Company Description
Universal International Studios’ key objective is to produce the highest quality programming including strong International content to exploit globally on our NBCUniversal channels and platforms and external linear and SVOD platforms. Our content is currently 50% Linear TV and 50% SVOD.
The Studios include the production slates of Universal International Studios, Carnival Film & Television, Working Title Television, Heyday Television, Matchbox Productions & Monkey Kingdom Ltd.
Our recent Slate includes Carnival’s “Downton Abbey” movie and TV Series, “The Last Kingdom” (Netflix) and “The Day of the Jackal” (Universal & Sky). Heydays “Apples Never Fall” (Peacock) & “The Capture” (BBC). Working Titles “We are Lady Parts” (C4), “Everything I know about Love” (BBC) & “Too Much” (Netflix). Matchbox Productions “La Brea” (NBC), “Stateless” (ABC & Netflix). UIS’s “Dodger” (CBBC) & Monkey Kingdom’s “Made in Chelsea” (C4) & Real housewives of Cheshire” (ITV).
Job Description
JOB OVERVIEW
The Production Finance Executive will lead, appraise, and control Production Finance & Accounting decisions for multiple TV Production Studios within Universal International Studios, across a diverse slate of Scripted and Non-Scripted Production Series.
The Production Finance Executive will join a Universal International Studio’s team of Production Finance Executives, Controllers & Accountants led by SVP Production Finance in London and work with the Universal Studio Creatives, Business & Legal Affairs, Production & Finance teams to develop, greenlight and deliver the divisions Production Slate.
In addition, they will be required to work closely with Universal Studios Group Production Finance & Production teams based at Universal Studios, Los Angeles.
They will help recruit, train and manage a team of local Freelance Financial Controllers and Production Accountants & their interactions with Universal Finance.
A successful candidate will provide first rate Production Finance & Accounting experience, skills, and practices to achieve the divisions key objectives and performance targets and will be a Senior Administrator on key group accounting systems to ensure effective governance in accordance with corporate mandates and protocols.
Our head office is in Los Angeles. Our Production Studios are based in UK & Australia. Our International Productions are based all over the world currently including UK, Hungary, Australia, Croatia, Spain, Bali, Canada, and USA. This position will require effective communication with all teams and cultures and may require occasional travel to these offices and & other overseas production offices.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & SKILLS
- Create Production budgets, schedules & finance plans for developing projects. Learn and compare with previous productions within the group. Review those and other’s production budgets, finance plans & schedules to provide key information & opinions for our Greenlight committee.
- Control investments, tax credits, cashflows, loans drawdowns and repayments.
- Manage contingency, breakage & overage approval processes, review cost reports and escalate issues to Senior Management in London and Los Angeles, where appropriate.
- Manage the in-house Production Accountant team for shows in development & wrap, including Accounts Payable and Talent payrolls in conjunction with our payroll providers.
- Recruit and nurture a pool of freelance Production Accounting talent, schooled in NBCU practices.
- Lead production start-up & handover meetings, informing Freelance Producers & Accountants of NBCU financial guidelines & procedures, and enforce those guidelines & procedures, throughout the life of the Production.
- Administer and develop robust Production Finance systems, such as budgeting, cashflow, payroll, purchase order & accounting systems within the framework of Universal’s Protocols and Procedures.
- Create and instigate best working practises across the whole group.
- Be responsible for effective financial control, ensuring that all approval matrixes, banking matrixes & user profiles are in accordance with company mandates and fraud policies.
- Manage production currency risks by building and executing FX strategies in conjunction with NBCUniversal Treasury.
- Assist the month, quarter, and yearend financial process in accordance with international accounting standards and NBCU rules and regulations.
- Support our Formats team in accounting and cost reporting against Format titles.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Successful candidates should be able to demonstrate:
- Broad experience in International scripted and non-scripted Production Finance at a strategic & executive level and across many Broadcasters and SVOD Platforms. Further experience of US production would be a bonus.
- Practical International TV production experience in many TV genres such as on multi-episodic overseas International Dramas, Comedy, reality & documentary programmes.
- Financial confidence as a strategic team member in a large corporate environment. US Studio experience a strong plus.
- A detail-oriented, methodical approach to handle multiple productions at the same time, able to assess strengths and weaknesses of various positions and advise accordingly.
- Ability to recognise and respond quickly and pragmatically to urgent situations and to demanding internal and external clients.
- A pro-active approach to work and an ability to learn, change & innovate to changing strategies.
- Great integrity, accuracy, and pride in execution with a strong commercial sense and a drive to maximise value.
- Confident, concise, and persuasive verbal and written communication skills at Executive level.
- Be resourceful, intellectually curious, and eager to take on new challenges in a demanding environment
- Practical experience of international production accounting IT systems such as Eclipse and PSL+, budgeting experience in Movie Magic, and payroll experience including UK & US Guild talent such as WGA, Equity, SAG, DGA.
The responsibilities and skills associated with this position are not limited to the above job description and may be modified at any time by the Company.
Additional Information
NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, where applicable.
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