Please note that this role is based in the United Kingdom. In order to enable us to meet statutory and regulatory obligations of the United Kingdom immigration system you must have the appropriate immigration permission needed to work and reside in the United Kingdom.

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.

If the above sounds like you and you are looking for your next exciting move – we would love to hear from you!!

How we take care of you:

• Competitive salary, with annual bonus eligibility.
• A choice of comprehensive health plan options that fit your lifestyle including private medical insurance.
• Rest and recharge during a week off during the winter holidays, in addition to the 25 days of paid annual leave.
• Participate in extensive learning & development opportunities at all levels, including curated instructor-led classes and high impact online resources.
• Build your community by joining our Employee Business Resource Groups, and/or Sony Pictures Action – our racial equity and inclusion strategy.
• Access to an employee online store filled with a variety of discounted Sony products.
• Watch the newest movies and TV shows at our exclusive employee screenings at work.
• Entitlement to apply for an interest-free season ticket loan.
• Automatic enrolment in the Company’s Pension Plan
• Free counselling and advisory service.
• You will be automatically enrolled in the Company’s Life Insurance and Group Income Protection Plans subject to any applicable service requirements.
• The opportunity to attend various social events in our state-of-the-art offices in Paddington.
• In addition to the above we have a range of other optional discounted benefits that are reviewed regularly (e.g., gym memberships, travel insurance, activity passes, car leasing, experience days and many more!)

If you require any reasonable adjustments with any part of the recruitment process, including the application or interview process, please contact us atuk_-_peopleandorganisation@spe.sony.com. Please put Reasonable Adjustment Request in the subject line of the email.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is committed to equal opportunity in all its employment practices, policies and procedures. No worker or potential worker will therefore receive less favourable treatment due to their race, age, creed, sexual orientation, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, religion, gender, marital status or Trade Union membership (if applicable).

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