Senior Royalty Manager

Overview

This Senior Royalty Manager role leads and manages a small squad of Royalty Managers responsible for the accurate and timely preparation, analysis, review, and issuance of royalty statements to authors, agents, and other contractual parties for the organization’s U.S. Trade division. The position has full accountability for the accuracy and integrity of the team’s end-to-end royalty operations and requires close collaboration with internal departments and external parties to ensure transparency, accuracy, and trust.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of Royalty Managers

  • Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of 2–3 Royalty Managers, including review and assistance of adjustments, corrections, and complex contract setup when needed.
  • Develop team capabilities; set goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with departmental and organizational objectives.
  • Oversee task assignment and responsibilities to ensure efficient workflow, adequate coverage, and timely delivery of deadlines.
  • Conduct regular team meetings to provide updates, address challenges, and facilitate knowledge sharing.
  • Perform performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.

• Royalty statement preparation and analysis

  • Own royalty statement preparation and issuance for an imprint.
  • Review and apply contract terms; oversee payee setup in the royalty system.
  • Review and analyze sales data interfacing with the royalty system to ensure accuracy and completeness.
  • Post expenses, fees, and deductions to the royalty system.
  • Complete initial and subsequent reviews of royalty statements to ensure accuracy and compliance with contract terms and company policy.
  • Calculate and record reserves for returns in accordance with contract terms and company policy.
  • Prepare manual adjustments and statements when required.

• Manage contracts and payments

  • Process new contracts and amendments for an imprint on a regular basis.
  • Review, code, and approve advance and payment requests, ensuring adherence to contract terms and internal controls.
  • Ensure compliance with US and foreign tax withholding, reporting, and filing requirements related to advances, royalties, and subrights payments.

• Issue resolution and communication

  • Serve as a point of escalation for complex royalty-related issues, collaborating with business units and other departments to find effective resolutions.
  • Communicate clearly with internal and external stakeholders (including agents and authors) regarding escalated inquiries and requests related to royalty statements.
  • Foster positive and professional relationships with external stakeholders.

• Continuous improvement and operational support

  • Work with the Associate Director and other Senior Royalty Manager to identify recurring issues or risk areas and lead resolution.
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of process improvements and best practices within the Royalty department.
  • Assist Royalty Management leadership with workflow and resourcing as needed, including serving as backup for the weekly and period-end payment process, as needed.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Deep understanding of royalty operations, complex payment structures, contract royalty terms, and practical application to statement preparation.
• Detail-oriented and analytical with sound judgment and a track record of identifying and resolving discrepancies.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence to engage with all levels of the organization and external stakeholders.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Google Workspace, databases, and system queries.
• Excellent organizational skills; able to manage high volumes of data, meet deadlines, and multitask in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Strong organizational and resourceful skills to lead change, manage cross-functional initiatives, and navigate unexpected events.
• High personal and professional integrity, with a commitment to accuracy, transparency, and service excellence.

Preferred Qualifications / Education

• 5+ years of progressive experience in royalty accounting and statement preparation, including at least 2 years in a supervisory or team lead role.
• Extensive experience with royalty contracts and their application.
• Book publishing experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Biblio royalty platform strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance preferred, or equivalent experience.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $115,000 - $120,000
• FSLA status: Exempt

Location

• Remote but tied to the New York, NY office located at 120 Broadway.
• Employment is subject to New York State tax withholding under applicable regulations.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status, or background, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.