Wasserman is a global leader in sports, music, entertainment and culture. Founded in 2002, Wasserman represents many of the world’s most iconic sports and entertainment figures, musical artists, brands and properties, empowering them to shape culture and captivate audiences worldwide.
Wasserman Music is a passionate, experienced and entrepreneurial team of agents and music lovers. Our global team of unparalleled tastemakers and long-term artist development strategists builds significant careers from the ground up. We are equipped with an established infrastructure, an inclusive culture, and a suite of powerful resources and capabilities to ensure the success of our clients throughout the world.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman operates globally across 27 countries and more than 62 cities, including New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.teamwass.com.
We are currently looking for a VP, Finance and Accounting to join our Music team in London. This role will be responsible for providing financial and management services to Wasserman’s Music division to ensure an efficient, accurate and timely financial and management and client accounting function. Delivering an excellent standard of client service, compliance with external regulatory and reporting obligations, internal management reporting processes and deadlines. Providing financial controls and accounting oversight and direction to overseas affiliates.
Key Responsibilities:
- Management of EMEA accounting operations for Music, oversees all transactions related to general ledger, receivables, payables, client accounting, cash accounting, payroll, tax compliance and financial reporting in accordance with local GAAP and US GAAP standards.
- Ownership of EMEA Music finance, accounting, revenue accounting and reporting ensuring monthly deadlines achieved and full reconciliations provided.
- Follow structured monthly close and reconciliation review process in order to complete a month-end close within five business days.
- Own and manage the statutory reporting books and associated reconciliations.
- Own and manage the monthly forecast process ensuring robust variance analysis alongside assessment and implementation of any corrective steps and plans needed to the achieve the financial targets.
- Direct financial planning and reporting on financial performance.
- Own P&L, balance sheet and cash flow modelling for EMEA Music companies.
- Own and manage the annual budgeting process ensuring accuracy, completeness and compliance with defined targets.
- Management and mentoring of direct reports, providing guidance on career development.
- Develop high quality and effective relationships across all business units and build good working relationships with key stakeholders.
- Collaborate with US Music team on annual operating and long term planning.
- Manage accounting integration of acquisitions and/or new business ventures and quickly establish robust financial controls and align to group accounting policies.
- Own agent acquisition models providing scenario based analysis to facilitate strategic decision-making and well-founded recommendations.
- Review of client accounts and payables ensuring timely and accurately reporting to clients for performances adhering to internal processing deadlines.
- Ensure accuracy of artists statements and associated tax reporting i.e. FEU returns.
- Ensure CRM system accuracy and robustness for revenue recognition and client payables.
- Manage foreign exchange policy for the company and group.
- Resolve non-standard issues and challenges, using strong judgement and leadership skills.
- Own and manage the Music annual audit ensuring deadlines are achieved and filing compliance adhered to.
- Support and assist with the annual group, US Music and EMEA audits ensuring deadlines are achieved and a high standard of working papers and supporting documentation provided.
- Oversees a weekly cash and long term cash flow planning process for Music working in conjunction with VP Treasury.
- Support Director Tax EMEA to ensure full compliance for tax, VAT and other relevant taxes in the Music EMEA region.
- Maintain strong financial controls and escalate issues appropriately and in a timely manner.
- Management of accounting staff to ensure deadlines are met, records are accurate and controls remain intact.
- Promote a supportive team environment and provides work direction and guidance including coaching, professional development and training. Monitors and analyzes team work to develop more efficient procedures and use of resources while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
- Drive high quality financial / commercial performance.
- Identify potential process efficiencies & contribute towards a high standard, continuous improvement culture.
Requirements
- 7+ years PQE with a recognised UK professional qualification (CIMA/ACCA/ACA) or overseas equivalent or demonstrate expertise in a similar role
- Demonstrable success in a senior accounting role with International affiliate experience.
- Minimum of 10+ years in accounting roles with a minimum of 4+ years at senior management level
- Experience of managing and supervising an accounting team, including setting objectives and conducting annual appraisals
- Ability to multi-task effectively without losing quality. Tenacious, persistent and highly motivated with advanced organisational, analytical and people management skills
- Experience working in Sports / Talent industry
- Experience working in a multi-national company
- Experience of Workday ERP
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications specifically with Excel. Ideally Pivot tables & VLOOKUPs.
Benefits
- Annual Discretionary Bonus
- 25 days per annum plus UK bank holidays, and additional DE&I days
- Pension
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Season Ticket Loan
- Health Cash back plan OR private medical insurance
- Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Gym Flex
