Manager, Inbound Royalties

At Jazwares, we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere, and anyone. We work collaboratively to achieve our goals and we have fun doing it! Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy manufacturer with an award-winning, robust portfolio of wholly owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1997, Jazwares celebrates imaginative play with a progressive focus on identifying new and relevant trends to transform into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares engages consumers through innovative play experiences with popular brands such as Squishmallows, Pokémon, Star Wars, CoComelon, Fortnite, AEW, Adopt Me!, Hello Kitty, and many more. In addition to toys, offerings also include Metaverse gaming, costumes, and products for pets. Headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries.
The Manager, Inbound Royalties at Jazwares is a key managerial role essential for the financial operations in the toy industry. This role involves overseeing the accurate calculation, analysis, and reporting of quarterly royalties to licensors, ensuring compliance with contractual agreements. It plays a vital role in maintaining Jazwares' financial integrity and upholding its reputation. The primary objective of this position is to lead a team in all aspects of royalty management, from payment calculation to account reconciliation and audit compliance. It requires a deep understanding of financial practices related to royalties and strong leadership and communication skills for team management and stakeholder relationship building. This manager is crucial for ensuring accurate and timely royalty payments, directly impacting Jazwares' financial health and relationships with content creators and partners. By collaborating with legal, accounting, and sales departments, the role supports Jazwares' financial objectives and contributes to its strategic goals in the competitive toy industry.
In addition to its core responsibilities, the Manager, Inbound Royalties at Jazwares plays a significant leadership role. This includes proactively updating the Director of Inbound Royalties on all aspects of the royalty process, ensuring transparency and efficiency. The manager is also responsible for alerting stakeholders about potential discrepancies or shortfalls in Minimum Guarantees, maintaining crucial financial oversight. A key part of their leadership involves spearheading the quarterly reporting process, demonstrating initiative and attention to detail. This leadership extends to guiding their team through complex royalty calculations and negotiations, ensuring accuracy and compliance in all activities.
What you'll be doing:
1. Team Leadership and Management:

• Oversee and manage a team of Inbound royalty professionals, ensuring efficient and effective performance.
• Organize and allocate team responsibilities to maximize productivity and accuracy in royalty calculations.

2. Licensor Relationship Management:

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with licensors, acting as the primary point of contact for all royalty-related inquiries.
• Negotiate and manage licensing agreements, ensuring compliance with contractual terms.

3. Audit and Compliance:

• Assist in audit requests by providing accurate and timely data.
• Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements in royalty reporting.

4. Royalty Calculation and Analysis:

• Calculate and analyze quarterly royalty reports, ensuring accuracy and compliance with licensing agreements.
• Utilize advanced financial models and analytical tools to project and reconcile royalty payments.

5. Project Research and Implementation:

• Lead and assist in various ad hoc projects, researching and implementing new strategies to optimize royalty management processes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business objectives.

6. Interdepartmental Collaboration:

• Work closely with accounting, legal, and sales departments to ensure cohesive and comprehensive financial reporting.
• Address and resolve any discrepancies between accounting ledgers and royalty worksheets.

7. Minimum Guarantee Schedule Management:

• Manage and oversee the minimum guarantee schedule, ensuring all payments are accurate and timely.
• Analyze financial impact and report on variances from projected figures.

Manages People: Yes

• This position is responsible for the talent management of the team
• This position is responsible for providing work direction to their team including assigning and evaluating work, and providing mentorship and guidance to others.

What we look for:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in royalty management or corporate accounting, preferably in the toy industry or a related field.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams.
• CPA highly preferred
• Comprehensive understanding of financial accounting principles, especially related to royalties and licensing agreements in the toy industry.
• Familiarity with financial software and databases used for royalty calculations.
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory compliance related to financial reporting and audits.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy in all aspects of royalty management.
• Proactive problem-solving approach, anticipating issues and developing solutions.
• Ethical and transparent in dealings with financial and contractual obligations.

Skills:

• Strong analytical and numerical skills for accurate calculation and analysis of complex financial data.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills for liaising with licensors, stakeholders, and team members.
• Advanced leadership and organizational skills for managing teams and overseeing complex projects.

Abilities:

• Ability to interpret and analyze financial reports and legal documents.
• Capacity to lead and motivate a team, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Adaptability to changing financial landscapes and ability to implement new strategies for royalty management.
• Ability to deal effectively and work collaboratively with diverse individuals at all organizational levels

Working Conditions

• Environment: Office
• Extreme Exposures: None
• Schedule: Regular Office Hours, may occasionally be required to participate in calls with global counterparts outside of regular office hours
• Physical Requirements:
• Lift up to 10 lbs
• Must be able to stand, walk, sit, hear, and see frequently
• Travel Required: Yes - limited

We Offer:

• Medical Insurance 100% Company paid for Employee and Employee/Children
• Employee Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• 401(K) Retirement Program - Jazwares matches up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals.
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Sick Leave, Vacation, Holiday Pay
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Discretionary bonus

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
JAZWARES is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.