“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.”
— Michelle Funke, Founder, PARALLEL PROJECTS

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.”
— MICHELLE FUNKE, FOUNDER

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. 
 

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE ON LINKEDIN


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.


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.


JR. FINANCIAL ANALYST : KATHERINE VARGAS

Katherine was born and raised in New Jersey.  She attended Monmouth University where she graduated with a BS in business management. After multiple years of working in accounts payable and the customer service industry, Katherine decided she wanted to work in a more interesting industry like the fashion and beauty world. She joined the Parallel Projects team because it's a place where she could put her skills to work while also expanding her knowledge in finance.


FINANCIAL ANALYST : DREW CAMPBELL

Drew was born and raised in Baltimore and graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Finance and minor in Pre-Law. During college he worked as an intern at a creative agency helping manage their finances. After graduation he knew he enjoyed the creative industry and was eager to find a permanent fit in New York City. Drew joined Parallel Projects because he felt it was a great opportunity to keep working in the industry as well as helping clients of all scales achieve their goals.


FINANCIAL ANALYST : ASHLEY OK

Ashley is a Philadelphia native and graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. Upon completing her degree in Finance, she returned to the Northeast as a financial analyst on Wall Street. Keen to merge finance with her interest in the creative industry, Ashley joined Parallel Projects to learn the ins and outs of her clients’ businesses and help them thrive.

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, Los Angeles, and London.


FOUNDER + FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
E. [email protected]
C. 561.358.8278