VP, Production Finance, TV at MRC

MRC is a diversified global entertainment company with divisions including Film and Television.

Role Description:

MRC TV is seeking an experienced VP of Television Production Finance to manage and maintain a variety of accounting and financial tasks, specifically related to all of MRC’s TV projects. This full-time, staff position reports directly to the SVP of TV Production Finance.

Responsibilities:

• Working knowledge of Television and episodic production with a primary focus on production accounting, tax incentives, budgeting, and internal financial controls.
• Ensure production finance policies and procedures are current and effectively implemented on our productions.
• Collaborate/creation of the development of production budgets that maximize production incentives and reduce production costs.
• Supervise tagging of production budgets and review incentive estimates for accuracy and foreign hedging purposes.
• Enforce appropriate jurisdictional procedures with respect to foreign laws, guild restrictions and requirements.
• Initiate set up of new productions, assisting with incentive applications, banking, and various systems (Global Vista, SmartAccounting, SmartTime, SmartStart, Cashet, BOX)
• Assist with onboarding and offboarding of Production Accounting personnel with an attention to crew member roles and core functions.
• Ensuring delivery, completeness, and accuracy for traditional Production Accounting financial statements including Cost Reports, Cash Flows, Funding, Trial Balance(s), Bank Reconciliations and other Production Accounting related documentation and analyses.
• Provide guidance to production accounting staff on studio GAAP requirements such as month & quarter-end deliverables, and daily/weekly reporting packages.
• Review cost reports, trial balances, bank reconciliations, etc. prepared by show accountants.
• Participate in turnover meetings from the production accountant to the post accountant to ensure receipt of all necessary files and reports.
• Function as the prep/post accountant for shows and responsible for all matters prior/after accountant staffing.
• Work and provide assistance with/to show accountants and drive accurate, complete, and timely cost reporting, protecting, and managing show assets and supporting production.
• Work with physical production, post production, studio finance, BA, and creative in a collaborative environment.
• Ensure that insurance claim costs are accurate and adequately supported by schedules, invoices, and payroll documents.
• Assist with management of production tax incentives/tax credits (US and International) audits and various Guild audits (SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA, IA, MPI)
• Assist with management of TV residuals (DGA, SAG, WGA, and IA) for all television projects.
• Research, develop, and test innovative technologies that provide the next generation of production finance tools and determine how and when to best incorporate into the production accounting workflow.
• Manage various ad hoc projects.
• Report to SVP, TV Production Finance in all matters related to external productions.

Experience/Requirements:

• Candidates must have at least 10 years in production finance or freelance and production accounting.
• Extensive understanding of TV accounting, budgeting, and production tax incentives.
• Solid understanding of payroll process, union labor agreements, and tax requirements.
• Extensive experience with Movie Magic Budgeting.
• Strong MS Office skills required, with an emphasis on Excel; GV and SA accounting systems.
• College degree in accounting or finance is preferred.
• Must be meticulous, organized, possess excellent organization skills and able to multitask.
• Solution focused and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to understand and articulate issues using creative, production, or financial context.
• Ability to prioritize and respond effectively in fast paced environment, across shows in various points of production.
• Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Even-tempered, grace under pressure, discrete, high-level judgement in absence of data.
• Must be a team player and able to work collaboratively with internal/external partners.