Associate, Production Finance

Company Description

NBCUniversal owns and operates over 20 different businesses across 30 countries including a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks and a premium ad-supported streaming service. Here you can be your authentic self. As a company uniquely positioned to educate, entertain, and empower through our platforms, Comcast NBCUniversal stands for including everyone. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture where our employees feel supported, embraced, and heard. We believe that our workforce should represent the communities we live in, so that together, we can continue to create and deliver content that reflects the current and ever-changing face of the world. Click here to learn more about Comcast NBCUniversal’s commitment and how we are making an impact.

Job Description

Universal Studio Group (USG) is a newly formed division of NBCUniversal, poised to be the leading provider of domestic and global premium content for internal and external platforms. USG houses Universal Television, Universal Content Productions, Universal Television Alternative, and International Studios.

Job Summary

Universal Studio Group is hiring a Production Finance Associate to enhance our robust studio team.  We seek a high-performing, motivated, conscientious professional who exhibits strong production accounting skills.  You will be a part of a dynamic and creative Production Finance team working directly with our production business units in the planning, financial administration and production of first class television programming. The successful candidate should emphasize cross-functional collaboration with all business partners for process improvements and efficiencies, along with partnering closely with our internal teams, such as Production, Finance, Business Affairs, Legal, Post, Programming, etc. One must have a strong knowledge of entertainment industry production accounting and reporting.  They should be self-motivated, proactive, able to pivot when necessary, thorough, and able to juggle multiple and diverse responsibilities with a strong emphasis on organization and an unwavering attention to detail.

Essential Responsibilities

• Administer the financial on-boarding and off-boarding process for the various productions including performing pre-production, post and wrap accounting inclusive of reporting, payroll, A/P, petty cash, journal entries, p-card activity and collection of receivables & deposits. Other periodic activates include supporting the Production Finance Executive with studio breakage and recoupments, check deposits, cost allocations, initiating foreign wire requests, etc.
• Champion evolving technologies and determine how to incorporate them into production finance workflows.
• Schedule and coordinate initial finance kick-off and ongoing meetings for the various productions.
• Communicate with Production Finance Executives and keep them abreast of any finance, production and accounting related issues.
• Create, update and proactively maintain production finance documents and resources.
• Serve as a bridge between freelance accounting departments and the studio to ensure both sides receive pertinent updates in a timely manner.
• Finalize episodic cost reporting and perform final close procedures to ensure external and internal accounting records reconcile. This includes resolve any outstanding issues (including escheatments), management of documentation for retention and performing final closure of production ledgers.
• Research and outreach to potential production locations, accounting crew hires and facilities globally.
• Support ad hoc projects, training & development initiatives.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• Bachler’s Degree preferred
• Minimum 2 years of film and/or television industry production finance or production accounting experience preferred
• Working experience with Excel and other Microsoft / Apple products
• Advanced knowledge of Vista, PSL, or Ease programs
• SAP experience, preferred but not required

Desired Characteristics

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to interact with employees at all levels, including upper management
• Robust understanding of payroll and A/P process, Candidates are required to be highly analytical, as well as strong effective communicators
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• High level of academic curiosity
• Exhibit the highest personal and