Manager, Business Affairs Admin, SPT International Productions (UK)
Description
This position is based in London and is part of SPTIP's production business affairs team, providing business affairs admin and finance support for the global SPT International Production group, including administration and tracking of business affairs and finance matters. This position will report to the Vice President of business affairs administration in Los Angeles.
What You'll Do
- Handle all payments for UK and EU above-the-line talent (writers, directors), consultants and rights acquisitions/licensing for UK Production Companies and SPTIS
- Manage and create payment schedules of the compensation process for highly confidential and negotiated above-the-line talent deals, development, pilots and series
- Analyze and interpret contract language generated from Business Affairs and determine what method of payment should be initiated (taxable compensation, guild related or loan-out, etc.)
- Collect all required documents and collect invoices on required third party payments (option fees, rights fees, format fees to third-party rights holders)
- Track drafting of agreements to know when documents are fully implemented and payments tied to signature of agreements are due
- Collect all pertinent contractual and payroll documentation and ensure the proper version of the contract is being utilized
- Generate required Purchase orders in connection with facilitation of payments
- Set up Vendors/talent in payroll system and input payment requests/track payments in approval process to ensure timely payments
- Work closely with Head of Finance for SPTIS on all payments to talent and/ consultants engaged by SPTIS to ensure timely payment
- Keep track of where the payment requests are in the approval process and resolve any issues to ensure payments are made and do not incur penalties from unions and update appropriate parties, including SPTIS, as required
- Run the disbursement and tracking of the talent checks and rights payments.
- Fielding phone calls, emails and answering questions from the talent, representatives, production finance/executives on status of payments and layout of the payment schedules
- Maintain a library/repository of all payment related documentation/contracts
- Respond to research requests from Legal, BA and Finance
- Process all required production financing payments/invoices to SPTIP Production Companies/3rd Party Production companies/licensees
- Collect all required documents and Set up vendors in system, track approvals to ensure timely set up
- Set up Opcos/Minority investment distribution advances in system, track approval chain to ensure timely payment
- Set up and track third party production funding payments in accordance with PSAs/coordinate with local finance teams on production funding
- Invoice third party format licensees
- Coordinate the participation statement process including preparation, reporting and payments for UK/EU talent, prodcos, and third parties
- Track required statements and collection of documents/information
- Prepare/Manage list of required statements for SPTIP productions, including participant, reporting obligations and tracking timing of payments
- Work closely with London/Poland based Participations Department by providing information for statements including providing complete document set (e.g. production budgets/costs and contracts) in timely manner to ensure efficiency.
- Notify London/Poland Based Participations Department of statements to be prepared to ensure that participations/statement are timely distributed
- Ensuring all documents are filed and retained for participations process
- Coordinate with finance the tracking of Development spend/recoupment to ensure properly accounted for in statements
- Help resolve issues of coding of distribution costs (principally), residuals and other areas of SPTIP to ensure accurate reflection on statements
- Review and handle the distribution of participation statements/payments
- Perform preliminary review/approval of participation statements with Participations Department (prior to BA and Finance sign off)
- Ensuring complete cost accounting/reporting on statements
- Ensure consistency of reporting of receipts/costs across statements
- Manage communication to participants of timing/delivery of statements and corresponding payments (if applicable) including fielding of call/emails/request from the participants, representatives, and/or production finance/executive.
- Organizing/Filing of finalized statements/receiving copies of cover letters and payments administered from Participations Department
- Provide copies/summarize information in previous statement to BA/Finance teams as requested
- Administration of union obligations
- Assist in the facilitation of all royalty and/or residuals talent accounting for UK SPTIP production companies
- Assist the Asset Management group in the coordination of the collection of all relevant documents from the production companies and provide to the London based Residuals department
- Help identify and supervise all required residual buyouts for UK guilds (equity)
- Approve credits for new productions for compliance of guild and contractual obligations
- Provide back-up support to Sr. Manager BA
- Assist with data entry into rights management system under the guidance of the Sr. Manager, as needed
- Manage options calendar, including reviewing documents for pertinent dates, entering dates into system, sending reminders, and following up with interested persons
- Update exhibition dates, license period extensions and other required updates in Sony’s rights management system, as needed.
- Prepare sales history reports as requested
- Respond to unsolicited submissions
- Lead the requesting of and preparation of summaries of rights restrictions and obligations (including approvals, fees, participations, and services)
- Provide assistance to other intercompany departments, including distribution and finance, with rights questions
- Regularly prepare and maintain reports (deal summaries, ticklers, status summaries for new acquisitions, etc. including validating data, creating presentable templates and finalizing report
- Work with asset management group to make sure deliverables align with contractual obligations as well as reviewing/confirmation on available materials
- Be point person for distribution sales team in relation to rights, clearances, availability and approval requests for all UK produced International Television Production Titles, both on individual title level research but also part of large-scale research projects
- Manage due diligence/compliance reporting obligations
- Coordinate with finance to confirm due diligence is performed on new third party licensees
- Work with local production/sales teams to collect required information and provide completed forms to Studio compliance department
- Knowledge: (a) excellent knowledge of entertainment industry practices including Business affairs and finance (b) excellent knowledge of both UK (Equity, WGGB) and foreign guilds (c) working knowledge of production, merchandising, publishing, music issues, multiple forms of distribution (e.g., cable, satellite, VOD, PPV, Free TV, DTV, mobile, etc.); (d) working knowledge of distribution costs and expenses and (e) experience working in a multinational company and coordinating projects with multiple divisions is very helpful
- Ability To: (a) work in fast-paced environment with a quickly evolving landscape; (b) progressively grow and take on new responsibilities; (c) be exceedingly well organized with strong attention to detail and great follow-through; (d) independently establish office procedures, identify problems and be resourceful to resolve them independently and on own initiative; (e) prioritize work effectively to optimize results, work effectively under pressure and work as a team with business affairs and supervisors (f) handle multiple tasks frequently with short time-lines, prioritize and organize work and to complete assignments in a timely and accurate manner; (g) work effectively and cooperatively across the organization at all levels of professional, technical and administrative staff using highly developed interpersonal skills; and (h) use discretion in handling sensitive/confidential information.
Requirements
What You Have
- Ideally a minimum 4+ years of experience in Business Affairs Administration or Contract Administration
- Understanding of contract language, structure and interpretation
- Excellent understanding of studio finance including cost coding, payment and reporting with experience in studio payroll and payment systems [e.g. Fiori, Ariba, S2F, Fieldglass
- Strong organizational and follow-through skills
- Strong oral and written communication skills; professional business demeanor and client service skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Proficiency with rights tracking software and databases, preferable GPMS and Business Objects.
- Capability in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and internal software.
If you require any reasonable adjustments with any part of the recruitment process, including the application or interview process, please contact us at uk__peopleandorganisation@spe.sony.com. Please put Reasonable Adjustment Request in the subject line of the email.
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** Overview** Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 130 countries.