Royalty Accountant

Job Description About the Company

Sumerian Entertainment Group is a dynamic independent entertainment company with interconnected divisions across music, film, publishing, and touring. We work with innovative artists, writers, filmmakers, and creators to build compelling projects and long‑lasting careers. We are seeking a Royalty Accountant who can manage royalty reporting across multiple entertainment verticals. Experience in music, film, and publishing is ideal—but if you are strong in one area and eager to learn the others, this role offers the opportunity to grow.

The Royalty Accountant will be responsible for preparing, analyzing, and distributing royalty statements across the record label, film projects, publishing catalog, and touring operations. This role requires a detail‑oriented, tech‑savvy individual who understands entertainment revenue streams and can manage complex datasets, contracts, and reporting schedules. The ideal candidate has experience in at least one area—music royalties, film participations, or publishing royalties—and can quickly adapt to the others with training.

• Prepare accurate and timely royalty statements for artists, songwriters, filmmakers, producers, and partners across all divisions.
• Process incoming revenue reports from DSPs, distributors, PROs, film platforms, publishers, and ticketing partners.
• Track and reconcile revenue streams including:
• Music: streaming, downloads, mechanicals, performance, sync, neighboring rights
• Film: revenue participations, distribution payments, licensing, backend profit splits
• Publishing: mechanical royalties, performance royalties, synch licensing, foreign collections
• Touring: ticketing reports, merch settlements, guaranteed fees, and deal splits

• Enter and analyze large datasets from multiple sources, ensuring accurate allocation to the correct projects and contributors.
• Reconcile statements, payouts, and revenue reports with contracts and expected deal terms.
• Work closely with external distributors, PROs, sub‑publishers, and film distribution partners to resolve discrepancies.

• Review and interpret contracts (recording, publishing, film distribution, touring deals) to ensure royalty calculations align with agreed terms.
• Maintain an organized database of deal terms, payment schedules, splits, territories, and rights allocations.

• Prepare detailed royalty summaries, revenue breakdowns, and cross‑division analytics for internal stakeholders.
• Identify patterns, under reporting, missing revenue, or trends that may require follow‑up with external partners.
• Support year‑end financial audits and assist with tax‑related reporting for royalty participants.

• Maintain and update royalty accounting software and internal reporting tools.
• Work with leadership to improve royalty processes, workflows, and statement accuracy.
• Assist in onboarding new systems, distributors, or data reporting formats across divisions.

• 2–6+ years of experience in royalty accounting, entertainment accounting, publishing administration, or participations/contract administration.
• Experience with at least one of the following:
• Music royalty accounting
• Film participations
• Publishing/editorial royalties
• Strong analytical skills and high attention to detail when working with large datasets.
• Ability to interpret contracts and apply financial terms accurately.
• Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets, including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and complex formulas.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple reporting cycles and deadlines.

• Experience working at an indie label, film production company, publishing house, or management company.
• Familiarity with royalty software (e.g., Vistex, Curve, Exactuals, Royalty Share, Recoup, Film Track).
• Understanding of copyright, licensing, rights management, and IP monetization.
• Knowledge of entertainment revenue pipelines across streaming, distribution, licensing, and live events.

• Opportunity to work across four entertainment divisions
• A…