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The Sydney Symphony A presentation by Rachel Hadfield Director of Finance

The Sydney Symphony A presentation by Rachel Hadfield Director of Finance. Director of Finance Job Overview. Director of Finance Job Overview. Financial Management Business Analysis Financial Reporting (internal and external) Budget Preparation Risk Management

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The Sydney Symphony A presentation by Rachel Hadfield Director of Finance

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  1. The Sydney Symphony A presentation by Rachel Hadfield Director of Finance

  2. Director of Finance Job Overview

  3. Director of Finance Job Overview • Financial Management • Business Analysis • Financial Reporting (internal and external) • Budget Preparation • Risk Management • Development of Company Calendar • Board Secretariat • Board Governance • Internal Audit • Records Management • Risk Identification and Accountability • Legal Liaison

  4. Director of Finance Job Overview (cont.) • People • Pay, Employee Records • Human Resources • Recruitment • Induction • Training • Performance Management Systems • Enterprise Bargaining • Consultative Committee Liaison • IT • Systems Development • Network Integrity • Admin Staff Skills • Productivity Improvements • Office Management • Maintain Productive Office Environment

  5. Business Services Team Director of Finance Management Accountant HR Manager IT Manager Business Analyst (PT) Business Services Assistant

  6. Sydney Symphony Context

  7. Evolution 1932 1936 1946 1947 1948 1982 1986 1987 1993 1994 1995 1997 1999 2002 2003 2004 • SSO established as part of the ABC, only 24 players • Start of annual concert seasons • State and Local Government agree to establish an orchestra in Sydney • Eugene Goossens appointed first Chief Conductor • "Sydney must have an Opera House" - Goossens chooses Bennelong Point • Sir Charles Mackerras appointed first Australian Chief Conductor • Mary Vallentine appointed Managing Director • Stuart Challender appointed Chief Conductor • Edo do Waart appointed as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director • Federal Government increased player numbers (104) and salaries • SSO corporatised with Federal Government support • $2.5M 'Creative Nation' funding provided to SSO • Nugent report requests orchestras to build up reserves • Administration Staff reduced by 20% • Libby Christie appointed Managing Director • Gianluigi Gelmetti starts as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director

  8. Australia's Flagship Orchestra • Sydney Symphony is Australia's flagship orchestra: • Largest audience reach • Longest history • Largest government funding • Largest subscriber base • Largest revenue • Largest administration team • Home town is Australia's largest city • Home venue is Australia's premier venue – Sydney Opera House • The Sydney Symphony concert experience can be perceived as elitist. Marketing efforts, outreach programs and free events are attempting to break down this perception

  9. Australia's Flagship Orchestra (cont.) Government Funding v Revenue Share of Voice Equity v Liabilities Paid v Unpaid Audience Reach

  10. 2003 Financial Results

  11. 2003 Financial Overview • Net Surplus of $593k • Net concert result exceeded budget by $566k (and 2002 by $843k) despite various obstacles throughout the year (eg Agerich cancellation) • Significant savings in operating expenditure particularly in marketing • Corporate sponsorship target not met • Orchestra costs were under budget due to the number of vacancies • Admin Expenses variance due to impact of Fixed Asset Review

  12. Noteworthy Results - Income • Ticket Sales • +17% growth in ticket sales on 2002 • Increased reliance on the single ticket market, which represented 52% of sales in 2003 (46% in 2002) • Development • +14% growth on 2002 • +$615k in corporate sponsorships • Commercial Work • Incredible success achieved with net contribution of $689k, +11% of budget • Funding • + 1.871%, relates to a loss in real terms of $194,331 • Interest • Increased interest income in line with the cash surplus generated in the year and interest rate rises

  13. Noteworthy Results - Costs • Marketing • +3% increase in efficiency with $4.39 in single ticket income generated for each dollar of performance marketing spent • Orchestral Salaries • +14.8% increase for all musicians • Savings resulted however from the number of vacancies • Fixed Asset Review • Long overdue audit completed of Company assets with $441k impact on Administration expenses for the year

  14. 2003 Reversed A Decreasing Trend In Profitability Revenue ($m) Profit ($m) Expenses ($m)

  15. Increasing Orchestral Salaries…. Employees ($m) Increasing orchestral salaries Revenue (excluding government funding) ($m) Artists ($m) Operating Loss (excluding government funding) ($m) Admin ($m) Expenses ($m) Depreciation ($m) Once off depreciation expense

  16. Have Been Matched By IncreasedTicket Sales And Commercial Revenue Ticket Sales ($m) Revenue (excluding government funding) ($m) 2003 growth driven by increased ticket sales Sponsors/Donations Operating Loss (i.e. excluding government funding) ($m) Other Expenses ($m) Mostly an increase in orchestral hire revenue

