What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Project Accountant position at Nova Sky Stories?
At Nova Sky Stories, we empower artists and producers to bring awe and wonder to live audiences around the world. As the global leader in drone entertainment, we’ve been redefining live shows for over a decade—merging cutting-edge drone technology with imaginative artistry.
With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments—urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result? Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.
Headquartered in the U.S. with teams across Europe and the UAE, Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events.
📱 Follow us: @NovaSkyStories
As a Senior Project Accountant, you won't just track numbers; you'll be the crucial financial engine that enables us to deliver extraordinary live experiences. You will play a key role in managing all aspects of project and event-level accounting, from inception to final curtain call.
This includes ensuring absolute accuracy in financial reporting, supporting complex show settlements, driving a timely and efficient month-end close, and providing the critical financial insights that help our creative and operational teams make smart, impactful decisions. This role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoys combining analytical precision with the dynamic, creative energy of live entertainment.
As a Senior Project Accountant, you’ll be responsible for:
Accounting & Reconciliation
With a veteran team of engineers and creatives, we design and operate lightweight, small, precise, and safe drones that perform in the most demanding environments—urban centers, extreme temperatures, and high winds. The result? Sky Stories that inspire, captivate, and transform the sky into a canvas of imagination.
Headquartered in the U.S. with teams across Europe and the UAE, Nova Sky Stories works with the world’s leading brands, venues, and events.
📱 Follow us: @NovaSkyStories
As a Senior Project Accountant, you won't just track numbers; you'll be the crucial financial engine that enables us to deliver extraordinary live experiences. You will play a key role in managing all aspects of project and event-level accounting, from inception to final curtain call.
This includes ensuring absolute accuracy in financial reporting, supporting complex show settlements, driving a timely and efficient month-end close, and providing the critical financial insights that help our creative and operational teams make smart, impactful decisions. This role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoys combining analytical precision with the dynamic, creative energy of live entertainment.
As a Senior Project Accountant, you’ll be responsible for:
Accounting & Reconciliation
- Manage end-to-end Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) processes, including the meticulous reviewing, coding, and posting of all vendor invoices, internal expenses, and client cash receipts.
- Prepare and issue all invoices for client receivables. This requires obtaining appropriate approvals and ensuring all financial coding aligns precisely with specific shows, tours, or partnerships.
- Conduct thorough audits of show files and event settlements to rigorously confirm compliance with both internal company policies and external contractual terms.
- Maintain the integrity of our financial records by regularly reviewing and reconciling key balance sheet and general ledger accounts to ensure accuracy and completeness ahead of the monthly close.
- Support the entire month-end close process, diligently preparing and posting all necessary journal entries, accruals, and comprehensive reconciliations across all global entities.
- Prepare and post routine monthly accounting entries related to invoicing, travel & entertainment (T&E) expenses, corporate credit card activity, and final show settlements.
- Own the preparation and detailed review of all show and tour reconciliations, taking proactive steps to identify, investigate, and resolve any potential financial discrepancies or variances.
- Act as a key resource by partnering with management to support and contribute to the company’s crucial budgeting, forecasting, and routine financial reporting cycles.
- Verify the accuracy of all event settlements and coordinate timely final payments to partners and vendors through the Accounts Payable system.
- Actively collaborate with external vendors and production partners to ensure the timely submission of all necessary cost estimates and invoices, supporting strict month-end close deadlines.
- Maintain meticulous project-level tracking for all key production costs and consistently reconcile actual expenditures against the approved project budget, highlighting potential risks or savings.
- Analyze project cost data and event performance to critically evaluate profitability, Return on Investment (ROI), and the viability of partnership renewals.
- Prepare insightful financial analyses and variance reports that inform operational decision-making, helping management control costs and maximize revenue.
- Proactively recommend and implement process improvements to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and visibility within all project accounting and settlement workflows.
- Act as a critical liaison between Accounting, Production, and Operations teams to foster strong communication and ensure complete alignment between financial discipline and creative priorities.
- Collaborate with global teams and local partners to support the implementation of consistent accounting practices, standards, and reporting across all regions.
- Provide flexible support for special projects, complex show settlements, and other strategic initiatives as needed to advance team and organizational goals.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related quantitative field.
- 4–6 years of progressive accounting experience, with a background in project-based accounting being highly desirable.
- Experience within live entertainment, production, media, or events is strongly preferred, demonstrating an understanding of show settlements and project workflows.
- Solid, demonstrable understanding of U.S. GAAP and core accounting principles.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to utilize advanced functions such as pivot tables, VLOOKUPs/XLOOKUPs, and complex data analysis to derive insights.
- Excellent attention to detail, coupled with strong organizational and time-management skills to ensure accuracy across all projects.
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, with the crucial ability to translate complex financial data for non-financial stakeholders (e.g., production teams).
- Proven ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and consistently meet tight deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced, and often global operating environment.
- A collaborative mindset and team-oriented approach, balanced with the ability to work efficiently and independently when needed.
- A genuine passion for storytelling through art, technology, or live experiences is a strong advantage and a cultural plus.