Interim Artist Services Finance Director

Job Title: Artist Services Finance Director – WMX

Contract Type: 10 months (Paternity Leave Cover)

A little bit about our team:

WMX Finance sits right at the commercial heartbeat of Europe's Artist Services, powering the financial engine behind world-class talent. We manage the end-to-end data, financial reporting, and operational insights across high-energy, multi-channel pillars - spanning global Tour, cutting-edge eCommerce, Retail, Licensing, and exclusive VIP fan experiences.

Your role:

Reporting directly to the WMX Senior Director, Global Merch Finance, you won't just be keeping the seat warm; you will step in as a critical strategic co-pilot and leadership pillar for the business leads driving our diverse artist services portfolio. In this pivotal 10-month chapter, you will take full ownership of our financial rhythm, guide a focused team, and deliver high-impact commercial clarity during a fast-paced, transformative phase for the business.

Here you'll get to:

• Lead & Inspire: Directly lead, mentor, and empower a high-performing finance team of two.
• Command Month-End: Own and orchestrate the full monthly close process across our dynamic ecosystem of WMX entities.
• Shape Financial Trajectories: Steer robust P&L forecasts, cash flow models, and annual budgets across all operational arms.
• Deliver Strategic Commentary: Appraise budgets, forecasts, and actuals, cutting through variances to present incisive commercial commentary to leadership.
• Drive Merchandise Accounting Integrity: Interrogate the extension ledger to guarantee all artist merchandise entries clear precisely to their respective label profit centers.
• Champion Executive Insights: Deliver sharp, analytical reviews of operational and financial performance directly to senior management.
• Uphold Accounting Rigor: Lead the rollout and practical implementation of technical accounting policies across our operations.
• Navigate Complex Tax Environments: Steer VAT submissions across all business verticals, serving as the authority on cross-border tax compliance and structuring.
• Meet with commercial and label leads regarding commercial strategy, providing financial modeling for new ventures, and advise on VAT handling for live events and popup stores in the UK/EU, depending on the model used (undisclosed vs. disclosed).
• Reviewing and approving artist statements while ensuring all recoupable costs are accounted for correctly.
• Accelerate System Transformation: Play a front-line role in our ongoing Finance Transformation - untangling implementation hurdles, testing critical inputs/outputs, and optimising systems for scale.
• Partner with Commercial Leaders: Embed alongside WMX business heads to remove friction, smash deadlines, and deliver on core milestones.
• Fuel Deal-Making & Commercial Strategy: Build granular financial analyses and evaluate high-stakes artist deals to steer executive decision-making.
• Own Continuous Improvement: Spearhead process optimisation initiatives that make workflows faster, cleaner, and more scalable.
• Fortify Internal Controls: Champion governance by maintaining and enforcing watertight SOX compliance frameworks.
• Protect Artist Trust: Oversee the integrity of artist statement data to uphold reporting accuracy for our roster.
• Master Complex Data: Tackle large-scale data reconciliations, financial modeling, and bespoke ad-hoc investigations to answer urgent business questions.

About you:

• Fully Qualified: ACA, ACCA, or CIMA certified with a stellar track record spanning 10+ years in progressive finance roles.
• Proven People Leader: Experienced in steering, coaching, and getting the best out of finance talent.
• Technically Grounded: Deep technical accounting pedigree paired with hands-on audit pedigree (internal or external).
• Planning Pro: Extensive experience architecting sophisticated budgets, forecasts, and cash-flow roadmaps.
• Sharp Problem Solver: Highly analytical thinker who instinctively dissects complex commercial problems with logic, precision, and speed.
• Fast-Paced Operator: Proven ability to thrive and pivot gracefully under tight turnaround times in dynamic, creative industries.
• Excel Power User: Exceptional advanced modeling and spreadsheet capabilities with zero compromise on data accuracy.
• Collaborative & Agile: A driven, proactive team player who brings high energy, flexibility, and decisive ownership to every project.

We'd love it if you also had:

• Hands-on experience navigating SAP (such as SAP S/4HANA)
• A strong track record managing external audit engagements from inception to sign-off.
• Direct exposure to large-scale finance transformations, system rollouts, or operational process re-engineering.

This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week in the office. We value in-office collaboration, which is essential for talent development and strong working relationships. #LI-Onsite

#J-18808-Ljbffr