Royalty Data Operations Analyst (Remote)

Cengage Learning Holdings II, Inc.

Job Overview

Location

Virtual US KY

Job Type

Full-time

Full Job Description

📋 Description

• Own the end-to-end monthly royalty cycle by preparing, validating, and processing sales files from more than 30 internal and external data sources, ensuring every author, publisher, and rights holder receives accurate and timely payments that fuel the creation of next-generation educational content.
• Serve as the single point of accountability for flawless deal setup in the Royalties system—translating complex contract terms into precise system configurations, maintaining auditable documentation for every change, and performing quarterly audits that safeguard millions of dollars in annual payments.
• Transform raw sales data into actionable intelligence by extracting, cleansing, and importing information using advanced Excel techniques (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Power Query) and SQL-like logic, eliminating duplicates, correcting mapping errors, and aligning product hierarchies before data ever reaches the calculation engine.
• Investigate and resolve suspended or unprocessed sales records within 48 hours, leveraging root-cause analysis to distinguish between pricing anomalies, territory restrictions, or system defects, then collaborating with Technology and Finance teams to implement sustainable fixes that prevent recurrence.
• Process contract amendments—such as escalator clauses, revised royalty rates, or new digital formats—within tight month-end deadlines, ensuring that every adjustment is reflected in the correct accounting period and that downstream General Ledger entries remain balanced.
• Prepare manual royalty upload files for special sales channels (international distributors, custom print runs, bulk licensing deals), validating each line against source documentation and securing dual sign-off to maintain SOX compliance and audit readiness.
• Critically analyze pre-payment reports to identify outliers—unexpected spikes, negative balances, or missing titles—then partner with Author & Publisher Relations to communicate findings and deliver transparent explanations that strengthen trust with content partners.
• Participate in iterative testing of system upgrades and new calculation modules, writing test cases, executing end-to-end scenarios, and documenting defects in JIRA so that enhancements launch with zero impact to payment accuracy or timing.
• Build a deep working knowledge of Cengage’s product taxonomy, rights structures, and global pricing models, becoming the go-to resource for cross-functional teams who need clarity on how royalty rules translate into real-world outcomes.
• Collaborate with Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Product stakeholders to design data-driven process improvements—automating repetitive tasks, reducing manual touchpoints, and shortening the monthly close cycle while maintaining 99.9 % accuracy.
• Respond to high-priority inquiries from authors and publishers within one business day, synthesizing complex royalty statements into concise narratives that explain how usage, returns, and currency fluctuations influenced their earnings.
• Maintain meticulous task tracking in Asana or similar tools, balancing daily operational demands with longer-term projects such as data-migration validations, new market expansions, or royalty policy harmonization across business units.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by documenting standard operating procedures, leading lunch-and-learn sessions on Excel best practices, and mentoring junior analysts to elevate overall team capability.
• Contribute to Cengage’s inclusion and diversity goals by participating in employee resource groups, sharing diverse perspectives during problem-solving sessions, and ensuring that data quality initiatives consider the global nature of our author community.

🎯 Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or minimum of 3 years of equivalent experience in a professional role performing data-intensive financial or royalty operations
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation, and Power Query; familiarity with SQL or BI tools (Power BI, Tableau) strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage high volumes of detailed work under strict monthly deadlines while maintaining 99 %+ accuracy
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills with the initiative to own end-to-end processes and drive root-cause resolution
• Experience reading and interpreting contractual language related to royalty rates, escalators, and digital product licensing (preferred)

🏖️ Benefits

• Fully remote work environment with flexible scheduling and a one-time home-office stipend
• Comprehensive Total Rewards package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, and employee stock purchase plan
• Annual base salary range of $52,000–$67,600 plus potential for overtime during peak royalty periods
• Generous PTO starting at 18 days per year plus paid volunteer time and all major holidays

Skills & Technologies

Onsite

Degree Required

Remote

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Cengage Learning Holdings II, Inc.

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About Cengage Learning Holdings II, Inc.

Cengage provides higher education course materials, digital learning platforms, and e-textbooks. Its offerings include MindTap, WebAssign, and Cengage Unlimited, serving colleges, universities, students, and lifelong learners worldwide.

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