Head of Production Finance

This is a Full Time Job

DESCRIPTION:

The Head of Production Finance will oversee all facets of the production finance operation and accounting process: from production accounting team management, to ensuring timely and accurate reporting of actual and estimated show costs, through final tax credit submissions and show closure.

This role will collaborate closely with the physical production team on budgets and analyses and is responsible for protecting company assets through cash management and ongoing monitoring of adherence to policies and procedures, as well as taking active involvement in production operations. The successful candidate will exhibit cross-functional dynamic collaboration with all business partners to provide shows with accurate and timely production finance support.

This role reports to the company's Chief Financial Officer with a dotted line report to the VP/Controller, and supervises a First Assistant Production Accountant.

Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Partner with Creative Affairs, Production, Finance, Business Affairs, and Human Resources to effectively manage financial operations
• Liaise with corporate finance, business affairs, and HR to ensure production finance policies and procedures are current and effectively implemented
• Supervise staff First Assistant Production Accountant who works remotely
• Partner closely with VP/Controller and corporate accounting team; maintain collaborative communication and provide reports on a regular and consistent basis
• Prepare all production financial documents including forecasting, budgets, cost reports, trial balances and petty cash reconciliations
• Manage production cash flow and expenditures
• Track development spending
• Prep (such as setting up bank accounts and EP licenses) and Wrap productions
• Hire, train, and manage show production accounting teams when applicable
• Work with show accountant staff to drive accurate, complete and timely cost reporting, protecting and managing show assets and supporting production
• Coordinate and implement tax, labor and sourcing policies and objectives
• Key financial management liaison between production executives, show accountants, line producer, corporate finance, and clients (studio/broadcaster/streaming service/distributor etc.)
• Provide production finance and accounting guidance to the Jim Henson Company Creature Shops
• Ensure that financial controllership and production policies and procedures are uniformly implemented, and that payroll is in accordance with Company standards and are in compliance with collective bargaining agreement and state and local tax regulations
• Adopt new technologies and determine how best to incorporate into the production accounting workflow
• Manage production incentive workflow and ensure receipt of tax credits or cash
• Ensure that insurance claim costs are accurate and adequately supported by schedules, invoices and payroll documents
• Identify and address problems quickly including breakdowns in communication
• Stay abreast of current and changing industry trends, evolving technologies and production incentives
• Travel to production locations where our shows are filming to review workflows, organizational abilities and effectiveness of accounting staff

Desired Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

• Candidates must have 8+ years in scripted television production accounting
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field is preferred
• Prior experience as a TV Production Finance Executive or Key Production Accountant
• Broad understanding of production incentives
• Facility with production accounting softwares: Movie Magic, SmartAccounting, PSL+ or similar, as well as familiarity with Entertainment Partners and Extreme Reach payroll and accounting platforms and EP Cares health insurance
• Solid understanding of payroll process, union labor agreements, tax requirements, and residuals
• Ability to influence senior leadership, and to under