Music Publishers Association (UK)
Finance Business Partner
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We are seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner
We are seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to provide financial leadership, assurance, oversight and governance across all finance activities supporting MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society).
The role acts as the primary point of accountability for ensuring that finance services delivered by PRS Finance (service provider) on behalf of MCPS are performed effectively, accurately and in accordance with agreed service levels, while overseeing finance activities that remain under MCPS ownership.
About the MPA Group of Companies
The MPA works on behalf of its wide-ranging membership to protect and enhance the rights of the music publishers and creators at the heart of British music’s extraordinary cultural and economic success story. We strive to be the catalyst for positive change in the music publishing community, by empowering our members and by advocating on behalf of our industry with passion, integrity, respect for others and with the creator at the heart of everything we do.
The MPA also owns and operates its subsidiary businesses MCPS and PMLL (collectively known as The MPA Group).
About MCPS
MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society) is the UK collection society that licenses mechanical (reproduction) copyrights on behalf of over 46,000 music publisher, songwriter, composer and lyricist members.
About the Role
Reporting to the COO the Finance Business Partner is responsible for providing financial leadership, assurance, oversight and governance across all finance activities supporting MCPS. The role acts as the primary point of accountability for ensuring that finance services delivered by PRS on behalf of MCPS are performed effectively, accurately and in accordance with agreed service levels, while overseeing finance activities that remain under MCPS ownership.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Service Assurance and Governance
- Provide independent oversight and assurance of all finance processes and services delivered by PRS on behalf of MCPS.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with PRS Finance leadership and dedicated finance resources supporting MCPS.
- Ensure finance activities are delivered in accordance with agreed policies, controls, regulatory requirements, SLAs and KPIs.
- Identify, manage, and escalate service delivery issues, driving resolution where performance falls below agreed standards.
Financial Reporting and Approval
- Review, challenge, approve, and provide assurance over financial reports, management information and analysis produced by PRS on behalf of MCPS.
- Act as the accountable approver for finance-related reports, audits, requests, submissions and information shared with MCPS stakeholders.
- Ensure reporting is accurate, complete, timely and supports effective decision-making.
- Oversee, and approve reporting relating to performance, cash flow, BIEM, CISAC and other management and regulatory reporting, including providing commentary and context on behalf of MCPS and wider MCPS partners where appropriate to PRS.
- Review PRS finance systems where access has been provided to MCPS.
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Financial Planning, Forecasting and Performance
- Lead the development of MCPS budgets, forecasts and financial plans. Communicate these to PRS.
- Support in generating material to provide financial commentary, analysis and performance insights to the MCPS Board.
Revenue Collection, Credit Control and Accounts Receivable Oversight
- Oversee collections, accounts receivable and credit control activities associated with MCPS licensing operations, including areas where sync and production music licensing is managed directly by MCPS.
- Hold accountability for the effective management of invoicing, aged debt, debt recovery, cash collection performance and credit risk where this is owned by MCPS.
- Manage Credit Control and Accounts function within MCPS responsible for undertaking day-to-day collection activities, ensuring performance targets and controls are maintained.
- Support the transition and ongoing management of invoicing activities where these are brought in-house by MCPS.
Finance Escalations and Exceptional Matters
- Act as the senior finance lead for exceptional, complex, or escalated finance matters affecting MCPS, such as issues related to withholding tax matters - territory-specific.
- Commission and manage external finance, tax, audit, or advisory support where specialist expertise is required on behalf of MCPS.
Audit, Risk and Financial Control
- Review findings from internal and external audits and oversee remediation activities where applicable.
- Ensure appropriate financial controls are operating effectively across all services delivered on behalf of MCPS.
- Identify, manage, and mitigate financial, operational and compliance risks.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen financial controls, reporting quality and operational efficiency.
Stakeholder Management and Collaboration
- Work with COO as the finance contacts between MCPS and PRS for operational and strategic finance matters.
- Work collaboratively with MCPS and PRS teams to resolve issues, improve service delivery and implement process enhancements.
- Support governance forums and provide clear financial insight and assurance to MCPS leadership.
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About You
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, part qualified or equivalent by experience.
- Proven experience in financial reporting, analysis, and providing financial insight to senior leadership and boards.
- Strong knowledge of financial controls, audit and compliance requirements.
- Hands-on experience in accounts receivable, credit control and collections management.
- Experience managing relationships with external finance partners or service providers or working within outsourced finance arrangements.
- Track record of driving process improvement and strengthening financial controls.
- Experience in risk identification and mitigation across finance and operations.
- Familiarity with finance systems and statutory accounts software.
Desirable
- Experience in rights administration, music publishing, licensing, or copyright management.
- Knowledge of collective management organisations (CMOs) or collection society operations.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong ability to interpret financial data, identify trends and communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong financial modelling skills and advanced Excel capability.
- Skilled at building and maintaining relationships with external partners, particularly where there's shared accountability or outsourced delivery.
- Ability to identify complex or exceptional finance matters, escalate appropriately and drive resolution.
- Sound judgment on credit risk, debt prioritisation and cash collection strategies.
- Comfortable managing competing demands, shifting between strategic oversight and hands-on operations and operating in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Benefits
- 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension contribution
- Critical illness insurance
- Income protection insurance
- Death in service benefit (after 2 years of service)
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the creators and communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, and strive to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported and empowered to do their best work. This commitment to inclusion and respect for creators sits at the heart of the MPA Group.
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