Job Description
Music is Universal
It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.
Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation.
We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email UniversalMusicCareers@umusic.com.
Who We Are – The Finance Team at Universal Music Group UK
At Universal Music UK, our Finance team is at the heart of the business, providing key insights and financial analysis to drive decision-making. We are a collaborative and dynamic team that partners with all areas of the company, ensuring financial transparency and supporting the long-term success of our artists, labels, and commercial teams.
Our Role in Universal Music Group
As part of the world’s leading music company, the Finance team plays a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of Universal Music UK. We are responsible for financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and analysis to support the company’s creative and commercial ambitions. By providing clear and insightful financial data, we help our labels and business units make informed decisions that drive profitability and growth.
The Opportunity – Your Role as FP&A Manager
As FP&A Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis across Universal Music UK. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, including Finance Directors and Business Unit Heads, providing insights that support strategic decision-making. Your role will be instrumental in ensuring financial targets are met and that financial data is used effectively to optimize business performance.
A Day in the Life at UMG UK
Your day as an FP&A Manager will be varied and dynamic, and may include:
Leading financial planning cycles, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning.
Partnering with key business units to provide financial insights and recommendations.
Preparing and presenting financial reports to senior leadership.
Conducting variance analysis and identifying key business trends.
Supporting strategic initiatives with data-driven insights and scenario modelling.
Collaborating with Finance, Commercial, and Label teams to drive operational efficiency.
What Impact Will You Make?
This role is central to ensuring Universal Music UK operates efficiently and profitably. By providing accurate and insightful financial analysis, you will help shape strategic decisions that impact our artists, labels, and commercial teams. Your work will enable the business to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and drive financial success in an ever-evolving music industry.
Your Key Responsibilities
Own the financial planning and forecasting processes, ensuring accurate and timely submissions.
Provide in-depth financial analysis, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting.
Partner with stakeholders to develop financial models and scenario planning.
Identify risks and opportunities, providing recommendations for mitigation or capitalisation.
Support month-end and quarter-end reporting, delivering insightful variance analysis.
Develop and maintain dashboards and KPIs to track business performance.
Drive process improvements and automation in financial reporting.
Collaborate with Finance, Commercial, and Label teams to align financial strategy with business objectives.
Who We’re Looking For
We welcome candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences who share our passion for music, culture, and innovation. We believe that diversity of thought drives innovation, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.
Skills and Attributes
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
Commercial acumen, with an understanding of key business drivers.
Highly proficient in financial modelling and scenario planning.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong attention to detail with a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
Advanced Excel and financial reporting tools expertise; experience with SAP or similar systems is advantageous.
Experience and Qualifications
Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience.
Proven experience in FP&A or financial analysis, ideally within media, entertainment, or a fast-paced commercial environment.
Experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
Experience working with senior stakeholders and influencing decision-making.
Knowledge of the music or entertainment industry is a plus but not essential.
Why Join Us?
At Universal Music UK, we are passionate about music and innovation. We offer a creative and collaborative work environment, opportunities for career development, and the chance to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. If you’re a finance professional looking to make a real impact in a dynamic and fast-moving business, we’d love to hear from you.
Just So You Know…
The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.
Job Category:
Finance & Accounting
We are UMG, the Universal Music Group.
We are the world’s leading music company.
In everything we do, we are committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship.
We own and operate a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries.
We identify and develop recording artists and songwriters, and we produce, distribute and promote the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music to delight and entertain fans around the world.
Our vast catalog of recordings and songs stretches back over a century and comprises the largest, most diverse and culturally rich collection of music ever assembled.
As digital technology refashions the world, our unmatched commitment to lead in developing new services, platforms and business models for the delivery of music and related content empowers innovators and allows new commercial and artistic opportunities to flourish.
Knowing that music, a powerful force for good in the world, is unique in its ability to inspire people and bring them together, we work with our artists and employees to serve our communities.
We are the home for music’s greatest artists, innovators and entrepreneurs.
Together, we are UMG, the Universal Music Group.