Senior Manager, Business Optimization

Universal Music Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Mental health coverage

Fertility coverage

Wellbeing reimbursements

Student Loan Repayment Assistance and

Tuition Reimbursement

401(k) with immediate vesting

Job summary

Universal Music Group in New York City is seeking a Senior Manager for Strategic Finance to drive global projects across VMG. The role reports to the VP and requires in-office presence 3-4 days per week.

You will develop financial models, manage analyses with department leaders, and communicate progress to VMG senior management and UMG leaders. Strong Excel and office skills are essential, with 6+ years of related experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6+ years of relevant work experience in accounting, bookkeeping, finance, consulting/strategy or similar field.
• Prior relevant experience in the music industry preferred.
• Ability to take ownership of and drive forward projects independently.
• Superior Excel skills and advanced proficiency Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other office tools.
• GPT building experience a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to successfully prioritize multiple tasks with minimal oversight.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• High level of intellectual curiosity around music, technology, and entertainment.
• Highly personable with strong team-working skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage internal strategic analyses by working with department leaders across VMG and wider UMG on growth and integration initiatives, business process optimization and global cost reduction.
• Drive forward implementation of VMG’s strategic goals by managing workstreams and tracking project initiatives with many stakeholders
• Develop financial models and create concise presentations to communicate project progress to VMG senior management and other UMG leaders.
• Recommend best practices for improving current processes to facilitate better decision making, team communication, and cost savings.
• Proactively identify potential opportunities, evaluate strategic implications, and initiate related analyses.
• Manage finance related communications with label/artist partners and internal UMG stakeholders to ensure transparency of strategic goal achievement.

Skills

6+ years experience

Music industry experience

Ownership mindset

Excel proficiency

GPT building experience

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Curiosity about music/entertainment

Team collaboration

Tools

GPT building experience

Job description

We are UMG, the Universal Music Group. We are the world’s leading music company. In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship. We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.

How we LEAD:

The Strategic Finance team at Virgin Music Group [VMG] spearheads global improvement and business integration projects, constructing comprehensive execution plans with a strong focus on finance and global strategy. The Sr. Manager role will report to the team’s VP and will be based at our New York City office with an in-office presence of 3-4 days/week. (Note: VP is located in Miami, FL.)

How You’ll CREATE:

The ideal candidate will be a proactive person with exceptional organizational skills and a strong analytical mindset. This role will work across many business verticals, driving forward global projects and ensuring timely execution of strategic deliverables.

• Manage internal strategic analyses by working with department leaders across VMG and wider UMG on growth and integration initiatives, business process optimization and global cost reduction.
• Drive forward implementation of VMG’s strategic goals by managing workstreams and tracking project initiatives with many stakeholders
• Develop financial models and create concise presentations to communicate project progress to VMG senior management and other UMG leaders.
• Recommend best practices for improving current processes to facilitate better decision making, team communication, and cost savings.
• Proactively identify potential opportunities, evaluate strategic implications, and initiate related analyses.
• Manage finance related communications with label/artist partners and internal UMG stakeholders to ensure transparency of strategic goal achievement.

Bring your VIBE:

• Minimum 6+ years of relevant work experience in accounting, bookkeeping, finance, consulting/strategy or similar field
• Prior relevant experience in the music industry preferred
• Ability to take ownership of and drive forward projects independently
• Superior Excel skills and advanced proficiency Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other office tools. GPT building experience a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to successfully prioritize multiple tasks with minimal oversight
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• High level of intellectual curiosity, especially around music, technology, and entertainment
• Highly personable with strong team-working skills

Perks Playlist:

Join an entrepreneurial, global organization where authenticity, boldness, creativity, connection, drive, and insight aren’t just values—they’re how we work every day. Here are some of the ways we support you along the way (and just a few of the benefits we offer):

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Including 100% coverage for out-patient in-network mental health services
• Fertility coverage for eligible medical plan participants
• Wellbeing reimbursements for fitness classes, spa treatments, meal services, travel, and so much more (up to $720/year)
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) with 100% immediate vesting on the first 5% of your contributions, plus an additional UMG contribution

A variety of ways to prioritize much-needed time away from work including:

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for exempt employees
• 3-weeks PTO for non-exempt employees
• 2-weeks paid Winter Break
• 10 Company Holidays (including Juneteenth and Wellbeing Day)
• Summer Fridays (between Memorial Day and Labor Day)
• Generous paid parental leave for every type of parent

Check out our full overview of benefits on the Perks Playlist page of the career site.

Disclaimer: This job description only provides an overview of job responsibilities that are subject to change.

Universal Music Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an E-Verify employer in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.

Please note, UMG is not enrolled in E-Verify in California and New York, and cannot support employment of candidates whose employer must enroll in E-Verify, for example candidates on STEM-OPT.

For more information, please click on the following links.

E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish

E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish

Job Category: Finance & Accounting

Salary Range:

$69,870 - $90,000

The actual base salary offered depends on a variety of factors, which may include, as applicable, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. All candidates are encouraged to apply.