  17. Business Analysis Metrics

  18. “The Dashboard”

  19. Cost per Full Orchestral Call • Musicians work in 2-hour time slots – a call • Depending on their position in the orchestra a musician has a max call count of between 260 and 300 calls per annum • Management have little ability to work the musicians beyond this (exception being commercial work) • Some instruments will never reach their call ceiling • The strings however reach their call ceiling and thus represent the key limiting factor • Therefore a full orchestral call represents a full string count of 16 1st violins, 14 2nd violins, 12 violas, 10 cellos and 8 double basses • A program that requires instrumentation of 8:7:6:5:4 represents 0.5 of an orchestral call • Understanding the contribution per orchestral call of a program is crucial in determining the profitability of various audience segments

  20. Series Analysis

  21. What’s Next?

  22. 1 2 3 4 'Sydney Sound' Wider Audience Feels 'Sense Of Occasion' Broad Relationships Engaged People • Create a distinctive 'Sydney Sound' that is internationally recognised and respected Create a sense of occasion that resonates with wider audiences and is delivered through innovative packaging and production • Develop broader relationships to separate funding from ticket sales • Attract, develop and engage all of our people to deliver success Four Emerging Themes for Strategy 2004 - 2007 Whilst making sure we remain financially secure and meet our educational and artistic obligations to the government

  23. Create A Distinctive 'Sydney Sound' That Is Internationally Recognised And Respected Distinctive • Distinctive Australian sound and repertoire • Sydney Symphony an 'Australian icon' • Promoter of young Australian musical talent • International reputation for excellence and innovation • Ambassador for Australia through sell-out international tours (sponsored) Internationally Recognised 'Sydney Sound' • World class performance venue • Centre of world class music festival • Australian guest artists and conductors world class • Regarded as one of top 3 world orchestras Internationally Respected

  24. Distinctive • Well-recognised 'signature' events • Buying SSO ticket a cherished event • Every performance a major experience for the audience • Innovative use of electronic media to reach wider audience • Younger average age of subscribers & audience • International exposure through tours, recording and multimedia • Range of affordable tickets • Expanded schools involvement • Range of venues across NSW, Australia and international Accessible To Wider Audience Wide Range Of Products • Full-time education program with Sinfonia • Vibrant contemporary music program and chamber series • Quality and innovation of repertoire with good balance of core, commercial and popular Emotional Attachment • High client ticket demand and increasing subscriber numbers • 'Orchestral musician' highly desirable career in Australia • Classical music as popular art form for the masses • GG as well known as Nicole Kidman in Australia • 'Part of the city's fabric' Create A Sense Of Occasion That Resonates With Wider Audiences Wider Audience Feels 'Sense Of Occasion'

  25. Develop Broader Relationships To Separate Funding From Ticket Sales Enhance Existing Relationships • Increase regular funding from audience members and current donors • Robust 'In Memoriam' program • Develop endowment fund • Establish donations from non-audience members • Bequests from Australian and international philanthropists • Reduce reliance on government funding • Separate funding by use eg education, guest artists, touring • Education program becomes a major source of funding • Enhance corporate funding pool through innovative partnerships Develop New Relationships Broad Relationships ƒ Maintain Government Support • Protect orchestras' economic security through regulations

  26. Attract, Develop And Engage All Of Our People To Deliver Success Culture Of Excellence, Innovation And Cooperation • Working together towards common goal • Recognition and appreciation of differing roles • Flexibility of working environment Recognise Demands And Provide Support Engaged People Provide Feedback And Development • Recognition of achievement and effort • Opportunities for professional development of musicians and admin staff • Peer support for development needs

  27. Whilst Remaining Financially Secure And Meeting Our Educational And Artistic Obligations To The Government Financial Security Educational Obligations Artistic Obligations • Reserves = 20% Opex • Government support maintained • Sydney Symphony benefits from significant relationships • Sydney Symphony continues to offer imaginative and new opportunities for supporters • Competitive employment conditions for musicians and admin staff • Education programme must be retained • Retain Opera House as main venue • No change to 'programme led recovery' strategy • No change in numbers of players • Maintain existing subscriber base • Continue to attract world class conductors and soloists • Maintain regional touring • Key Questions: • Is Marketing Success sustainable? • Existing growth has depended on pushing staff and supplier limits • Existing advertising costs are low due to successful bargaining, however, this could fluctuate widely with economic factors • Is there future growth in Commercial Events? • - Key success factor is ability to be able to roster them

  28. Questions

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