FREELANCE PRODUCTION ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT
The Production Accounts assistant will work closely with the production community to ensure that
productions and production companies are run profitably and within budgets by maintaining effective
cost and risk management and reporting disciplines.
Key Responsibilities
Budget and Forecasting
 Contribute actively to the preparation of detailed, accurate and achievable production budgets,
balancing creative aspirations with financial and resource constraints;
 Prepare an initial cash flow forecast for each production budget and maintain updated cash flow
forecasts to support effective and timely budgetary decision-making and aid centralised cash
flow forecasting;
 Assess and provide timely advice on the financial implications of on-going editorial changes and
update forecasts accordingly.
Cost Management and reporting
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Record, control and manage actual expenditure against set budget using existing cost manager
systems;
Highlight potential material overspends and notify relevant stakeholders in a timely manner;
Challenge actual or potential variations to budget/schedule, working with the senior production
management team to aid decision-making by providing strategic advice and analysis as
required;
Prepare regular, timely and accurate cost management reports and present to production teams
and partners where relevant;
Prepare payment runs and obtain all necessary approvals prior to making payments;
Maintain accounting records for production companies and active productions using Sage and
Excel as appropriate;
Close off productions and Prepare final production accounts and ensure all outstanding
payments are settled.
Controls and Compliance
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Establish and maintain an audit trail for all work undertaken and to liaise with auditors as
necessary;
Operate within and adhere to the agreed Group standards and procedures;
Manage production and production company bank accounts and cash facilities in accordance
with the Group’s purchasing policy;
Complete monthly bank reconciliations for production Other
 Contribute to ensuring fresh ideas and best practice is being brought into the Group’s Finance
Department;
 Facilitate collaboration between team members through sharing information, collaborating on
decision making, and taking mutual responsibility for the work of the team;
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Undertake such other duties and tasks as may lie within the scope of this post to ensure the
effective delivery and development of the service. Key Relationships
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Group financial controller
Finance team
Production team
Competency Requirements Essential
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Good working knowledge of Sage, including data entry and report generation interpretation
Basic Excel skills
Planning and Organisation
Judgment and Problem Solving
Relationship Building
Flexibility and Resilience
Influencing and Persuading
Desirable
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Results Orientation
Stakeholder Orientation
Communication – Written and Verbal
Team Work and Collaboration
Leading and Motivating
Developing self and others