Manager of Business Operations (Production Accounting)

The Manager of Business Operations oversees and governs the STARS program (Show Talent Agreement Review System) to ensure accurate payroll processing and data integrity. Administers user access and security levels. Work with IT when system updates are required. Monitor and record in detail any system malfunctions and request IT support immediately. 

Comprehensive knowledge of union agreements is necessary to interpret payments and ensure compliance. Proficiency ensures you can respond quickly to production staff when clarification is needed. 

Monitor workforce trends and costs to project future expenses that would affect the show's budget. Develop analytical reports that identify key cost drivers and provide actionable insights for informed decision-making.

Collaborate with labor representatives to address and resolve any union-related issues as necessary. During union negotiations, you’ll provide actual cost data via cost analysis reporting and work pattern history.

Be intuitive of contract cast changes that may impact show costs, ensuring that updates are recorded promptly and accurately. Work with Business Affairs and obtain copies of executed agreements in a timely manner.

The business office handles a high volume of inquiries from performers, talent agents, and production staff, providing solutions-oriented support and fostering productive professional relationships.

Coordinate talent onboarding through multiple systems such as STARS, Cast & Crew, Global Human Resource Operations, and Non-Employees/Third Party, emphasizing cross-departmental collaboration.

Payroll Processing (weekly)

STARS is a multi-level system utilized for casting talent, managing production scheduling, maintaining talent agreements, and tracking union and non-union rates 

• Oversee the review and approval of SAG/AFTRA talent casting records and related fees to ensure accuracy and compliance with union guidelines.
• Verify the time entry of hours worked from Call Sheets and verify individual time sheets to ensure payroll accuracy.
• Oversee reconciliation of SAG/AFTRA Multi-Cast Reports and DGA Additional Day Reports to ensure financial accuracy and union compliance.
• Secure timely payroll submission and enforce compliance with payroll deadlines and company procedures.
• Resolve rejected payroll records and authorize off-cycle check requests as needed.

Cast & Crew

• Sign in to the third-party payroll system and upload payroll files that have been thoroughly reviewed and approved.
• Hair & Makeup: Create and maintain a detailed spreadsheet of hours worked and earnings.
• Validate all C&C payroll edit reports for accuracy before approving and releasing.
• Notify the Finance department upon invoice approval to initiate timely processing of payroll invoice and ensure alignment with Cast & Crew payment agreements.

D-Time

• Verify and submit the weekly timesheet for STDU-Script Typists.

Teacher and Nurse Weekly Scheduling

• Manage hiring and retention of studio teachers for minors and studio nurses for infants under 6 months, maintaining a roster for future staffing needs.
• After finalizing the teacher schedule, communicate all relevant details to Production staff according to established workflow procedures.

Distribute Weekly Reports

• Oversee the delivery of weekly show cost reports to Production Management for cost tracking and budget management.

New Hires

• Provide new hires with clear instructions for completing onboarding paperwork and ensuring prompt completion.
• Oversee I-9 document verification/completion to ensure employees remain active in the payroll system and comply with federal employment regulations.
• Provide enhanced oversight for loan-out hires to ensure alignment with company payroll processes and tax requirements.
• Oversee minor hires to ensure ongoing compliance with Coogan regulations, mitigate risk, and adhere to industry standards.

Office Production Assistants (OPAs) – Quarterly

• Process Office Production Assistants (OPAs) as non-employees. Provide email accounts, shared drive access, and request a company ID.

Monthly

AFM Music Payments

• Process GH Theme music renewal payments, ensuring timely processing through Stars. Complete Accounts Payable Pension obligations and upload detailed music session payment reports to the AFM website in compliance with union requirements.

Royalty Fee Accounts Payable

• Process a monthly royalty payment for non-writers through Accounts Payable in accordance with contractual obligations.

Cigna Insurance Invoices

• Request and review monthly invoices from the insurance provider, then authorize payment through the finance department in accordance with established finance procedures.

Travel & Expense

• Coordinate travel arrangements for talent.
• Review travel expenses for non-employees to ensure policy compliance.
• Review and approve travel card transactions.

Other Duties

• Stop payment requests, guide employees through company procedures to ensure timely replacement.
• Update SAP records with talent agency mailing addresses from check authorizations.
• At the request of daily hires, promptly update address and direct deposit information, ensuring the confidentiality of personal data and the accuracy of information.
• Contract agreement reconciliations; payout talent agreement overages and vacation pay, ensuring accuracy and timely disbursement of outstanding amounts.
• Process Flashback payments each quarter.
• Provide DGA members with a quarterly Earnings Summary report.
• Request company IDs for new employees, recurring actors, and Hair-Makeup personnel.
• Ensure that all production staff non-employees are extended annually for an additional 12-month period in accordance with company policy.
• Send union hire notification to the DGA (Directors, Associate Directors and Production Assistants) in accordance with notification requirements.
• Oversee the cross-charging of compensation for participants in the Directors' Training Program, ensuring accurate allocation of charges.

Cast & Crew Other

• Oversee the monitoring of employee medical contributions, making necessary adjustments for hiatus weeks to ensure accurate deductions for medical contributions benefits.
• Oversee the annual processing of “special bonus” payroll, including calculation of “special bonus” amounts and preparation of detailed earnings reports to ensure accurate disbursement. 
• Oversee the processing of paperwork for production staff increases (yearly)
• Request and review total Hours Worked report for Hair-Makeup employees to determine eligibility for yearly medical insurance coverage in accordance with departmental requirements.
• Coordinate the distribution of medical insurance documents to qualifying individuals during the enrollment period or as needed, ensuring timely enrollment and adherence to eligibility requirements.
• Administer the annual processing of teacher Holiday pay, ensuring accurate calculation and timely distribution.

Cast & Crew Residuals

• Initiate encore episode payments through Cast & Crew as needed.
• Prepare and submit a quarterly episode cast report to Cast & Crew to facilitate proper setup and ensure accurate processing of future union residual payments to actors, directors, and writers.
• Collaborate with Disney’s residuals department to verify data accuracy and invoice payment.
• Provide Cast & Crew with Coogan bank information for eligible minors, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in entertainment payroll, production accounting, or payroll processing, including future union residual payments to actors, directors, and writers. 
• Experience with SAG-AFTRA, DGA, AFM, WGA, and other entertainment union agreements, including how to interpret payments and ensure compliance required.
• Experience processing weekly payroll and reconciling union reports, such as SAG-AFTRA Multi-Cast and DGA Additional Day reports in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with payroll or talent management systems such as STARS, Cast & Crew, or similar, and with SAP or comparable tools.
• Knowledge of I-9 verification, loan-out hires, and Coogan requirements for minors.
• Ability to create analytical reports that identify cost drivers and guide decisions.
• Proficiency in Excel for spreadsheet management, cost analysis, and budget forecasting.
• Ability to meet weekly payroll deadlines while managing recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual responsibilities.
• Protect confidential personal and payroll data.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally, providing solution-oriented support to talent, agents, and production staff. Collaborate with Business Affairs, Finance, IT, and labor representatives.
• Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of our Los Feliz offices. This role requires someone onsite 4 days a week.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience with STARS or the Cast & Crew platform
• Experience supporting union negotiations with cost data
• Experience with talent agreement reconciliations, residuals, and AP processes
• Experience on a scripted television series

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

PAY TRANSPARENCY

The hiring range for this position in Los Feliz, CA is $106,600 to $143,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

This position is with American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., which is part of a business we call Disney Entertainment Television.

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American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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