Financial Controller

Job Description

Job title: Financial Controller
Responsible to: Managing Director
Department: 0207 Def Jam
Location of work: 4 Pancras Square, Kings Cross

Music is Universal

It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.

Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other forms of neurocognitive variation.

We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email [email protected]

The A Side: A Day in The Life

0207 Def Jam is the new frontline label under UMG, based in the UK. We do things differently. We pride ourselves on quality artists, a deep understanding of the culture that drives artist brands and a service of excellence. Our executives are best in class, through their expertise and relationships with their artists, managers, and key stakeholders throughout the business both in the UK and internationally. We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and proactive working style. We seek out the future leaders of tomorrow, with everyone connected working towards a shared vision.

The B Side: Skills & Experience

• Alongside the MD, ensure close liaison with Senior Management in all aspects of decision making and guidance. Ensure that any process of decision making includes financial analysis. Managing the business financially and reporting label profitability
• Liaison with other internal Universal departments, including but not limited to Royalties, Central Finance and Treasury

• Responsible for artist contractual and non-contractual payments & budget approval on the system. Within 6 months, assume responsibility for assessment of artist options /deal appraisals

• Responsible for all finance related areas, which includes Reporting, Analysis and Forecasting

• Responsible for forecasting / budgeting of artist expenditure, approval/agreement of recording costs budgets. Reporting on historical expenditure

• Responsible for ensuring that our aged creditors are reviewed / reported and chased within the company to keep to a minimum. Manage relationships with key suppliers. Manage urgent payments process. Assisting staff with finance system issues where needed

• Forecasting / budgeting and approval of Departmental overhead budgets

• Responsible for ensuring that best use is made of MIS resource which includes improving use of systems throughout the company. Responsible for all new systems implementations and improvements in current systems. Responsible for approvals of all IT access request

• Responsible for authorisation of sales returns system, general sales, pricing and discount issues

• Main point of contact for audit queries with both internal and external auditors, including hard-close, year-end, Statutory accounts

• Adherence /improvement of business procedures and policies
• Responsible for preparation of ad-hoc analysis requested by business
• Responsible for ad-hoc training and queries requested by business

• Responsible for month end close process including commentaries on results and cash flow and Management Pack. Ensure the maintenance and upkeep of general ledger, to include reconciliations, calculation of provisions/accruals and general review of accounts, journal posting
• Ensure that all information provided to support P&L and Balance sheet amounts is accurate and adheres to accounting policies and that Month End figures are supplied correctly and to deadline
• Responsible for monthly and quarterly forecasting and maintenance of rolling forecast
• Responsible for initial preparation of annual budget and analysis and explanation of it

• Responsibility for ensuring that statutory accounts are completed based on economic accounts and statutory adjustments within deadlines

Person Specification

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
• Good academic background & strong analytical skills
• Experience of managing month end – including understanding of a full profit and loss account and balance sheet and ability to judge the right commercial decisions to make
• Ability to implement business and operational systems
• Ability to work under pressure and experience working in a fast-moving environment
• Strong proven relationship-building skills
• Self-assured but diplomatic, able to act as the face of the Finance department

• Microsoft office
• SAP
• Business Objects
• Hyperion
• In-house packages
• Ideally experience working in a media or similar environment

Bonus Tracks: Your Benefits

• Group Personal Pension Scheme (between 3% and 9%)
• Private Medical Insurance
• 25 paid days of annual leave
• Interest Free Season Ticket Loan available
• Holiday Purchase scheme
• Dental and Travel Insurance options
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Cars
• Subsidised Gym Membership
• Employee Discounts (Reward Gateway)

Just So You Know...

The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.