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Sr Manager Accounting - Digital Games at Mattel in El Segundo, CA
Job Description
Company Description
CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.
The Team:
Mattel Finance hires leaders. Every one of our finance professionals works in a global finance organization interacting with senior leadership and with the accountability and responsibility to grow a career. We are a strong and nimble finance department focused on driving business results in the most cost-effective manner. We pride ourselves on consistent processes, fast decisions, and increased accountability.
Job Description
The Opportunity:
We are seeking a highly technical, Senior Manager, Accounting to oversee accounting for Mattel's Digital Games Studios. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Accounting, this role will own the end-to-end accounting model for digital games, including revenue recognition policies and technical memos, close and operational processes, reconciliations, and controls. The ideal candidate will have deep U.S. GAAP expertise, direct gaming or interactive entertainment experience, and the ability to translate complex guidance into scalable, auditable processes across platforms, products, contracts, and data flows
What Your Impact Will Be:
- Lead accounting for the digital games business, including month-end close, management reporting, and timely and accurate financial reporting under U.S. GAAP and company policies.
- Own the preparation and review of journal entries, deferred revenue schedules, platform settlement reconciliations, account reconciliations, variance analyses, and key estimates to maintain complete and accurate financial statements.
- Research, document, and operationalize technical accounting conclusions for complex digital gaming arrangements, including ASC 606 revenue recognition, ASC 810 consolidation considerations, principal-agent assessments, multiple performance obligations, virtual currency and virtual goods, subscriptions, downloadable content, bundles, royalties, licenses, platform fees, refunds, chargebacks, and promotions.
- Partner with Commercial, Legal, FP&A, Tax, Treasury, and external partners to evaluate new games, monetization models, platform agreements, license arrangements, contracts, investments, and emerging initiatives before launch.
- Develop and maintain accounting policies, technical memos, standard operating procedures, close calendars, process maps, and controls that translate U.S. GAAP guidance into repeatable day-to-day execution for the digital games business.
- Drive continuous improvement in accounting operations, automation, controls, reporting accuracy, and scalability as transaction volumes, platforms, and monetization models evolve.
- Serve as the subject matter expert for digital games accounting, advising leadership on accounting implications, risks, control requirements, and reporting impacts of strategic decisions.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a small team of 1-2 Senior Financial Analysts, setting clear priorities and building technical depth, business knowledge, and ownership of recurring reporting and analysis.
- Collaborate closely with FP&A and business operations to explain actual results, identify drivers of revenue and margin variances, and provide decision-useful insights.
- Stay current on U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting, SOX/control expectations, platform economics, and gaming industry trends relevant to digital products and live services.
Qualifications
What We’re Looking For:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA required.
- 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including technical accounting, revenue recognition, month-end close, consolidations, and public company reporting or SOX control environments.
- Direct hands-on experience in digital gaming, interactive entertainment, digital media, SaaS, marketplace, or other high-volume digital revenue models; digital games/live services experience strongly preferred.
- Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including ASC 606 revenue recognition, ASC 810 consolidations, principal-agent analysis, variable consideration, multiple performance obligations, contract liabilities/deferred revenue, and accounting for licenses, royalties, and revenue-share arrangements.
- Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical accounting memos and then convert conclusions into detailed processes, controls, reconciliations, data requirements, and system/reporting specifications.
- Prior public accounting experience and/or experience supporting external audits, SEC reporting, and SOX compliance in a public company environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work through complex contracts, product mechanics, data flows, and operational details without losing sight of financial statement impact.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and influencing skills, with the executive presence to translate technical accounting, advise senior leadership, and lead cross-functional priorities.
Additional Information
Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!
How We Work:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:
- We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
- We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
- We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.
Who We Are:
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.
Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.
Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.
Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.
The pay range for this position is between $145,000 and $185,000 annual. The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.