Director, Production Finance

Job Description

Responsibilities
Job Purpose
Universal Studio Group (USG) is a newly formed division of NBCUniversal, poised to be the leading provider of domestic and global premium content for internal and external platforms. USG houses Universal Television, Universal Content Productions, Universal Television Alternative and Universal International Studios.

The Director, Production Finance is responsible for the financial management of assigned global productions. This role 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. You will be part of a dynamic and creative Production Finance team working directly with our production business units.

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. The successful candidate will exhibit cross-functional dynamic collaboration with all business partners to provide shows with accurate and timely production finance support towards the end goal of producing great content.

Essential Responsibilities
• Partner with Legal and Business Affairs, Production Operations and Tax Departments to effectively manage the financial operations
• Liaise with HR, Labor Relations, Internal Audit, Treasury, IT to ensure production finance policies and procedures are current and effectively implemented
• Hire, train, manage and retain show production accounting teams and direct and indirect staff with the skillset to provide the highest level of production accounting support on shows that are ambitious and complex
• Review all financial documents prepared by show accountants including budgets, cost reports, trial balances and petty cash reconciliations
• 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
• Manage production cash flow and support corporate financial accounting
• Key financial management liaison between production executives, show accountants, line producer, and corporate finance
• Ensure that the USG financial controllership and production policies and procedures are uniformly implemented, and that payroll is in accordance with standards established by NBCU 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 in partnership with Production Finance Head of Incentives and Analytics
• 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

Qualifications/Requirements
Basic Qualifications:
• Candidates must have 5+ years in scripted television production accounting
• Bachelor's degree required. Preferably in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field
• Prefer prior experience as a TV Production Finance Executive or Key Production Accountant
• Broad understanding of production incentives
• Expert skill level of Movie Magic Budgeting and industry standard production accounting systems
• Solid understanding of payroll process, union labor agreements and tax requirements

Eligibility Requirements:
• Interested candidates must submit a resume/CV online to be considered
• Willingness to work overtime and on weekends with short notice
• Willingness to travel when required
• Must be willing to work in Universal City, CA
• Must be covered by Solutions, NBCU's Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
• Must submit an attestation disclosing your COVID-19 vaccination status and, if partially or fully vaccinated, submitting your vaccination record no later than 7 days following commencement of employment.
• Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the commencement of employment or adhere to enhanced protocols Company determines your job position requires accessing an NBCUniversal worksite.
• Must be willing to adhere to all Company COVID-19 workplace safety policies and protocols.

Desired Characteristics

Desired Characteristics:
• Ability to influence senior leadership, and to understand and articulate issues using creative, production or financial context
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team both direct and indirect staff – through superior communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills
• Freelance accountant progressing to management experience as a Production Executive at a large independent or major studio
• Experience with preparation of television series shows budgets and estimates
• Demonstrated ability to deliver while working under time pressure on multiple assignments, and to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment
• Experience with international productions and related tax and accounting issues
• Strong analytical ability with a solution focus
• Unwavering integrity - takes ownership of assigned projects, an adaptive leader that drives results

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-revz92-3-148-167-99-42 in your application.