Head of Production Finance Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures company based in Manchester, is looking to hire an experienced Finance Director/ Head of Production Finance to join a creatively led, inherently curious and passionate producer of international drama at an exciting time of transformation for the company!
This hands-on role will be responsible for the provision of all financial support including financial planning and budgeting, reporting, production accounting, financial control, compliance and accounting.
The role will work closely with the SVP & VP Production, VP Finance, International TV Production for Sony Pictures Entertainment, GFO accounting functions, Corporate Treasury, IT, and others as required.
What you’ll do:
Business, operational and production finance support
Provide financial decision support to the SVPs & production teams on all financial matters
Support production department on questions around internal budgeting for all shows
Establish and maintain proper accounting, tracking and reporting of production costs
Advising and reviewing Government funding submissions and funding incentives Planning, Budgeting and Management reporting
Manage approval process for cost reports prepared by the production teams
Support customer and vendor negotiations, giving financial input/feedback on contracts
Support recruitment and management of freelance Production Accountant for shows
Prepare production cash flows and management of cash funding requirements
Oversee and assist with cost management across productions and operations
Coordinate and manage MRP (mid-range plan), and annual budgeting cycles, presenting budgets to the International Production Senior Management team
Ensure financial integrity of all planning and management reporting
Working knowledge of film and television production accounting systems
Perform and report monthly management reviews for P&L, cash flow, working capital and balance sheet, preparing overhead reporting, local management accounts and variance analysis
Effectively manage operational cash flow and cash flow forecasting to support the business needs in accordance with policy
Financial accounting, audit and transactional support
Manage and perform month-end close process, signing-off on trial balance and monthly Management Pack, tax packs and resolve Home Office enquiries
Ensure reconciliations between production accounting systems, Costs Reports and SAP are accurate and prepared on a timely basis
Manage pre and post-production payroll and invoice payments
Manage local payment approval and ensure PO and non-PO invoice approvals are in line with SPE approvals (COFA) and journal postings according to Company financial policies
Manage the production of statutory accounts
Manage productions statutory year end audit and other tax, and payroll
Control and Risk Management
Create and maintain appropriate business and financial controls for forecast, planning and reporting processes with financial impact and maintains internal control safeguards
Establish and ensure adherence to corporation policies, procedures for financial accounting and reporting and external requirements (IFRS)
Roll out new corporate policies and procedures as required
Communication and Team Leading
Build and maintain relationships across Finance, the Business, production teams and third parties
Project and Continuous Improvements
Identify and implement process improvements and enabling tools and systems to provide enhanced financial and operational information
Support and involvement in ad hoc projects
What you have:
Professionally qualified
Typically requires 8 – 10 years’ experience in Finance and in Media, production accounting (film and/or television production)
Ability to effectively communicate across the Business and Finance organization with strong English oral and written skills and demonstrate a willingness to generate and share information.
Strong business acumen and excellent financial analysis experience and skills
Excellent presentational skills – particularly presenting financial information clearly and as simply as possible to ensure key drivers clearly understood and actionable
Ability to work closely with management to making informed business decisions
Excellent excel skills
Hands on working understanding of SAP would be advantageous
Demonstrated knowledge of applicable accounting principles to include IFRS.
Ability to create and oversee the preparation of accurate and thorough financial reports and underlying records.
Proven experience working in a dynamic and fast moving and changing environment and manage multiple priorities.
Ability to establish and build healthy relationships with clients, vendors and peers in an effort to create an environment committed to providing excellent and continually improving service.
Build, manage and work as an effective team.
Read, interpret and draw accurate conclusions from financial and numerical material.
Motivated by passion to go above and beyond and to continuously improve yourself, your team, and your department.
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