Media Buying Operations Specialist

Publicis Groupe · Johannesburg

Company description

We are the Human Experience Agency. We believe the growth opportunity lies in people. We understand and anticipate human desires to deliver media experiences of value.

We call this PeoplePoweredGrowth! Focusing on both business outcomes and human outcomes is proven to deliver stronger growth for clients. PeoplePoweredGrowth identifies the intersection between what people want and what brands need, to create media experiences of value.

PeoplePoweredGrowth orchestrates the right talent and capability to solve for clients’ unique business challenges through interconnected capability. PeoplePoweredGrowth embodies a way of thinking, working, and learning; challenging the status quo and always reaching for a better. It is a culture of never standing still.

Starcom is a full service, global media agency with a presence in multiple markets around the world. We believe in the power of our network and work closely with our global colleagues to ensure that we are providing our clients with global best practice, localized for the South African market. Our clients include Mondelez, Haleon (GSK), Samsung, Stellantis, Sandoz, Kellogg’s to name a few.

We are part of the Publicis network – the fastest growing global network.

Overview

Reports to

Media Buying Operations Lead

Dotted line

Finance, Channel Specialists, Client Operations

Role purpose

Executes the operational buying administration required after a plan is approved — loading, booking, confirmation, reconciliation and accurate billing. Not a media investment planner; should not be expected to create channel recommendations or judge whether the plan is strategically correct.

Scope of role

Plan loading
Booking issuance & confirmation
Creative chase lists
Vendor onboarding support
Invoice matching
Billing hold / release status
Credit note coordination
Reconciliation support
Vendor query tracking

Core accountabilities

Load approved plans into required systems.
Issue bookings to media owners and platforms.
Track booking confirmations.
Issue creative chase lists and follow up on materials.
Support vendor onboarding and administration.
Check invoices against PO, booking and approved plan.
Hold invoices where delivery validation is missing.
Coordinate credit notes, billing queries and reconciliation.
Maintain accurate status trackers.

Responsibilities

Mandatory artifacts owned
• Loaded Plan Record
Confirms system loading is complete.
• Booking Confirmation
Confirms supplier/platform has accepted booking.
• Creative Chase List
Tracks missing creative or material requirements.
• Invoice Match Record
Matches invoice against approved cost and PO.
• Billing Hold / Approval Status
Shows whether invoice can proceed.
• Vendor Query Log
Tracks vendor questions and billing issues.

Decision rights

Hold invoices where documents do not match
Request missing proof
Request corrected invoices
Escalate missing delivery validation
Block billing until approvals are received

What this role is NOT accountable for

Building channel strategy or setting KPI targets.
Deciding supplier selection.
Approving delivery quality without specialist input.
Creating dashboards.
Tagging campaigns.
Writing strategic PCA learnings.

Qualifications

2–5 years in buying ops, booking or media finance.

Detail accuracy

Work accurately with booking, invoice and PO data.

System discipline

Maintain clean operational records.

Finance process

Understand billing, reconciliation and credit workflow.

Follow-up discipline

Chase confirmations, materials and documents.

Vendor coordination

Manage supplier communication professionally.

Escalation

Flag missing approvals or billing risk.