ROLE DESCRIPTION
ROLE TITLE Management Accountant, Pottermore Finance
LOCATION London
REPORTING TO Head of Finance, Pottermore Limited
REPORTS None
WHO WE ARE
Pottermore Publishing is the global, digital publisher of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, as well as other audiobooks and eBooks from the Wizarding World™. We aim to lead the way in innovative digital publishing and to bring new generations of readers together with long-standing fans, celebrating and bringing to life the stories that first began with the Boy Who Lived.
We operate under the same roof as The Blair Partnership, working as close colleagues with a shared culture. Together, we’re focused on making things happen to deliver real-world creative and commercial impact. We achieve this by believing and staying true to our values: Expertise, Partnership, Integrity, Creativity.
Pottermore Publishing is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace where all talent and potential is valued. We welcome people of different backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and perspectives and recognise the value that this adds to our business.
PURPOSE OF ROLE
To lead bookkeeping and financial control on revenue, royalties, marketing and production costs for Pottermore Publishing, working closely with central Finance and Business teams at The Blair Partnership to keep them informed and updated on key processes.
SUMMARY OF DUTIES
Financial Control and Review
- Responsible for bookkeeping in the SAGE X3 GL for revenue and royalties including raising sales, advance and royalty invoices, and managing all journals related to the revenue and royalty processes, including accruals, prepayments and provisions.
- Reviewing and managing X3 analytical dimensions (.e.g. project codes) to ensure they are applied correctly and consistently.
- Presentation of complete reconciled GL trial balances for review on a monthly / quarterly basis.
- Reconciliation of revenue and royalty accounts in GL and regular matching of control accounts.
- Leading Year End Accounts preparation for GL responsibilities.
- Management of year end and audit work including preparation of lead schedules, reconciliation etc. to share with external auditors.
Revenue
- Checking all sales reports received have been processed by FP&A team and posted to revenue.
- Raising Advance invoices for new deals and additional contract instalments, as informed by FP&A Manager.
- Reviewing of recoupable advance balances, updating Finance team on latest position.
- Agree any required sales or advance accruals or deferred income with FP&A Manager.
Participant costs - Royalties & Commissions
- Liaising with FP&A Manager to ensure all products are up-to-date and mapped to participants with respective royalty rates.
- Running royalty calculation process ensuring all applicable products have been charged correctly.
- Managing royalty provisions on advance revenue and release in line with sales reported and calculate and post manual accruals for participant costs pertaining to any accrued / deferred revenue.
- Posting royalty calculations to the ledger ensuring these are complete and generate self-billing invoices for applicable third-party royalty statement cycles (bi-annual and quarterly).
- Managint the royalty statement process, ensuring participant address and bank details are up to date, reviewing the balances with the Head of Finance and leading payment approval process with central Finance team.
- Matching down all participant balances as and when required.
Marketing, Production and Team Expenses
- Support business team in A/P and expenses process, providing guidance on policy and helping to trouble shoot any issues on completing expense forms, raising purchase requests and invoicing (A/P and expenses managed in X3 system by central Finance).
- Lead cost review and reporting for Marketing and Production with Budget holders, and drive the Forecast and Budget process.
Accounts Receivable
- Book all cash receipts against correct distributor accounts and present reconciled A/R to Head of Finance.
- Flag any payment issues to Account Management team.
Tax
- International sales taxes (AU, CA, JP) – Compile filing data liaising with external tax advisers, match down balances.
- US state and Federal Taxes – Prepare filing data and calculations on US Federal and State income tax for Head of Finance to review.
- UK VAT – Ensure new suppliers and distributors are set-up correctly for VAT compliance (UK VAT return managed and filed by Central Finance).
Cash Flow
- Manage cash flow model to review with Head of Finance.
- Responsible for updating inputs into cash flow model such as changes to credit terms, and work with FP&A manager to update any changes to distributor account growth rates over 2-3 year planning horizon.
- Monitor cash positions against committed FX forward trades, flagging any shortfalls or material surpluses to Head of Finance.
Team & Personal Development
- Work towards team success; collaborating, sharing regular feedback and knowledge with the broader Finance team and wider business, contributing actively to meetings and to achieving team goals.
- Continue to learn by building knowledge of the group businesses and understanding the connections and the accounting implications of them.
- Gain an understanding of the broader financial processes, systems and responsibilities to help guide the business teams through them, and be able to act as an ambassador for the Finance team .
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience, Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Qualified Accountant with 2+ years PQE
- Excellent written and oral communication and Excel Skills
- Strong attention to detail essential
- Confident in building relationships with finance and non-finance colleagues and senior management, both internally and externally
- Experience in using SAGE X3 and SEI (desirable)
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
- Competitive Salary
- Hybrid Working Policy (3 days/week in the office, 2 days/week working from home)
- Company Bonus Scheme
- 33 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
- Group Pension Plan (5% employer contribution)
- Life Assurance of 4 times salary
- Health Insurance (currently with Vitality) and Health Shield Cashback Plan
- Harry Potter Franchise Partner discounts and a free ticket to see Harry Potter & The Cursed Child on passing probation
- Annual Creative Bursary
- Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle Scheme