Berrett-Koehler Publishers (BK) is an award-winning and innovative independent publishing company. Founded in 1992, BK is headquartered in Oakland, California, was recently named the independent publishing company of the year and has been continuously profitable for fifteen years in a row. Our books, audios, and videos are sold all over the world and we also host online summits and offer online training resources. We are dedicated to an ambitious mission: Connecting People and Ideas to Create a World That Works for All. Through our groundbreaking resources on business, management, training, current affairs, personal growth, self-help, and other areas, we strive to challenge conventional thinking, introduce new ideas, and foster positive change on individual, organizational, and societal levels. We offer a work environment that is participative, collaborative, and flexible. We seek staff members who bring cultural, ethnic, social, and intellectual diversity. We are a Certified B Corp and a California Benefit Corp. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

BK is seeking a Royalty Manager to lead the company’s royalty functions. This position bears primary responsibility to ensure that royalties both incoming and outgoing are properly documented and conveyed in an accurate and timely manner. Provide authors with excellent service in communicating royalty information and answering questions. Track and follow up on digital distributor sales reports and subsidiary rights sales reports. Make sure sales information is accurately recorded according to month-end close schedules.

Job responsibilities of the Royalty Manager include the following:

Author Royalties

• Ensure royalty records are set up per contract in both Acumen and MetaComet.
  • Work with accounting to set up new authors when required
• Manage all royalty accounting functions to ensure accuracy and efficiencies
• Work with 3rd party royalty system to ensure royalties are proper and tie to Acumen
• Review and ensure proper calculation and proper accruals for royalties
• Interpret reports and records for authors
• Review contract to ensure royalties are accurately reported
• Produce royalty statements and payment 4 times per year and communicate with editorial and authors to ensure validity and accuracy of statement.
• Maintain relationships with authors and answer their questions in a timely manner
• Ensure follow up with Author advances and ensure receipt of return advance when project cancelled
• Work with BK Foundation on author donated royalties. Ensure donations are properly identified and allocated before royalty payments and pay Foundation in a timely manner
• Other royalty-related duties and projects as assigned

Digital Sales Royalty Proceeds

• Ensure accurate and timely receipt of digital sales files from distributors
• Follow up on files that are late or incomplete
• Follow up with distributor when files contain non-Berrett-Koehler sales
• Update sales trackers with revenue amounts and ensure files are properly uploaded to Acumen
• Add/update templates in MetaComet for new distributors or changed files
• Review contracts of distributors to ensure proper royalties are received
• Work with accounting to apply cash receipts and research unidentified payments relating to digital receipts
• Prepare monthly digital accrual for accounting

Sub-Rights Proceeds

• Update FileMaker for Sub Rights receipts
• Follow up with International Sales for receipts not identified
• Ensure proper government documentation is received and generated for various countries
• Prepare monthly Sub Rights accrual for accounting
• Work with authors to ensure they are properly notified of foreign rights sales
• Other Sub-right related duties as assigned

Audit

• Ensure proper documentation of files and work for audit
• Prepare required reports as assigned by VP Finance
• Ensure reserves are valid and properly documented
• Other audit duties relating to royalties as assigned

Organizational Citizenship

• Participate in company staff meetings, finance and operations department meetings and author lunches (on a voluntary basis)
• Participate in other company meetings, such as project meetings and cross-departmental team meetings, as needed for this position and for the effective operation of the company
• Participate in company projects, teams, discussions, activities, author events, etc., as needed for the effective operation of the company
• Be fluent with video conferencing software. Be a respectful listener and effective communicator in remote meetings of all sizes

Requirements

Essential Skills and Experience

• 3 to 5+ years of accounting experience, with extensive GL reconciliation, royalty and/or audit experience.
• BS Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting or related field or equivalent experience
• Experience in managing relationships with external customers
• Ability to take initiative and command of given responsibilities

Desirable but Not Essential Skills

• Experience in the book publishing industry
• Experience dealing with authors
• Proficiency with Acumen and/or royalty software

Qualities

Essential

• Focus on timely execution of responsibilities
• Curiosity and drive to learn
• Commitment to continual improvement
• Strong verbal and written communication and social skills that enable collaboration up, down, and across the organization
• Organized, thoughtful, detail-conscious, efficient, resourceful, cooperative, open, self-starting

Desirable

• Articulate, literate, sense of humor, direct, cheerful and resourceful; enjoys a highly collaborative workplace

Other

We will consider permanent remote employment limited to California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, and Washington. The position is preferred to work 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Pacific time, but hours can be discussed during the interview process.

This position requires a background check from a third-party company. Candidates will be required to provide permission to commence background checks after signing a formal offer letter from the company.

APPLICATIONS

Not sure you meet 100% of the qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you’re new to book publishing, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in this position, your qualifications, how you have been successful in similar jobs or volunteer work, and your personal qualities that account for your success to. See our website for further information at http://www.bkconnection.com.

Benefits

• Salary $67,626.00
• Health, Dental, Disability and Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Account plan, 401K and ESOP
• Vacation days, holidays, sick leave