Senior Production Finance Manager
Brazen Animation is an AUDACIOUS GATHERING OF ARTISTS, innovators, and creators. We are here to tell transcendent stories that endure for ages. Through our cutting edge technology, bold visuals, and character driven stories, we set ourselves apart as we strive to be UNIQUE, PURPOSE DRIVEN, AND UNABASHEDLY BRAZEN. Our company exists to push the limits of animation, redefine creative storytelling, and encourage people to pursue greatness. Put simply, we want everyone to BE BRAZEN!
Job Summary: The SR. Production Finance Manager will report to the EVP at Brazen Animation. This individual will be directly involved in the studio’s core production business and be cast to projects, helping to provide context for how projects are budgeted, scheduled, tracked, and managed. The role will involve working closely with production to create schedules, maintain fiscal discipline, and help craft strategic plans to deliver animated projects within budget and on time. This is a highly influential role, requiring confidence and a collaborative approach, forging partnerships with production management and the studio’s leadership team.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
PLANNING:
- Partner with Production leadership to create and manage production schedules and budgets that deliver quality productions on budget and on timE
- Run production planning scenarios and analyses and present relevant findings to stakeholders
- Understand and report on production progress, collaborating with production department supervisors to understand how production data is captured and managed
- Provide insights to show and studio leadership on key assumptions, levers, and risk, through a thorough understanding of drivers of plan, progress against goals, and scenario and metric analyses
- Anticipate problems, adapt to changing scenarios, strategize, and recommend solutions
- Communicate issues and problem-solve using critical reasoning, active listening, and knowledge of animation production processes
PRODUCTION FINANCE & ACCOUNTING:
- Establish and maintain proper accounting, tracking, and reporting of production costs in accordance with GAAP
- Ensure strong accounting controls and reconciliation processes are in place and adhered to across projects
- Manage the preparation of production cash flow and production status reports
- Partner with production management and artist managers to align project staffing assumptions and costs
- Ensure accurate coding and classification of production expenses, supporting compliance and audit readiness
- Provide accurate monthly and quarterly cost reporting, variance analysis, and forecasting
- Collaborate with Finance leadership to establish best practices, maintain consistency, and elevate the team through shared insights
- Assist and advise production and finance management by providing data and highlighting issues with financial implications for relevance
- Partner with the Finance leader to understand key assumptions in production cash flows and headcount, and the risks and implications for the studio run-rate
- Help communicate and execute on studio-wide strategic initiatives
PAYROLL QUALITY CONTROL:
- Review weekly and bi-weekly payroll reports for accuracy and compliance with studio policies and project budgets
- Liaise with payroll and accounting processors to resolve discrepancies and ensure timely, accurate payroll processing for cast and crew
- Ensure payroll costs are properly classified and integrated into project cost tracking
- Support labor cost audits and reporting requirements by maintaining accurate, organized payroll records
- Implement QC procedures to minimize payroll errors and maintain compliance with applicable employment regulations and union agreements
Required Skills and Expertise
- Deep understanding of accounting principles, production accounting workflows, and financial compliance requirements
- Exceptional analytical, organizational, and forecasting skills; strong background in Excel modeling and scenario analysis
- Detail-oriented with the ability to make sound cost accounting and financial decisions
- Strong working knowledge of payroll practices and systems, with a focus on accuracy and quality control
- Capacity to thrive in a creative, dynamic, results-oriented environment, and to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- Collaborative spirit and a desire to help and develop professional relationships
- Ability to work independently and drive projects to timely completion
- Ability to balance big-picture strategy with detailed financial analysis
- Passion for the entertainment industry, animation, and technology
- Experience in visual effects, 2D and CG animation production pipelines, and entertainment production finance is a strong plus
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (CPA preferred or in progress is a plus)
- 5–7 years of relevant work experience, preferably with a media/entertainment company or in a production accounting or operational finance role
- Experience with accounting systems and production finance software (e.g., Quickbooks) preferred
- Expert in Google Suite systems
At Brazen, we believe in fostering a culture built on Innovation, where our team members are empowered to think creatively and push boundaries. We seek individuals who embody Boldness, fearlessly tackling challenges and driving impactful change. Class is at the heart of everything we do, as we strive for excellence in both our work and interactions. Collaboration is key to our success, and we value candidates who thrive in a team environment, leveraging diverse perspectives to achieve common goals. We admire Grit – the relentless determination to persevere through obstacles and deliver exceptional results. Our perfect candidate embodies these core values, fueling our mission to deliver stories with meaning and purpose.
This job description is not meant to be all inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Please be prepared to provide references.
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