Financial Operations Specialist
This role supports the effective management of visual effects projects within a studio environment, acting as a vital link between Finance and Production teams. This position involves tracking and analysing project costs, maintaining accurate cost reports, assisting with budget planning, and ensuring timely financial information to support project delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
* Track and maintain up-to-date production cost data, working closely with Producers and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting and reporting.
* Collaborate with Producers and Senior Production Accountant to monitor budget progress, analyse actuals vs. forecast/ETCs, and flag potential overruns or inefficiencies.
* Assist in preparation of project-specific reports, including weekly cost updates, burn rate analysis, and production performance metrics.
* Support the integration of financial and production data to ensure alignment between project execution and financial outcomes.
Reporting, Forecasting & Metrics:
* Generate and deliver weekly and month-end reports for internal stakeholders, including Producers, Finance, and Executives.
* Support cashflow forecasting by tracking project timelines, client billing schedules, and payment milestones.
* Assist in compiling end-of-month and end-of-year financial packages, ensuring data is audit-ready and compliant with standards.
* Manage and reconcile production data from systems such as ShotGrid and timesheets to inform workforce and cost metrics.
Process, Systems & Compliance:
This role supports the ongoing improvement of tools, workflows, and documentation across Financial Operations, while ensuring compliance with standards and audit readiness.
* Assist in the enhancement of reporting templates, tracking tools, and cost reporting systems to increase efficiency and accuracy.
* Maintain consistent and organised documentation for all production-related financial data and correspondence.
* Ensure compliance with policies, including timesheet accuracy, TOIL/overtime tracking, and financial record-keeping.
* Support leadership in the provision of audit-quality documentation and the implementation of process improvements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:
Operating at the intersection of Finance and Production, this role is a key link between departments, helping ensure shared visibility and timely data flow.
* Liaise with Producers and Coordinators to ensure production activity is accurately captured in financial reports.
* Communicate updates, issues, and blockers clearly to the Senior Financial Accountant or Financial Controller, supporting proactive resolution of risks.
* Collaborate with the Shared Services team to coordinate reconciliations, data alignment, and process consistency across global teams.
* Contribute to a culture of clear communication, professionalism, and accountability across teams and stakeholders.
Team Support & Studio Contribution:
This role is part of a small and collaborative Finance team, expected to show initiative, flexibility, and a solutions-focused mindset in support of team and studio objectives.
* Provide backup assistance across the Finance team during periods of high demand or absence, including task-sharing and documentation support.
* Manage and prioritise personal workload effectively, adjusting to evolving project needs and delegated tasks as required.
* Proactively seek feedback, contribute to process improvement discussions, and support knowledge sharing within the team.
* Where requested, assist with recruitment activities, team onboarding, or feedback discussions to support the development of a high-performing Finance function.