Sr. Manager, Affiliate Finance (Disney Platform Distribution)

About the Role & Team:

Disney Platform Distribution (“DPD”) manages all third-party media sales efforts for distribution; affiliate-related business operations for all of the Company's direct-to-consumer services and linear media networks; and content sales agreements for Disney Entertainment and ESPN.

The Senior Manager, Affiliate Finance will support the DPD team that drives $15B+ of subscription revenues from the distribution of Disney’s suite of linear networks (ESPN, ABC, FX, Disney Channel, Freeform and National Geographic) to MPVD and DMVPD clients, plus manage the direct costs required to support the sales organization.  The Senior Manager will lead the planning process across all planning cycles (Forecasts, AOP, Long Range Plan) for Sport Networks specifically, performing data-driven analysis to drive decision making, and preparing analyses to support management reviews and segment / corporate deliverables.

What You Will Do:

The role requires the ability to multi-task across numerous projects including, but not limited to, the following:

• Primary owner of the ESPN affiliate financial planning process for Forecasts, AOPs and Five-Year Plans, across all ESPN networks and affiliate marketing expenses. 

  • Proactively manage stakeholders across Platform Distribution, Controllership, Financial Reporting, Strategy teams, etc. to ensure consistency, accuracy and transparency of financial reporting and timely delivery of financials and supporting analyses to meet deadlines

  • Conduct thoughtful analyses to translate data into business insights

• Develop deep understanding of the strategic and business drivers for affiliate

• Support decision-making by providing stakeholders with timely, detailed and meaningful insights and visibility on business performance

• Prepare engaging, informative and well-organized presentations, customized for different target audiences  

• Develop and maintain effective relationships with business partners across all levels of the organization

• Proactively drive enhancement of financial reporting, and excel based financial models to facilitate accurate and timely reporting

• Develop tools and KPI’s to better manage Affiliate Revenue and subscriptions

• Perform ad-hoc analysis where required to assist in management decision making, including:

  • MVPD deals

  • Growth, benchmarking, what-if and trend analysis related to current business, alternative distribution scenarios

• Build, lead and inspire a team of two (SFA / FA)

• Lead Forecast / Budget / LRP consolidation process, coordinating with stakeholders, and ensuring deadlines are met, and data has been validated to ensure accuracy

• Proactively drive process improvements and efficiencies

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• At least 7 years of related work experience, preferably with a media/entertainment, technology, or start up environment preferred

• Previous experience with leading and developing talent

• Proficient in Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Strong and creative problem solving, project management, and time management skills

• Experience in managing large sets of data and building complex models

• Excellent relationship building skills and customer focused. Ability to work well in teams, both within the group and with other business units

• Exceptional analytical skills and ability to adapt quickly to a fast-paced environment, with a track record of critically evaluating strategic concepts and financial assumptions. Ability to identify issues, generate and evaluate alternatives and implement solutions

• Ability to have excellent attention to detail, while also being able to see the “big picture”

• Proactive and possess a hands-on, collaborative working style

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to persuasively present complex business issues and solutions clearly, and concisely, and communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully, and translate financial information to various business audiences to drive decision-making

• High tolerance for ambiguity and working in a matrixed organization

• Ability to multi-task and deploy resources efficiently

• Ability to move projects forward to completion with collaboration and consensus across multiple stakeholders

• Flexibility and ability to anticipate change and respond to priorities with agility

• Demonstrate track record of process improvements and implementation of best practices

• Results oriented with a high standard for quality and performance, strong work ethic, able to prioritize and resolve an array of issues simultaneously

• Intellectual curiosity

• Basic understanding of GAAP accounting

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA and/or MBA preferred

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related/quantitative field of study required

Disney offers a rewards package to help you live your best life. This includes health and savings benefits, educational opportunities, and special extras that only Disney can provide. Learn more about our benefits and perks at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/benefits

At The Walt Disney Company, everyone belongs! We want our employees to be themselves as this diversity promotes creativity, innovation, and overall helps us better serve our Disney guests and employees. Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture is unwavering, and we take great pride in the culture we’ve created. We invite you to belong!  Apply today.