Description

General Summary

The Production Accountant position plays an important role in the overall accountability of the project by providing budget and forecast information, project statements and cost analysis on a timely basis. In addition, the Production Accountant is responsible for integrating the specific production into the Studio’s corporate accounting and production accounting structure and policies. Primary duties include organizing, implementing, and performing all accounting activities as they relate to the assigned production. These activities primarily relate to purchasing, accounts payable, payroll, job cost reporting and forecasting, budget comparisons, and cash flow analysis. The Production Accountant assists project Producer with tracking and forecasting all costs and providing detailed cost information as needed. This individual will also generate and distribute periodic management updates reflecting production progress compared to target and provides analysis of deviations from budget.

Essential Role Functions

The Production Accountant will handle all show accounting for the day to day projects including all phases of financial reporting. The position is responsible to either perform or manage the following areas:

Project Cost Reporting

• Prepare project to date actual, cost to complete projections, and corporate interface reports

• Prepare budgets and weekly cost reports. This includes costs vs. expectations, departmental and individual artist productivity and cost effectiveness

• Prepare budgets and weekly cost reports

• Coordinate complex budget analysis by department to ensure that the film's creative appetite does not exceed estimates

• Prepare detailed monthly cash flows with variance reports for prior month projections

• Equate show cost reports to weekly production progress reports per actual costs, commitments and schedule changes

• Reconcile production costs to Corporate general ledger

Accounts Payable

• Interface and negotiate with subcontractors to safeguard LAIKA’s financial and creative interests
• Purchase order tracking
• Acquire invoice approvals for payment

• Audit and review all production expenditures to ensure the timely and efficient completion

Production Payroll

• Audit and summarize production time cards
• Coordinate bi-weekly payroll processing with corporate payroll
• Coordinate time sensitive talent payroll payments with third party payroll company and collection of required documents with talent and union requirements 
• Labor tracking by employee and task
• Audit and review all production expenditures to ensure the timely and efficient completion.

Other Areas of Responsibility

• Audit and monitor the production schedule and production tracking systems, while integrating them into the financial management of the project

• Interface with Production Management/Executives to develop planning and reporting strategies designed to improve production flows and efficiencies

• Assist in tracking production progress against established quotas
• Insure productions adherence to established corporate policies and procedures
• Maintain adequate historical financial related production records
• Collaborate with others for continued process improvement

 Qualifications / Characteristics

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least three or more years related accounting experience in equivalent position(s)
• Related production accounting experience (production accounting for long format and animation experience preferred) but open to CG, Special FX, Live-Action (preferably with some CG), or large episodic
• Knowledge or experience working with Unions is preferred (specifically Screen Actors Guild)
• Knowledgeable and technical in cost reporting, cash flows and budgeting, payroll; ideally, strong general accounting and entertainment reporting skills
• A communication style that CLEARLY comes across as genuine and authentic; an individual who is comfortable with themselves and is consistent with their communication style; must be collaborative in their approach.
• Tremendous sense of personal ownership; committed to the creative process, quality work products, and delivering results on time
• Skilled in building trust with others through demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards and excellent proactive communications
• Flexible and resourceful; “can-do attitude”; action oriented; focused and driven
• An entrepreneurial spirit who can also work within the parameters of a large and growing organization
• Well-organized; ability to prioritize and multi-task in a busy, dynamic, ever-changing environment; hands-on and purposeful
• Strong communication manager able to keep colleagues, team members and other key players informed in a timely manner; demonstrated organizational skills with strong verbal and written communication skills