VP, Studio FP&A - Maternity Cover (6-8 Months)

About the Company

FIFTH SEASON is a leading global independent studio specializing in the development, financing, production, and distribution of feature films, premium television series, and documentaries for theatrical distributors, streaming platforms, broadcast, and cable networks worldwide. Headquartered in Los Angeles with major hubs in New York and London, and additional offices across Europe, Asia, and South America, the studio is known for producing and distributing award-winning content that engages audiences and influences culture.

Notable film titles include The Lost Daughter, Ambulance, Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and 80 For Brady. The studio also produces premium TV series such as Severance, See, and Truth Be Told for Apple TV+; Wolf Like Me for Peacock; Life & Beth, Nine Perfect Strangers, and McCartney 3, 2, 1 for Hulu; and Tokyo Vice for HBO Max. Additionally, FIFTH SEASON handles global distribution for hit series including Killing Eve, The Morning Show, Normal People, and The Night Manager.

A studio with a soul, FIFTH SEASON is an anti-racist and feminist company focused on improving the entertainment business. The company empowers freedom and ownership, combining the expertise of a big studio with the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President of Studio FP&A to join our team in a pivotal, project-based role. This position offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the financial management and strategic direction of our TV Studio, Film Studio, and Non-Fiction divisions. You will shape financial strategies, optimize operations, and drive fiscal responsibility within one of the most dynamic sectors of the entertainment industry.

The ideal candidate will bring a solid foundation in financial management and strategy, exceptional proficiency in financial modeling and TV & Film Ultimates, and a thorough understanding of P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow intricacies specific to TV & Film production and distribution. This role requires self-motivation, effective multitasking, and adaptability in a fast-paced environment. You will collaborate closely with senior stakeholders, reporting directly to the SVP of FP&A, to drive financial performance and support key decision-making initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage all TV, Film, and Non-Fiction ultimate models, from building initial greenlight models in the development phase to updating models regularly for deal and production updates, through project delivery and beyond.
• Partner closely with the Accounting department to ensure timely and accurate recording of revenue recognition, film cost amortization, third-party obligations (participations and residuals), and other accounting factors specific to a Studio content P&L.
• Analyze complex deal structures across the TV Studio (Cost+ deals, deficit deals, co-productions, etc.) and the Film Studio (Indie Financing, Passive Investments, Licenses, Co-Financing, etc.), build ad-hoc models, and run scenario models to support senior stakeholders (including C-Suite) with key decision-making.
• Manage all Studio cash flow, including working closely with the Production department on timing of production spend, license fee milestones, and financing/investment inflows, as well as modeling repayments and borrowings for individual projects from our corporate credit facility to ensure efficient resource utilization.
• Collaborate with the SVP of FP&A to prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts, ensuring they are accurate, delivered on time, and aligned with company expectations.
• Partner with business leaders (e.g., heads of TV and Film, Production, Creative, Post-Production, and Business Affairs) to communicate budgets and financial expectations, ensuring continual measurement of financial performance.
• Collaborate with networks, co-financiers, co-producers, partner production companies, and other business partners to support and drive key decision-making initiatives.
• Evaluate and implement systems solutions that support the uniqueness of Studio finance, streamline processes, and improve control activities for the Studio content division.
• Help shape the content division’s business plan to produce cash flow-positive results and establish short- and long-range goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures.
• Assist in production audits, corporate audits, and SOX compliance for the division.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in financial management within the film or television industry, with a strong focus on Studio Ultimates.
• Expertise in financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and advanced Excel skills, along with experience managing ultimate models, revenue recognition, and film cost amortization.
• Demonstrated ability to streamline and improve processes, manage production finance teams, and oversee production funding processes.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, including collaborating with various departments and partner production companies, and assisting in the preparation of financial plans and forecasts.
• Excellent communication skills, with a strategic, detail-oriented, and results-driven approach.

Pay

Annual rate: $200,000 (prorated for project duration: $133,333.33 for 8 months or $100,000 for 6 months).