Manager of Client Payments

Requirements

• Proven experience in a client accounting, payments, or finance operations role within a fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of payment processes, banking platforms, and financial controls
• Experience managing or supervising a team, with the ability to drive performance and accountability
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Confident communicator with the ability to build relationships across departments and seniority levels
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with a continuous improvement approach
• Experience with NetSuite or similar ERP systems preferred

What the job involves

United Talent Agency (UTA) is seeking an experienced Manager, Client Payments to join our growing Finance & Accounting team in London. This role will play a key part in leading the end-to-end client payments function across the UK business, ensuring timely, accurate, and controlled disbursement of funds to clients and third parties.

Reporting into the Director, UK Client Accounting, and working closely alongside another Manager, the successful candidate will lead a team responsible for managing client inflows and outflows, reconciling accounts, processing artist statements, and ensuring compliance with tax and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will combine technical accounting expertise with strong leadership and communication skills, driving excellence in service delivery to agents, clients, and stakeholders.

• Manage, mentor, and develop the Client Payments team, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to company standards
• Act as escalation point for complex payment and client account matters, providing timely and practical resolution
• Establish and monitor performance metrics, driving accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Review and approve artist statements and payments, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
• Monitor client account balances against show settlements in NetSuite, partnering with agent teams to resolve discrepancies
• Oversee FEU compliance, ensuring correct treatment, documentation, and readiness for quarterly submissions
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Agents, Managers, Buyers, and external Accountants to facilitate efficient settlement processes
• Act as the primary point of ownership for the end-to-end client payments process, ensuring consistency, control, and clarity across all UK-serviced departments
• Partner closely with Agents, Assistants, Buyers, and internal teams to ensure smooth flow of funds, clear communication, and timely resolution of queries
• Collaborate with global Finance teams to align processes, share best practice, and manage cross-territory payment matters effectively
• Lead the payments workstream across system migrations and operational changes, ensuring accurate recording, clear audit trails, and no loss of control over funds held on account
• Support the onboarding of new departments into the UK servicing model, embedding standardised processes and ensuring a seamless transition
• Own and monitor key operational metrics (e.g. payment turnaround times, outstanding items, unreconciled balances), taking action where required
• Provide clear and regular reporting to senior management on performance, risks, and areas requiring escalation
• Ensure all payment activity is fully documented, compliant, and audit-ready at all times
• Drive continuous improvement across systems and workflows, identifying opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance service delivery
• Deliver a high standard of service to both internal and external stakeholders, maintaining UTA’s standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and trust