PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS POSITION IS A MATERNITY LEAVE COVERAGE ROLE. APPLICANTS WITHIN AUSTRALIA PREFERRED, WITH FULL WORKING RIGHTS REQUIRED (SORRY, NO REMOTE OR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS TIME).

The Senior Production Accountant will lead and manage the financial operations for Flying Bark’s animation productions, ensuring projects remain on budget, compliant with industry standards, and aligned with strategic objectives. This role is pivotal in overseeing end-to-end financial processes, from budgeting and forecasting to detailed cost tracking, tax credit reconciliation, and timely reporting.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• Manage the Production Accounting team, including oversight of LA and Madrid, ensuring timely delivery of all key outputs and fostering a culture of continuous improvement while mentoring the production accounting staff to maintain high standards in production reporting and compliance.
• Collaborate with the finance team to ensure timely payment processing, with Producers to develop budgets and bids for new projects and with clients and stakeholders to address any cash flow challenges, securing necessary approvals from the Financial Controller.
• Review fortnightly payrolls prior to submission by the Payroll Accountant and act as a point of escalation for complex crew payroll queries.
• Approve and process vendor invoices, ensuring all contracts, purchase orders, and deliverables align with production budgets.
• Work with department heads to estimate accurate company overheads and prepare external client bids for approval including cash flow projections.
• Provide strategic guidance on budget simulations and adjustments to optimise financial planning as well as high-level guidance on payroll matters, including pay rates, overtime, entitlements, and union/guild compliance.
• Ensure the timely delivery of all accounting milestones, including weekly, monthly, and annual reporting requirements.
• Review and address reporting inefficiencies to streamline processes and create long-term departmental efficiencies.
• Support cash flow management, including client rebids, forecasting and reporting.
• Oversee production budgets, ensuring alignment with company and client expectations.
• Track and analyse production expenses to ensure adherence to budgets.
• Generate comprehensive monthly financial reports, including cost analyses and projections, for review by leadership.
• Manage Development Slate including funding
• Work with department heads to estimate accurate company overheads and prepare external client bids for approval including cash flow projections.
• Oversee tax credit reconciliation processes, ensuring compliance with government regulations and client agreements.
• Maintain accurate tracking of crew resource locations and ensure excluded expenditures are managed effectively.
• Prepare for and manage production audits and offset applications.
• Support the finance team with company audits, including reconciliation of accounts and addressing discrepancies.
• Provide recommendations to Producers and leadership to enhance operational efficiency.
• Act as the primary liaison between production and finance teams, facilitating smooth communication and problem resolution.
• Identify trends, mitigate financial risks, and recommend opportunities for improvement.