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The world of film and television is a complex and fruitful marriage of business and the arts. For the partnership to flourish, highly competent and experienced lead production accountants are just as important to the process as the artists directing the creative charge.
In this guide, we'll explore the essential steps to kickstart your journey toward becoming a lead – or key – production accountant in the film industry.
Before diving into specifics, it’s important to understand the responsibilities of a key production accountant.
More than just number crunchers, lead production accountants are the head of the accounting department. They act as the financial controller of the production and report to the line producer or unit production manager.
Their responsibilities can include a wide variety of tasks – everything from running weekly reports to flag variances in the budget to liaising with the studio, financiers, and producers. Other responsibilities might include applying for completion bonds and tax incentives, validating cash flow, approving crew timecards, and creating hot cost reports.
Experienced key production accountants not only help to keep productions within budget but also ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards from unions to C-suites.
There are no strict educational requirements to become a lead production accountant, though professionals looking for studio work may be required to have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration. In many cases, though, freelance production accountants of all levels are hired based only on their experience.
Obtaining certifications such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) are not mandatory to be a lead production accountant.
However, certification from the National Association of Production Accountants may further your job prospects. Founded in 2014 to “create a national community of Production Accountants,” NAPA “provides the training, tools and support needed to ensure that the quality and integrity of Production Accounting remains intact on the local level.”
According to their website, NAPA-trained production accounting clerks will come on the job with core knowledge of how the production accounting department functions. Through NAPA, clerks will learn how to intake POs, how to manage check requests, PC and payroll, and gain an understanding of production accounting as a whole.
NAPA certification is especially useful for those joining the industry at a lower level with an eye towards climbing the ladder to key production accountant.
Some educational institutions – including UCLA Extension – also offer one-off classes that can provide a comprehensive overview of production accounting for prospective students. That being said, the certification from these institutions isn’t the primary goal. Rather, it’s meeting others in the production accounting field who may become industry connections for future job opportunities and support.
Entry level experience can be essential for someone looking to become a key production accountant. Succeeding in the film industry is often as much about what you’ve worked on and who you know as much as it is having the right credentials on paper.
Working alongside experienced professionals allows you to learn the ropes of production accounting and familiarize yourself with industry-specific terminology. A purchase order is a purchase order, but what about terms like UPM, ATL, and BTL? How familiar are you with the industry’s unions and guilds?
As you progress in your career, seek opportunities to take on more challenging roles and projects that allow you to showcase your financial acumen and attention to detail. Building a strong track record of successful productions will not only bolster your resume but also expand your network within the industry.
Every payroll, purchase order, invoice, and expense—all in one place.
When looking to step into a key production accountant role, it’s important to study job listings and make sure that you have the necessary qualifications and skills.
Sites like Productions.com, Entertainmentcareers.net, and Talentify.io host ads for production jobs, including lead production accountant.
For instance, NBCU posted this application for the lead production accountant role on Late Night with Seth Meyers. (The posting is now closed, but still illustrates what these types of jobs ask for.)
Most of these requirements are pretty straightforward and lean heavily into the candidate’s industry-specific experience.
Lead accounting experience in another industry might give you the necessary knowledge of Microsoft Suite and the Vista accounting system, but this post makes it clear how important production experience is for a lead production accountant.
Beyond that, the role also lists desired characteristics:
The top three characteristics illustrate why production experience is so important. Familiarity with these contracts and systems can only come from working within the industry, and while they might not be essential, they will give you a significant leg up.
In addition to the aforementioned E.P., Timekeeper, and Movie Magic budgeting software, it’s important for lead production accountants to familiarize themselves with the latest in production accounting software.
That includes Wrapbook and the suite of tools we offer! Our software is an all-in-one payroll and production accounting solution that brings everyone on production together.
For lead production accountants, that means the ability to generate dynamic reports that let you drill down for more detail with a click and real-time visibility into everything: wages, fringes, reimbursable expenses, purchase orders—even petty cash.
To learn more, hop on over to our demo!
While mentorships are not always easy to find, they can be invaluable if nurtured properly. Should you find a veteran production accountant willing to mentor you, take advantage of their generosity of time and experience.
A seasoned key production accountant can offer practical advice on navigating the nuances of production accounting, understanding industry-specific challenges, and advancing your career.
Whether it's mastering accounting software, honing your budgeting skills, or refining your communication and negotiation abilities, a mentor can provide personalized guidance tailored to your goals.
Finally, as with all film industry gigs: network, network, network.
There’s nothing like getting that personal introduction to land the key production accountant job of your dreams. Knowing the right people – both at your current job and the place you’d like to work – is a huge part of success in the film industry.
You don’t have to come from money or the “right” background to meet those people. By showing up, working hard, and making yourself invaluable, you are more likely to get noticed by those higher up on the ladder.
Outside of networking on the job, there are plenty of opportunities to meet and network with others in your field. Check out our curated list of industry mixers worth leaving the house for or hit up Google and find some that fit the vibe you’re looking for.
Making the leap to lead production accountant is no small feat. It can take years of production experience, honing the right skills, and meeting the right people, but by following the steps laid out above, you’ll be closer to achieving your goals than ever before!
For more information on production accounting, check out Wrapbook's Room Tone, a Slack community for industry professionals, and the latest The List updates.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Chris Cullari is a writer/director based out of Los Angeles. His most recent film, THE AVIARY, is available for streaming on Paramount Plus and Showtime. You can find him tweeting about monsters, pro-wrestling, and horror movies.
