Universal Music Group

8/2023-Present

Business Legal Manager

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7/2022-8/2023

Royalty Audit Manager

• Analyze artist and publishing audit reports received from outside auditors for accuracy. This includes in-depth research into artist contracts, publishing licenses, and company proprietary systems.

• Lead creator on Audit Playbook that documents all stages of the audit process as well as how to guides for how to run reports, respond to fieldwork/report inquiries, and details on frequently used excel formulas. This guide has been used to train new employees as well as organize all information in one place to be used by new and veteran employees.

• Created Contract Digest template to help minimize the need for constant review of agreements and account details. This form also helps audit specialists on the team learn how to read contracts and which information is most important for an audit.

 

Warner Music Group

11/2008-7/2022

Royalty Audit Senior Manager

• Research audit reports and negotiate settlements saving the company hundreds of thousands in claimed dollar amounts. Audits are related to union, publishing, and artist royalties and fees. Provide written summaries with recommendation for settlements to VP of Audit and SVP of Legal Shared Services.

• Maintain a complex work schedule for 10-20 audits at any given time.

• Team Lead for Business Excellence Shared Services process improvement initiative.  Successfully guided my team to completion of 12 projects which resulted in a company savings of approximately $1.2 million in net present value.

• Grow and maintain working relationships with outside audit firms.

• Worked with IT in the creation of a new domestic sales report that was needed but did not exist for a minimum of 5 years thus creating an obstacle for supporting reported sales. Currently overseeing updates to report as needed.

• Calculated a global settlement of 9 overdue union audits, which had been outstanding for up to 17 years, equaling over $2 million savings of the amounts claimed. In conjunction with the settlement, an audit advance was calculated against current and future audits to save WMG from paying interest on future settlements.

• Collaborated with outside consulting firm to create an audit fieldwork manual for new employees.

• Aided Senior Business Intelligence Developer in creating and testing new departmental SharePoint site. Continued point person for audit team support related to SharePoint issues and improvements.

 

Royalty Audit Manager

• Improved initial stages of the audit process that resulted in minimized amounts claimed. Supervised employees to verify that these processes were utilized.

• Consulted with departments internationally to obtain audit data and correct any errors identified.

• Presented audit claim findings and recommendations to upper management and legal point person utilizing verbal and written communication.

• Hired, trained, and supervised Senior Analyst and Intern(s).

• Trained senior management and entry-level staff at new Nashville Center of Excellence.

 

Royalty Audit Senior Analyst

• Assisted management with examination of audit claims.

• Worked independently, and with other departments, to obtain reports and documentation requested by external auditors.

• Analyzed fieldwork documents for accuracy.

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SonyBMG

5/2005-10/2008

Royalty Audit Junior Analyst

• Maintained working relationships with various departments while gathering and organizing audit document requests.

• Conducted meetings with external auditors at the beginning and end of fieldwork date(s) to identify open items and review potential claims.

• Created comprehensive organization system for physical and digital files.