Sr. Manager, Residuals & Audits

Do you want to work for an organization with an amazing mission and make a difference in people's lives? Are you a leader with vision who can meet the future while inspiring a team of dedicated employees?

The Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund (“Fund”) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization in the entertainment industry based in Encino, CA under guild / union agreements, its mission is to collect, process and distribute residual payments to musicians resulting from their work in film, television and digital media. For more information, visit www.fmsmf.org. The Fund offers amazing medical benefits, plenty of paid time off, Safe Harbor 401k, paid holidays, 35 hour work week, a hybrid/remote work schedule and many other benefits!

The Fund seeks a leader for its re-envisioned Residual Claims and Audit Department (formerly known as Contract Compliance).  The Senior Manager will direct the Department’s renewed focus in meeting the demands of the rapidly changing film and television industry and its new business models, and is a knowledgeable innovator who will bring energy and excitement to re-imagining the Department while leading its talented team of analysts and coordinators into the future.    He/she will be responsible for the Department operations, including oversight for compliance with union contracts, data analysis on residuals obligations, residuals collections and audits.  A collaborative team leader, he/she will supervise the Department’s staff, oversee audits conducted by outside audit firms and coordinate with legal counsel on claims, bankruptcies and litigation and contribute to implementation of transformative digital solutions and records management in the Department and across the organization.

The ideal candidate will be familiar with collective bargaining agreements of the major guilds and unions in the film/television industry, residual and royalty audits and/or film/TV/streaming service distribution licensing agreements.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Recruit, assess, train, manage and motivate the department’s staff of Audit Analysts, Staff Auditors, and Compliance Coordinators/Residual Claims Representatives. Provide development opportunities for department staff through training, delegation of duties and positive goal setting and performance management.
• Assess Fund residuals data and reports to inform and determine residuals collections activities, claims and audits.
• Plan, budget and oversee the Fund’s agreed-upon-procedures compliance reviews (a/k/a “audits”) of contributing companies (studios, distributors and other obligated parties). Oversee activities of outside auditors, including interaction with contributing companies’ personnel. Review draft and final reports issued by outside auditors.
• Prepare and provide information required by the Fund’s outside legal counsel on bankruptcies, litigation, and claims resulting from audits.
• Oversee the pursuit and resolution of formal claims for failure to pay residuals that are referred from the Fund’s Industry Relations Department or resulting from audits.
• In coordination with the Fund’s Executive Director, resolve or negotiate settlement of disputed residual claims and/or elevate to Counsel where required.
• Oversee proper maintenance of files and records related to audits, covered films and contributions in accordance with the Fund’s document management protocols.
• Identify and prepare for approval by Executive Director reallocation of contributions and contribution refunds, as needed.
• Work with other FMSMF departments to assist in quality control of data maintained on various databases.
• Perform and maintain an annual audit of operational data maintained on premises, and all documentation sent to the Fund’s off-site secured storage facility.
• Prepare monthly reports detailing status of audits for review by the Executive Director, and prepare semi-annual reports on the status of audits to the Executive Director for transmittal to the Oversight Committee.
• Perform industry-related research; support the Department’s role in implementing the Fund’s multi-year digital transformation project scheduled to be completed in late 2023/early 2024; and other duties and projects as assigned. Collaborate with the Executive Director and all departmental leads to support the Fund’s mission for residuals distribution, leverage organizational efficiencies and support the overall Fund team.

REQUIREMENTS

• 10+ years directly related experience in contract administration and/or audits
• Bachelor’s Degree required, MBA, JD or relevant graduate degree preferred; legal/ paralegal experience helpful
• Prior negotiating experience required
• Ability to read and interpret contract language required
• Practical experience in entertainment industry preferred
• Knowledge of Film & TV Guild and Union Collective Bargaining Agreements strongly preferred
• Knowledge of Film & TV licensing agreements strongly preferred
• Experience in entertainment industry labor relations, licensing or business affairs preferred
• Core Accounting knowledge preferred
• Prior residual/royalty preferred
• Advanced MS Excel skills
• Data analytics familiarity helpful
• Proficient in MS Word; experience with NetSuite/Oracle environment a plus.
• Must be well organized, detail oriented, and a self-starter
• Must have integrity, honesty and ethical mentality

ABILITIES/SKILLS

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Ability to work with deadlines, and learn concepts quickly
• Critical thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to accurately analyze, assess, and evaluate researched data
• Ability and flexibility to manage multiple projects across multiple teams simultaneously and prioritize workloads
• Strong organizational, planning, and collaborative skills
• Strong attention to detail.
• Strong and effective writing, listening, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
• A positive attitude

send resume to jobs@fmsmf.org