About the Role
The Vice President, Production Finance will lead Production Finance & Accounting for a portfolio of productions within Universal Global Television, supporting a diverse slate of scripted and non-scripted series. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence across the full financial lifecycle, from development and greenlight through delivery.
Responsibilities
- Strengthen strategic partnerships across Universal Studio Group to support and deliver on Production Slate objectives.
- Represent Production Finance leadership in senior forums, including deputizing for the SVP in leadership and Greenlight meetings.
- Maintain strong alignment and communication with U.S. based Production Finance and Production teams.
- Lead and manage freelance Production Finance Controllers, ensuring consistent application of financial standards and strong performance.
- Build and develop a high-quality pipeline of freelance Production Accounting talent aligned with NBCU practices.
- Develop and evaluate production finance plans, including multi-episode budgets, schedules, and cashflow models; provide recommendations to Greenlight Committees.
- Review and challenge production budgets and assumptions using benchmarks and internal comparables to assess risks and opportunities.
- Advise on tax credit strategies and implications, incorporating insights into Greenlight recommendations.
- Oversee financial performance of productions, including investments, revenues, cashflows, and loan activity, ensuring alignment with approved parameters.
- Monitor tax credit recoveries and revenue realization in coordination with auditors.
- Partner with NBCUniversal Treasury to manage foreign exchange exposure and execute FX strategies across international productions.
- Oversee and enhance Production Finance systems (budgeting, cashflow, payroll, PO, and accounting), ensuring alignment with corporate frameworks.
- Govern production cost controls, including oversight of contingency usage, breakage, and overages; review cost reports and escalate material issues to senior leadership in London and Los Angeles.
- Provide finance support to the Formats team, including cost tracking, reporting, and analysis for format-based productions.
- Maintain relationships with guilds and payroll providers across the UK and U.S., ensuring compliant and efficient payroll operations.
- Support monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes in accordance with international accounting standards and NBCU requirements.
- Ensure robust financial governance and controls, including oversight of approval matrices, banking authorities, and system access in compliance with internal policies.
- Establish and drive best-in-class financial practices, policies, and procedures, delivering training and guidance across the production lifecycle.
Requirements
- Extensive international Production Controller experience at both production and executive levels across major broadcasters and SVOD platforms; US production exposure preferred.
- Hands-on experience across diverse TV genres including international multi-episodic drama, comedy, light entertainment, and reality programming, and knowledge of US-style amortization and pattern budgets.
- Proven ability to operate as a strategic financial partner within large, multinational studio environments, bringing commercial acumen and a focus on value optimization.
- Highly detail-oriented and methodical, with the ability to manage multiple productions concurrently, assess risks and resourcing needs, and provide clear recommendations.
- Agile and solutions-focused, with a track record of responding quickly and pragmatically to urgent issues and stakeholder demands.
- Proactive, adaptable, and innovative, with a continuous improvement mindset in evolving production and business environments.
- Strong executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders with clarity and confidence.
- High integrity, intellectual curiosity, and resourcefulness, with a willingness to take on new challenges in fast-paced, complex settings.
- Occasional travel may be required to local and international offices.
Skills
- US and UK guild payrolls (e.g., SAG, DGA, WGA, Equity)
- Production finance systems (including Eclipse, PSL+, and Movie Magic)
Location
- Los Angeles
- London
- U.S.
- Hungary
- Australia
- Spain
- Canada
- Norway
Work Type
- Full-time
Experience Level
- Vice President
About the Company
- Universal Studio Group (USG) is the umbrella brand that houses NBCUniversal's three powerhouse television studios: Universal Television, Universal Global Television and Universal Television Alternative Studio.
- Collectively, the three premium studio brands produce over 3,000 hours of programming currently airing or streaming around the globe and own one of the largest libraries in the world with over 130,000 episodes of television.
- Led by Pearlena Igbokwe, Chairman of Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted, USG collaborates with some of the industry's most visionary storytellers to champion a diverse slate of ambitious, creative and passionate projects.
- Current hits include Dick Wolf’s “Law & Order,” “One Chicago” and “FBI”-branded series, Emmy® Award-winning “Hacks,” “A Man on the Inside,” “Ted,” “The Day of the Jackal,” “All Her Fault” and “The Americas.”
- USG is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.
Equal Opportunity
- We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and we’ll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our recruitment team who will be happy to support you.
- NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
- If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].
