Vice President, Production Finance (TV/Film)

Role: Vice President, Production Finance (TV/Film)
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Role Summary:

At FIFTH SEASON, we’re a team of superstars, driven by a passion for crafting innovative and compelling content that captivates audiences worldwide. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where the contributions of each employee fuel our mission of excellence and help to cultivate a lively and engaging company culture.

We invite a seasoned and strategic Vice President of Production Finance to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for the financial operations and strategy of our diverse production portfolio. This position is a unique chance to exert a significant impact on the fiscal management and strategic orientation of our production finance division, driving efficiency, financial accountability, and strategic foresight across our film and television departments.

This role presents a rare opportunity to play a defining role in the financial and strategic landscape of FIFTH SEASON. If you are driven by the prospect of applying your production finance expertise in the entertainment industry and are committed to contributing to a team dedicated to creating compelling content, we’re excited to hear from you!

Role Responsibilities:

Financial Oversight and Analysis

• Provide comprehensive financial oversight across all production stages, from development to post-production, ensuring efficient budgeting and accurate cost reporting.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to forecast expenses, actualize budgets, and ensure financial integrity throughout production.
• Lead budgeting process for both TV and Features including oversight of cross-boarded or block budgets for TV or Pattern/Amort episodic models.

Collaboration and Communication

• Foster strong, collaborative relationships across departments to ensure seamless financial management and adherence to policies.
• Engage with line producers, finance teams, and production accountants to facilitate clear communication and alignment on financial matters.
• Address union inquiries and collaborate with Business Affairs and Labor Relations to track contractual obligations and payments, ensuring financial compliance.

Policy and Process Management

• Oversee the show budget greenlight process, ensuring accuracy and routing approvals effectively.
• Manage cash flow, funding operations, and tax incentive initiatives, aligning them with project timelines and financial goals.
• Establish and manage operational protocols for day-to-day show processes, including setting up new shows and banking arrangements.

Operational Excellence

• Drive operational efficiency related to show setup, including financial protocols and banking arrangements.
• Ensure accurate and timely show-level reporting by overseeing cost reports and reviewing project cash forecasts.
• Proactively solve financial challenges, assisting with general production and finance duties as needed to maintain financial alignment with production timelines.
• Problem-solving as challenges and concerns arise, assisting with general production and finance duties as needed, is part of monitoring day-to-day financial activities to ensure they align with the overall financial strategy and production timelines.

Requirements & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 7+ years in financial management within film or television, including experience with freelance production and fast-paced environments.
• Advanced expertise in financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and Excel. Familiarity with industry-specific software (e.g. Movie Magic Budgeting, PSL, Cast and Crew, Smart Accounting) is highly desirable.
• A proven track record of managing production finance teams and driving strategic planning efforts.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, capable of fostering strong relationships and effectively conveying complex financial concepts.

Characteristics & Personality:

• Agile - Thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments, skillfully navigating change.
• Resourceful - Demonstrates a proactive and entrepreneurial approach, with a problem-solving mindset.
• Resilient - Overcomes challenges with determination, prioritizing continuous growth and improvement.

In addition to the competencies above, the ideal candidate will:

• Embody FIFTH SEASON's commitment to fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, and feminist workplace. All candidates must have a proven track record of promoting and valuing diversity and inclusivity in previous roles, and a commitment to fostering these values in the workplace.

About Us:
FIFTH SEASON is a global leader in the creation, production, and distribution of feature films and premium television series. Known for producing and distributing award-winning content that engages audiences and moves culture, the studio’s film titles include the multi-Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ambulance directed by Michael Bay, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner Cha Cha Real Smooth, and 80 For Brady. The studio produces premium TV series including the 14-time Emmy-nominated Severance, See, and Truth Be Told for Apple TV+, Wolf Like Me for Peacock, Life & Beth, Nine Perfect Strangers, and McCartney 3, 2, 1 for Hulu, and Tokyo Vice for HBO Max. FIFTH SEASON also handles global distribution for dozens of hit series in addition to its own studio productions, including Killing Eve, The Morning Show, Normal People, and The Night Manager.

Our Culture:
A studio with a soul, FIFTH SEASON is proud to be an anti-racist and feminist company, focused on leaving the entertainment business better than we found it. We empower freedom and ownership, delivering the expertise of a big studio with the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of a start-up. FIFTH SEASON is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Our Benefits:
• Hybrid schedule
• 14 company holidays
• 3 volunteer days annually, to support and give back
• PTO, Paid Leave (Parental, Fertility Treatment, Menopause, Bereavement, and more)
• Medical/Dental/Vision, Fertility/Adoption/Education Assistance Programs, 401K Match

We offer competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic and exciting industry. The ideal candidate is driven and hungry to learn and wants to be in the trenches of the entertainment industry. If you meet the above requirements and are excited about this opportunity, we invite you to apply.