SARAH MCVEY
Brooklyn,NY
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Business Controller
Art Basel
New York, NY
04.2025 - Current
- Lead financial operations for Art Basel's global fair portfolio and corporate initiatives, collaborating with leadership to enhance budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management.
- Work closely with the CEO, COO, Fair General Managers, and Group Finance leadership to provide financial insights, variance analysis, and scenario planning supporting strategic and operational decision-making.
- Oversee financial planning, reporting, and operational finance support for U.S. and Paris fair operations while assisting other fairs and global initiatives as needed.
- Facilitated cross-departmental initiatives aimed at reinforcing financial processes, emphasizing ERP integration, coding structures, and purchase order control mechanisms across operational teams.
- Provide financial guidance and training to departments to improve budget accountability, procurement compliance, and financial system adoption.
CONTROLLER (Consultant)
The h.Wood Group
West Hollywood, CA
05.2024 - 03.2025
- Directed finance, accounting, and payroll operations across 10 restaurant & nightclub locations, driving strategic financial planning and operational efficiency while managing the transition to outsourced accounting team.
- Established rigorous financial controls and audit-ready balance sheet schedules, enhancing accuracy and compliance across all entities.
- Partnered with executive management to deliver P&L reporting and financial insights, influencing strategic decisions and revenue optimization.
- Optimized treasury operations, including cash forecasting and positive pay, ensuring liquidity management and risk mitigation.
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER (Consultant)
MWA Trailers (Mark Woollen & Associates)
Santa Monica, CA
10.2023 - 11.2024
- Analyzed current processes and identified opportunities for improvement in efficiency or accuracy.
- Provided comprehensive financial advice to senior management on a range of topics including taxation, investments, and risk management.
- Developed custom financial strategies for clients to help them reach their long-term financial goals.
- Implemented new technologies to streamline financial operations.
- Collaborated with leaders to propose enhancements for internal financial controls.
CONTROLLER, US
EDISEN
Los Angeles, CA
06.2022 - 02.2024
- Head of Finance & Accounting Operations for all U.S. Subsidiaries reporting to the Global CFO.
- Own general accounting processes for 6 US entities, including streamlining workflows, treasury & cash flow management, FP&A modeling, risk management and group consolidations while ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting to key stakeholders.
- Hire new accounting department employees and provide training, mentorship, and creation of new SOPs for the department while transitioning all accounting and finance duties to an internal team from a third-party accounting firm within the first 5 months which resulted in a 650k+ annual savings in accounting services.
- Lead global ERP initiatives as the group NetSuite Subject Matter Expert; collaborating with Global CFO, EMEA & APAC regional Controllers, Producers and other executives to automate and streamline accounting and operational processes including budgeting, cashflow forecast modeling, revenue recognition, production WIP/profitability reporting and CRM utilization, etc.
- Oversee all U.S. payroll operations and work closely with IT Department and Global Head of Operations to facilitate U.S. physical office operations in New York and San Diego.
- Integration of newly acquired entity from QBO to NetSuite within 2 months while also leading the preparation, execution and due diligence of U.S. subsidiary merger.
- Review, execution, and management of legal, production, postproduction, and freelancer agreements as well as insurance policies for U.S. division, while working with external counsel and insurance reps when necessary.
- Work closely with outside CPA firm on tax planning, strategy and preparation of tax returns for all US entities.
- Lead preparation and due diligence of IRS IDR tax return audit as well as annual external audit with PwC.
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
SECRET ROAD MUSIC SERVICES INC
Los Angeles, CA
08.2018 - 07.2022
- Manage all accounting, financial and HR operations including A/R, A/P, GL, multi-state payroll, software data entry and maintenance, account reconciliations including but not limited to various foreign accounts, artist advance and label distribution accounts.
- Prepare monthly and yearly financials, budget preparation and analysis, forecasting and cash flow reporting for three entities as well as any other ad-hoc projects for the CFO and owners.
- In depth reconciliation and re-classification of transactions within the balance sheet and income statement as the company's financials weren't audited prior to my joining the organization.
- Single handedly implemented NetSuite conversion from QuickBooks while coordinating with software developers to design and implement custom software for the company's specific music industry accounting and operational needs.
- Create custom models and reporting within NetSuite to properly track KPIs based off Publishing and Master metadata.
- Supervise and mentor Royalty Staff Accountants, Licensing/Accounting Coordinator and Office Manager while working with the rest of the team to develop and implement internal controls and identify process inefficiencies to facilitate the organization's growth and safeguard against risk. Reduced accounts receivable by more than 50% within the first year of new controls.
- Collaborate with a third-party artist portal firm to upgrade software, streamline royalty payments and accessibility to statements.
- Coordinate with outside CPA and insurance firms, providing all reporting and sub-schedules regarding yearly tax projections and filings, insurance renewals and audits (workers comp, financial & tax) for all entities.
SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST
THE FORUM-MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CO
Los Angeles, CA
02.2018 - 08.2018
- Preparation and signing of event settlements in conjunction with Event Bookers, Settlements with outside promoters, artists, or producers regularly represent multi-million-dollar transactions.
- Assist in month-end close, the reporting of box office, food & beverage concessions, and merchandise flash results to senior management, review and JE posting of revenue / expense, provide analysis, and submit vendor payments to AP for processing.
- Significant focus on the development of the Budgeted and Five-Year Plan, Quarterly Forecasts including tracking costs, preparation and upload journal entries, account analysis and generating event P&Ls on a weekly basis for senior management.
