Sr Manager, Production Finance FP&A - BET

This is a Full Time Job

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

BET is seeking a Senior Manager, Production Finance FP&A that will support FP&A operations for our original, co-produced and licensed programming. This is an ideal position for someone who has a comprehensive understanding of production finance and accounting and is looking to bring their strong analytical skills and forecasting abilities to a fast-paced industry leader. Key duties will include forecasting, tracking and managing estimated final costs and cash flows for all original programming and development projects. This position will work cross-functionally to directly support Production Accounting, Corporate Finance, Business Affairs, Production, Treasury and Tax.

The ideal candidate will be highly detail-oriented, possess strong communication skills, be able to process many tasks simultaneously with accuracy and take the initiative to drive process improvements.

Overview & Responsibilities
• Creating and forecasting financial models and cash flows for all original programming, development, and first look/overall deals, including tracking production commitments, analyzing, and reporting production cost ultimates and forecasting production cash disbursements and receipts
• Leading monthly estimate and close processes and annual budget and long-range plan cycles, including analyzing and reporting variances of production costs and cash flows, reconciling internal forecasts to accounting systems
• Working closely with Production Finance and Production Accounting to acquire updated production budgets and cash flows and coordinate the journaling and payment of production expenses
• Ensuring the impact of production schedules, license fee commitments, production breakage items and co-production deals on ultimates and cash flow are forecasted correctly and fall in line with BET’s financial goals
• Supporting BET consolidate cash flow reporting across lines of businesses (e.g. Marketing, Affiliate, etc.)
• Oversee and manage the process of the cash planning model
• Liaising directly with BET senior management in the creation of financial analytics for strategic initiatives and deal negotiations related to original programming

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance preferred
• 5 years of experience, with at least 3 years working in a Finance or Accounting role

Additional Qualifications

• A comprehensive understanding of production finance functions, production accounting and budgeting, and entertainment industry business practices
• A comprehensive understanding of accounting principles and practices, general ledger systems and accounts payable functions
• Ability to interpret complex contracts, such as co-production and license agreements, production service agreements, program rights acquisition contracts, overall and first-look deals, script deals, and option agreements
• Advanced Excel and Powerpoint skills required
• Experience in Microsoft Access, general ledger accounting systems and planning/analysis systems preferred (SAP, EP Smart Accounting, Longview/TM1)
• The ideal candidate:
• Has strong communication skills with the ability to interact with senior management and other high-level industry executives
• Works effectively and efficiently under pressure and tight deadlines
• Thinks critically and analytically and can process a large volume of transactions and scrutinize large data sets with a high level of accuracy and organization
• Utilizes knowledge and experience to exercise sound business judgment and make independent decisions
• Thinks big-picture and can conceptualize the need for and effectively implement process improvements
• Learns quickly, conducts self-reviews, checks work and learns from mistakes
• Is curious, passionate, and enthusiastic about entertainment finance
• Is willing to challenge the status quo, advocate for BET diverse and inclusive culture, and always act in BET best interest