““PARALLEL PROJECTS helps photographers, stylists, and small to mid-sized creative agencies and individuals take their businesses to the next level. We understand the nuances of the industry and provide business and financial support in a fresh, non-stuffy way, to allow you to focus on your art and brand.””
WHAT WE DO
PARALLEL PROJECTS is a fully functional finance department that works behind the scenes to help artists manage the financial aspects of their creative businesses. From sorting payroll, business insurance, and taxes to creating budgets and collecting payments, we review our clients' cash flow and strategize business decisions, meeting as often or as little as needed. In short, we'll manage your money while allowing you to focus on what matters most to you: moving forward on your path as an artist.
ARTISTS: PHOTOGRAPHERS, STYLISTS, CREATIVE DIRECTORS+ DESIGNERs
What we do for: Artists
We work with some of the most successful photographers, stylists, creative directors, and designers in the fashion industry. We help creatives manage their business so that they can focus solely on what matters most—doing the work they love and growing their client base.
We keep a watchful eye on your cash flow, make sure the bills are paid, log expenses, sort payroll and business insurance, and liaise with CPAs at the end of the year to prepare your taxes. We also analyze your finances and help you make strategic decisions about how to run your business and set goals for the future.
AGENCIES: CREATIVE ADVERTISING, PRODUCTION, ARTIST REPRESENTATION
What we do for: Agencies
We work with some of the biggest creative, advertising, production, and artist representation agencies in the industry. We are a fully functioning finance team that can manage all the tasks of an in-house finance department. Our services are designed to meet the complex needs of an agency—from managing cash flow, accounts receivable, and accounts payable to logging expenses, preparing artist statements, facilitating payroll, and sorting business insurance and quarterly tax planning. We manage your day-to-day business operations and provide you with top-level financial analysis so that you and your employees can focus on business performance, expanding the client base, and setting new goals for the company.
PACKAGES + RATES
MEET YOUR NEW FINANCE TEAM
““I work for the artist, and therefore am responsible for understanding the ins and outs of their business in order to help maximize their existing wealth.””
FOUNDER + CEO: MICHELLE FUNKE
Michelle Funke is the Owner and CEO of PARALLEL PROJECTS, Inc.
Prior to founding PARALLEL PROJECTS in 2015, Michelle oversaw financial operations for the NY and LA offices of Camilla Lowther Management (CLM).
Before joining CLM, Michelle worked in corporate finance, gaining invaluable insight into the operations of multi-billion dollar companies.
She worked at Sony Music, where she handled artist royalties and profit and loss analysis, and forecasted iTunes revenue in the initial years following the launch of the platform. From there she moved on to News Corporation, where she worked in corporate financial reporting and was instrumental in several mergers and acquisitions, including Dow Jones. Next, at Arnold Worldwide, she managed several global multinational corporations including The Hershey Company and Sanofi-Aventis.
In 2015, Michelle launched PARALLEL PROJECTS, Inc., a boutique finance platform serving small small agencies and artists in the fashion and beauty industries.
Michelle graduated with a Finance Degree from Loyola University New Orleans.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE : CHRISTINA LIVIA
Born and raised in New York, Christina always dreamed of working in the city. She began her career as an intern at Parallel Projects while still attending St. John’s University. She then tried to find her place in the finance world, but soon became convinced it couldn’t offer her anything more than a cubicle and a corporate life. She soon found her way back to Parallel, which has provided her with quite the opposite. Christina quickly connected with the message of the company and has made her way up at Parallel Projects over the last several years, growing in step with the company at which she now holds the title of Director. She prides herself on bringing ease and simplicity to her clients when it comes to all things finance. Christina appreciates the connection she is able to have with her clients since her interests overlap with many of theirs, including fashion, media, and travel.
SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST : GILLIAN GREENE
Gillian was born and raised in the New York area and graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Finance. She was previously a financial analyst with a New York-based advertising agency. After her years working at a publicly listed company, Gillian joined Parallel Projects to experience a more direct and personal engagement with clients.
FINANCIAL ANALYST : FARHEN TROPA
Farhen was born and raised in New York City and graduated with an economics degree from Queens College. She started her career off in the accounting world, which has prepared her to begin applying the skills and knowledge at Parallel Projects. Being able to have personal relationship with not only the team at parallel projects, she hopes to learn, grow, and succeed within this company.
FINANCIAL ANALYST : MELISSA LAMAR
Melissa was born and raised in Brooklyn and a graduate of University at Albany with a degree in Accounting. After years of being a Tax Accountant she decided to shift away from the corporate world and focus more broadly in finance. From working in large corporate firms, Melissa knew immediately that she would prefer a smaller work setting. Working at Parallel Projects offers her the unique role in applying her accounting skills to creative agencies and artists, a clientele she can relate to being an artistic person herself.
FINANCIAL ANALYST : YOSSEF MARCIANO
Yossef was raised in the heart of New York City and graduated with a degree in Economics. After working in the construction and fitness industries, his love for fashion led him to Parallel Projects. He’s passionate about helping clients grow and always looking to deepen his knowledge in both finance and the creative world.
FINANCE ANALYST, LONDON: OPEN POSITION!
Please email [email protected] to apply.
CONTACT US
We work with clients across North America and have offices in New York and London.
FOUNDER + FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
E. [email protected]
C. 561.358.8278