Production Accountant - Animation

LA 411; Burbank (CA); On-site; USD 145,600 - 166,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Paid Holidays

Sick Leave in accordance with CA law

Job summary

LA 411 in Burbank, CA is seeking an experienced Production Accountant to join our animation production team. This senior role manages the full production life cycle from development through final delivery and serves as the primary financial authority.

You will work with Producers and network Finance, overseeing budgets, cost reports, and cash flow, and supervising two assistants while ensuring union payroll compliance in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years of accounting experience with at least 2 in production finance in entertainment sectors.
• Experience preparing cost reports and financial presentations.
• Strong knowledge of production accounting principles and financial controls.
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with production systems like GreenSlate or PSL.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end production accounting across development, production, and post-production phases.
• Prepare, maintain, and deliver budgets, cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Review expenses, invoices, and AP transactions; process payments and journal entries.
• Conduct bank reconciliations and maintain audit-ready records.
• Design and monitor internal accounting controls and coordinate with tax and insurance functions.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Budgeting

Excel advanced

Movie Magic Budgeting

Union payroll understanding

Financial controls

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

Movie Magic Budgeting

Microsoft Excel

GreenSlate

Cast & Crew PSL

Studio Payroll

Job description

This is a Full Time position in the field of Administrative / Accounting, located in Burbank, CA.

The position pays $145,600.00 — $166,400.00 per year.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced Production Accountant to join our animation production team. This is a senior-level role with significant financial responsibility spanning the full production life cycle from script development through final delivery – and working across multiple seasons simultaneously. The successful candidate will serve as the primary financial authority, partnering closely with internal Producers and external network Finance teams. This role operates within a fast-paced animation production environment where financial rigor and adaptability are equally essential. The Production Accountant will work across multiple internal teams and maintain regular contact with external network partners, requiring consistent professionalism and sound judgment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Finance & Accounting

• Own end-to-end production accounting across development, production, and post-production phases.
• Maintain generally accepted accounting principles.
• Prepare, maintain, and deliver production budgets, cost reports, forecasts, and cash flow projections.
• Review and approve production expenses, invoices, and accounts payable transactions, ensuring compliance with approved budgets and internal controls; process checks and wire transfer payments; prepare journal entries.
• Perform bank reconciliations and maintain complete, audit-ready financial records.
• Design, implement, and monitor rigorous internal accounting controls to safeguard assets, protect data privacy, and prevent fraud.
• Liaise with the outside tax accountant to ensure timely submission of corporate tax returns.
• Manage and maintain all business insurance plans. Submit renewal applications to keep them up to date.
• Monitor production spending against approved budgets, identify variances, and surface issues proactively to Producers and leadership before they escalates.

Payroll & Labor

• Supervise two Assistant Production Accountants and support weekly payroll processing. Review production timecards for accuracy and compliance.
• Ensure proper application of union and guild agreements (WGA, TAG, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, and others as applicable).

Network & Stakeholder Reporting

• Serve as a key point of contact for network Finance and Business Affairs teams, fielding inquiries and maintaining an ongoing, professional working relationship.
• Prepare and present cost reports and financial documentation to network stakeholders in a clear, accurate, and timely manner.
• Support network audits and respond to financial inquiries documentation and clear explanations.
• Ensure all deliverables to the network meet contractual reporting requirements and deadlines.

Financial Controls & Process

• Design, implement, and monitor rigorous internal accounting controls to safeguard assets, protect data privacy, and prevent fraud.
• Partner with Corporate Finance to ensure productions operate within established financial controls and company policies.
• Support internal and external audits with thorough documentation and responsive communication.
• Identify workflow inefficiencies and recommend process improvements that strengthen financial oversight and team productivity.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 5 years of accounting experience, with at least 2 years in production finance within entertainment, animation, television, film, gaming, or a related media environment.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and delivering cost reports and financial presentations.
• Strong working knowledge of production accounting principles, cost reporting standards, and financial controls.
• Advanced proficiency in Movie Magic Budgeting and Microsoft Excel (including complex formulas and financial reporting).
• Experience with one or more production accounting systems, including GreenSlate, Cast & Crew PSL, or Studio Payroll.
• Familiarity with union and guild payroll environments.
• Proven ability to manage multiple budgets simultaneously under shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with high attention to detail and zero tolerance for data inaccuracies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the professional confidence to engage effectively with creative leadership, executive teams, and network partners.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Adult Animation production accounting experience.
• Direct experience interfacing with network Business Affairs and/or Finance teams.
• Knowledge of union agreements (including WGA, IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, Local 839, Local 399, and Local 700).
• Cash forecasting experience.

COMPENSATION

Salary Range: $145,600.00–$166,400.00 annually. California Pay Transparency: Actual compensation will depend on experience, skills, education, and geographic location.

BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance.
• Paid Holidays.
• Sick Leave in accordance with California law.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is a full-time, non-union position. All candidates must successfully complete a background check prior to hire.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive workplace. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.