Production Accounting Manager

WELCOME TO HARTBEAT. WE ARE COMEDY. WE ARE CULTURE.

HARTBEAT is the global, multi-platform media company founded by Kevin Hart with a mission to keep the world laughing together. Operating at the intersection of comedy and culture, we are dedicated to creating, producing distributing, and marketing compelling content and experiences that make your heart beat a little faster.

Led by an award-winning team, Hartbeat is a trusted creative partner for the world’s top entertainment companies, platforms, and brands. We drive cultural impact and generate sales, subscriptions, buzz, and conversation with some of the most coveted audiences.

We are committed to nurturing the next generation of diverse comedians while collaborating with established comedy legends. Our ecosystem supports talent, content and brands across various formats, platforms, and opportunities in TV, film, digital, audio, and experiential.

Our flagship consumer brand, LOL! Network, engages audiences through its owned-and-operated social media channels, audio content, and partnerships with OTT platforms.

THE ROLE:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Production Accounting Manager to join our team. The Production Accounting Manager will be responsible for managing all financial aspects of our production processes, including budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, and reconciliation with our corporate financial reporting. The ideal candidate should have a solid understanding of GAAP accounting principles (including ASC 920 and 926 content accounting guidance), production budgets and related processes, and possess excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills. Needs to be well versed in production cost reporting and software (MMB, Greenslate, Wrapbook or the equivalent). The role will report to the VP, Controller and will be a key collaborator between the corporate accounting team and the production teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Set up project accounts and authorized users; transition to production accountants and producers. Collect all opening and closing accounting documents and manage post-production accounting.

• Review and maintain cost reports with data processed by project production accountants and executives; provide updates to corporate finance.

• Prepare and maintain updated weekly financial reports and cash forecasts, comparing actual vs. forecasted spend, across all projects.

• Manage funding milestones and production cash flow; coordinate with corporate accounting & finance to ensure timely partner billing and collections.

• Ensure accurate recording and reporting of projects including capitalization and COGS recognition per US GAAP, in partnership with the Finance team.

• Perform monthly reconciliations between Netsuite (corporate accounting ERP) and production reporting tools (e.g., Greenslate, Wrapbook), minimizing project-end variances.

• Oversee intercompany billbacks by project; ensure proper PO processing for production accounts and accurate financial reporting of billbacks

• Monitor production budgets with teams and executives to ensure alignment with funding and cost-saving goals; Review related budgets, schedules, and funding to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

• Act as liaison between third-party accountants, production teams, and corporate finance.

• Analyze financial data to identify trends and recommend improvements.

• Collaborate with Legal and HR to ensure compliance with all policies and regulations.

• Support tax filing preparation related to production activities including tax incentive audit support in conjunction with the Company’s tax and incentive advisors

• Provide oversight of project production accountants who process vendor invoices and help resolve billing issues.

• Assist in coordination of payroll processing for production staff with accountants and producers.

• Ensure compliance with legal obligations, including union contracts and guild agreements; provide accurate guild rate data for budgeting and payroll and ensure timely processing of guild payments; manage guild deposits and returns by project.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• A Bachelor’s degree, preferably with a focus on the entertainment industry

• 5+ Experience with production accounting and budget and cost management within the entertainment industry

• Experience with production budgeting and forecasting and knowledge of industry standard production practices.

• Strong knowledge of US GAAP accounting principles and practices, including ASC 920 and 926 preferred.

• Proficiency in MS Excel required, with Netsuite preferred.

• Proficiency in Movie Magic Budgeting and digesting cost reports.

• Must have a deep understanding of MMB, Greenslate, Wrapbook and Cost Report/G