Finance Contracts Manager

Burson•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Contracts Manager sits within the Finance function and plays a critical, cross-functional role supporting the review, negotiation, and execution of client and vendor contracts across the organization. This role partners closely with different internal stakeholders across the organization including Business Development, Client Leadership/Account Teams, and Finance to ensure that contracts are commercially sound, operationally feasible, and aligned with agency risk standards. This position is not a legal role but operates at the center of contracting activity, interpreting contract language, identifying risks, and guiding internal teams. The role also serves as a key triage point for determining when escalation to WPP Legal is required. This hire represents a critical expansion of a growing contracts capability within the organization and requires the ability to operate across both sides of the contracting equation, as a service provider to clients and as a procurer of vendor services (e.g., production partners, photographers, etc.). This role can be based in any major East Coast city though New York is preferred.

Requirements

5–7+ years of experience reviewing and negotiating contracts (agency experience preferred but not required)
Strong foundational understanding of: Contract structures (MSAs, SOWs, amendments)
Strong foundational understanding of: How scopes roll up into governing agreements
Demonstrated ability to: Redline contracts confidently and accurately
Demonstrated ability to: Identify inconsistencies, risks, and missing information
Demonstrated ability to: Ask probing, detail-oriented questions to clarify ambiguity
Strong financial acumen, including ability to analyze budgets within scopes
Exceptional attention to detail and highly organized working style
Strong communication skills with ability to simplify complex contract terms
Comfort working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in a global agency or holding company environment
Familiarity with both sell-side and buy-side negotiations
Exposure to data privacy, IP, influencer, or digital/media-related contract terms
Experience supporting RFPs

Responsibilities

Review, redline, and negotiate client contracts and vendor agreements, including MSAs, SOWs, and related documents
Translate contractual language into clear business implications for non-legal stakeholders
Identify and mitigate risks related to scope, budgets, IP ownership, indemnification, confidentiality, data privacy, and termination terms
Ensure alignment between contractual terms, pricing structures, and operational delivery
Analyze scopes of work and associated budgets to ensure accuracy and consistency
Flag discrepancies, gaps, or inconsistencies in financial or contractual terms
Validate that work scopes align appropriately with master agreements and governing terms
Serve as a key partner including Finance, Account Teams, and Business Development throughout the contracting lifecycle
Provide guidance to internal stakeholders who may lack contract expertise
Act as a central hub connecting finance, client teams, privacy, and information security
Support internal teams by preparing clear escalation summaries
Maintain templates, playbooks, and contracting guidelines
Educate internal teams on contract fundamentals and best practices
Expand awareness and adoption of the contracts function across the organization
Recommend process improvements to increase efficiency and deal velocity