- Provide primary analytical support and special projects as assigned (e.g., union negotiations, performing rights organization reporting, competitive analysis, etc.) This includes projects and reporting that cross divisions, requiring positive working relationships across the company.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
DANNY WIMMER PRESENTS
Los Angeles, CA
11.2016 - 02.2018
- Primary Festival Accountant. Interim Accounting Manager/HR Administrator for 3 months for the entire company while searching for CFO replacement.
- Prepare and finalize all artist settlements, food & beverage concession reporting, cash vault coordination, vendor, and outside contractor payments on-site for each DWP festival at various locations around the country.
- Data entry and reconciliation of all P&L and balance sheet transactions including but not limited to AP/AR, multi-state sales tax filings, bank and inter-company account reconciliations, budget to actual analysis related to each festival and company overhead.
- Assist in budget preparation as well as creating and maintaining weekly cash-flow reporting, reconciliation and preparation of all financial statements, materials and sub schedules for quarterly board meetings and any other ad-hoc projects needed from the CEO, CFO or Managing members.
- Implement and enforce proper accounting methods and policies for each department.
- Coordinate with outside CPAs to assist with financial audits and yearly tax returns, preparing lead schedules and questions.
- Process payroll for the entire staff, assist in on-boarding new hires and supervise office administrative staff and interns.
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
SMG –THE GREEK THEATRE
Los Angeles, CA
06.2016 - 11.2016
- Prepare and finalize show settlements with promoters ensuring box office receipts, rent calculations and all expenses are accounted for each show.
- Reconciliation of daily food & beverage concession sales, merchandise sales, box office receipts, catering sales or any event related receipts.
- Data entry of AP, AR, daily sales, show settlements, general ledger entries, ACH payments and wires into SAGE software.
- Manage stagehand payroll for each show ensuring that all guidelines are followed on the Collective Bargaining Agreement between The Greek Theatre and IATSE Local 33 as well as send out for payment processing to UTP.
- Supervise cash vault employees and regularly audit cash and box-office vaults.
- Prepare monthly reports and contributions for remittance on behalf of box office employees of IATSE Local 857.
- Month end reconciliations, including all bank accounts and assisting the Director of Finance in preparation of financial statements, reports or backup requested by the City of LA or any other ad-hoc projects as needed.
CORPORATE STAFF ACCOUNTANT
KNITTING FACTORY ENTERTAINMENT
Boise, ID
04.2013 - 04.2016
- Corporate accounting and HR correspondent for 7 restaurant and concert venue entities within California, Nevada, Washington, and New York including multi-state payroll, benefit processing and filing of W-2s, 1099, 1096's.
- High volume data entry of daily restaurant and concert venue sales for multiple entities, AP, AR, manual checks, general ledger entries, ACH payments and wires into spreadsheets and Sage 100/ MAS 90 as well as process weekly AP check runs.
- Created new accounts to the general ledger chart of accounts to help analyze expenses more accurately, implemented new policies and procedures to reduce worker's compensation claims as well as lower costs in labor and expenses.
- Assist with will call, box office sales and concession reconciliations and settlements for large touring events/concerts.
- Calculate and process rent, general liability insurance, sales/use tax and worker's compensation payments.
- Reconciliation of 8 corporate credit cards and 10 bank accounts including cash deposits, credit card settlements and chargebacks.
- Monthly, quarterly, and yearly account reconciliations and analysis including inventory, intercompany reconciliations, COGS, prepaids, accruals, fixed asset entries, preparation of financial statements and any other special projects needed from the CFO.
BOOKKEEPER/LEAD BARTENDER
FLATBREAD COMMUNITY OVEN-CORP, LLC
Boise, ID
08.2008 - 04.2013
- Assist owners with multi-state payroll, AP data entry and payment processing for 5 restaurants within Idaho, Oregon and Utah while also employed as Lead Bartender.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR
DICKINSON FROZEN FOODS
Eagle, ID
10.2008 - 04.2010
- High volume data entry of AP as well as process weekly AP check runs of 150+ checks per week.
Education
ACCOUNTING
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Boise, ID06-2006
BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING
CUESTA COLLEGE
San Luis Obispo, CA06-2004
Skills
- Excel (Advanced Financial Modeling, Pivot Tables,VLOOKUPS)
- NetSuite, Oracle, Microsoft NAV, Sage, IFS, TM1
- ADP, Paychex, Rippling
- Concur, Ariba, Coupa
- Ticketmaster, AXS
Timeline
Senior Business Controller
Art Basel
04.2025 - Current
CONTROLLER (Consultant)
The h.Wood Group
05.2024 - 03.2025
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER (Consultant)
MWA Trailers (Mark Woollen & Associates)
10.2023 - 11.2024
CONTROLLER, US
EDISEN
06.2022 - 02.2024
FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
SECRET ROAD MUSIC SERVICES INC
08.2018 - 07.2022
SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST
THE FORUM-MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CO
02.2018 - 08.2018
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
DANNY WIMMER PRESENTS
11.2016 - 02.2018
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
SMG –THE GREEK THEATRE
06.2016 - 11.2016
CORPORATE STAFF ACCOUNTANT
KNITTING FACTORY ENTERTAINMENT
04.2013 - 04.2016
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE COORDINATOR
DICKINSON FROZEN FOODS
10.2008 - 04.2010
BOOKKEEPER/LEAD BARTENDER
FLATBREAD COMMUNITY OVEN-CORP, LLC
08.2008 - 04.2013
BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING
CUESTA COLLEGE
ACCOUNTING
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY