, and vendors. Manage invoice processing, reconciliation, and payment follow-up to ensure timely and accurate financial transactions. Track budgets, accruals, commitments, and spend against approved plans, providing visibility into budget performance and potential risks. Maintain accurate financial records and supporting documentation. Agency & Media Financial Management Manage financial operations for all paid media (national and retailer media), creative, and agency partners, including PO management, invoice reconciliation, and budget tracking. Review and reconcile media invoices against approved plans, contracts, and purchase orders to ensure billing accuracy. Monitor agency spend and identify discrepancies, risks, or overages, driving timely resolution. Support monthly and quarterly budget reconciliation, accrual management, and spend forecasting activities. Cross-Functional Partnership & Issue Resolutio n Partner closely with Marketing, Finance, Procurement, Accounts Payable, and agency partners to ensure smooth financial operations. Lead resolution of PO, invoice, payment, and vendor-related issues by coordinating across stakeholders and driving issues to completion. Participate in regular finance and budget review meetings, providing updates on spend, open issues, and process improvements. Serve as a trusted resource for financial processes, policies, and operational guidance. Process Improvement Identify opportunities to streamline financial workflows, improve visibility, and reduce manual effort. Lead root-cause analysis of recurring issues and implement sustainable solutions. Develop reporting, tracking tools, and process documentation to improve efficiency, compliance, and budget transparency. Recommend and implement scalable improvements that support evolving business needs. Qualifications Required 5+ years of experience in finance operations, accounting support, procurement operations, business operations, or a related field. Experience managing purchase orders, invoices, budget tracking, accruals, and financial reconciliations. Experience working directly with media, creative, digital, or marketing agencies. Hands-on experience managing media invoices, agency billing, and spend reconciliation processes. Strong understanding of marketing and media spend categories, including paid media, agency retainers, production, and consulting services. Demonstrated ability to identify discrepancies, solve problems, and drive resolution across multiple stakeholders. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting/tracking tools. Ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment. Experience supporting marketing organizations within consumer-packaged goods (CPG), retail, or related industries. Familiarity with SAP or similar procurement and financial systems. Experience with budget planning, forecasting, accrual management, and financial reporting. Familiarity with media buying processes, agency compensation models, and media reconciliations. Success Factors Takes ownership and drives issues through resolution. Builds strong relationships and collaborates effectively across functions. Identifies process improvement opportunities and implements practical solutions. Creates structure, accountability, and visibility in complex financial processes. Demonstrates strong attention to detail, follow-through, and accountability.