Interim Head of Finance (Maternity Cover)

Company Overview:

STUDIOCANAL is one of Europe’s leading film and series studios, with worldwide production and distribution capabilities. It operates directly in nine major European markets including Austria, Benelux, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, and in offices in the United States and China. STUDIOCANAL finances, produces, and distributes 80 films per year. It owns one of the most prestigious catalogues in the world and the largest catalogue of European titles, boasting more than 9 400 titles from 60 countries. With a catalogue spanning 100 years of film history, STUDIOCANAL has invested close to 25 million euros into the 4K restoration of nearly 1 000 classic feature films over the past 7 years. STUDIOCANAL also produces over 15 series each year, including local creations and premium international co-productions, and distributes its scripted productions and CANAL+ Originals globally (2,000 hours of current and library content in distribution). Projects are produced in-house by STUDIOCANAL or through its worldwide network of production companies, including 2e Bureau and STUDIOCANAL Original in France; Birdie Pictures, Red Production Company, Urban Myth Films, Strong Film & Television, and Sunny March TV in the UK; Bambú Producciones and Te Espero en Marte in Spain; Lailaps Films and STUDIOCANAL Series in Germany; Opus TV in Poland; Sam Productions in Denmark; Dingie in Belgium; and The Picture Company in the United States.

canalplusgroup.com/en/group/content-production-distribution-and-other.

STUDIOCANAL is an equal opportunity employer. Beyond our passion for Film and TV, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees without regard to gender, race, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity. STUDIOCANAL as a whole are invested in ensuring equality and inclusivity for all and offer many opportunities through our D&I Committee and Employee Resource Groups to allow all employees to bring their full selves to work, and to contribute to the company’s ethos and values.

Role Overview:

The Finance Team is the backbone of STUDIOCANAL, ensuring that the wonderful things we do are translated to accurate financials and are guided by insightful commercial analysis and challenge. The role covers the distribution part of the business through a film’s lifecycle, with the company releasing 7-10 new films per year.

As Interim Head of Finance, you will be leading all aspects of financial and statutory reporting. You will be pivotal in shaping the financial operations of the organisation working closely with the Head of Commercial Finance and the CFO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a high-performing financial reporting and royalties team consisting of 2 direct reports and 5 indirect reports.
• Review monthly financial reports including analysing and challenging budget variance analysis.
• Present monthly financial results to Senior Leadership Team.
• Liaison with the group team in Paris and ensure all monthly deliverables are submitted in a timely manner.
• Year-end P&L and cash-flow management.
• Preparation of key year end provisions including payroll (bonus accrual, P11D and PSA), loan interest and impairment assessments of investments.
• Preparation and maintenance of payroll forecasts and review of overheads budget and forecasts.
• Support the commercial finance team with cash flow forecasts.
• Responsible for hedging large foreign currency transactions, including communicating with Treasury regarding timing of release.
• Management of minimum guarantee payments, in conjunction with the legal team.
• Oversee the financial statements preparation process and liaise with external auditors and tax team (including all active SPVs)
• Oversee the review of balance sheet reconciliations fostering continuous improvement in controls.
• Oversee the review of the debtors ledger to drive efficient cash collection under 90 days.
• Manage the submission of the PSA return.
• Technical accounting research and application of standards.
• Ad-hoc projects/reporting – including projects related to the continuing growth and development of the business

Skills and Qualifications:

• Professional accounting qualification with a minimum of 4 years PQE.
• Financial management experience with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• Strong technical accounting knowledge covering IFRS and UK GAAP.
• Excellent Excel skills including nested formulas, vlookups, pivot tables & sumifs
• Passion for the film industry and regular interaction with content
• Bright and motivated with keen attention to detail
• Proactive with positive can-do attitude
• Self-starter who thrives in an environment where they need to take the initiative and initiate change
• Organized with the ability to meet to strict deadlines