Finance and HR for advertising agencies
Media-buying margins, client compensation structures, and the financial discipline to scale without losing control — from a team that has led advertising agency finance at the highest level.
Schedule a ConversationThe economics of client work, understood
Advertising agencies carry complexity most finance people never see: media buying and its margins, staff-plan and commission-based compensation, pass-through production costs, and clients who dictate payment terms. Getting this wrong quietly erodes margin; getting it right is a competitive advantage. We bring controllership and CFO leadership that handles agency compensation structures and media economics as a matter of routine.
Household-name agency pedigree
This is the deepest bench we have. Our advertising CFOs have served as CFO or COO at 72andSunny — scaling it from $6M to $130M+ — as well as WONGDOODY, Battery Agency, The Phelps Group, and 9thWonder, with earlier finance leadership at McCann-Erickson, Young & Rubicam, and DavisElen. When we say we understand advertising agencies, we mean it in the most literal way possible.
Services we provide for advertising agencies
One team covers the whole finance and HR function. For advertising agencies, we most often lead with:
Common questions
Do you handle accounting for advertising agencies?
Yes. Accounting for advertising agencies means handling what generalist bookkeepers miss: media buying and its margins, pass-through production costs kept out of revenue, and staff-plan or commission-based compensation. We structure the books so gross revenue, net revenue (AGI), and client profitability are all clear.
When does an advertising agency need a CFO?
Typically once seven-figure decisions — pricing, new offices, an acquisition — start outrunning the founder. A fractional CFO for an advertising agency gives you that seniority for the hours you need, backed by a controller and analyst bench.
How do you handle media pass-through costs and agency commissions?
We keep media buys and production you pass through to clients out of your earned revenue, and account for commission and staff-plan compensation the way agencies are actually paid — so margin is real, not a reporting artifact.
A financial partner who already speaks advertising agencies.
No ramp-up, no learning your model on your dime. Let's talk about what your finance and HR function should look like.
Schedule a Conversation