Production Accounting:
First Steps

This CPD training is for people who want to work in TV or film production within the accounts team. It’s suitable for:

• Anyone who loves the industry and is looking for a first role
• Anyone considering a career move into film / TV production accounting
• Accountants from other industries
• Those already working in production who think they would enjoy moving over to the accounts office
• Producers and Line Producers who would like to know more about what Production Accountants do

This professional training allows you to:

• Understand the costs and expenses that go into a production
• Learn key vocabulary and jargon-busting for production accounting
• Identify the different roles in productions and how they work with each other
• Forecast a budget for a production
• Clearly identify and pursue your potential in production accounting
• Develop the professional skills production accountants require
• Network with others working in TV and film production, and with the tutor team and industry guests

Session 1: What is production accounting?

We introduce the purpose of production accounting and how the team might operate within a production, looking at big studio films, streaming TV series, as well as small docs and current affairs shows. Also, how an understanding of story benefits everyone on the production.

Session 2: Starting up a production

We look at setting up the finance office, including crew and procedures. Types of financing, budgets, cashflows, schedules. We’ll ask you to look at the credits in TV and film to test your knowledge of who does what, and you’ll prepare a cash-flow from a sample budget and schedule.

Session 3: What do assistant production accountants do?

We’ll look in more detail at roles and options for your first job, such as in areas of significant production spend, such as Costume Accountant, Location Accountant and Construction Accountant. You’ll find out about purchase orders, invoices, expenses, Pcards and payroll, with real-life exercises, including completing an audit and expenses form.

Session 4: Forecasting and reporting

We’ll practise forecasting the estimated final cost of a film or TV programme using information gathered from the production. Includes examples of cost reports and how they are used by producers and funders. You’ll review a trial balance and think about next steps, including how to get your first role in a production accounts office.

ScreenSkills –You may be eligible for a training bursary for this course. Apply direct to ScreenSkills here, at least four weeks before the course start date.

As this counts as CPD training, you may also be able to get funding from your employer to do it.

Join our alumni – After your course, you can join our online alumni community where you’ll meet our growing network of past students. You’ll be able to.

• Rejoin your classmates in a private forum
• Continue to access an archived version of your course materials
• Meet alumni from other courses and share work for feedback
• Join discussions about production accounting and the industry
• Attend live chats with guest writers and industry folk