What is a Film/TV Accounts Trainee?
It is essential, in the Film and TV industries, to keep track of any income and expenses in order to make sure that the production stays within the set budget, and ultimately to make predictions about its economic success. The Film/Tv Accounts Trainee supports the accountancy team in making and recording payments.
What is the Job?
Being an entry-level of the Accountancy department, the Film/TV Accounts Trainee role mainly involves keeping all the books and the paperwork as accurate as possible by entering data correctly, checking transactions other general administration.
Day to day tasks range from sorting paperwork, delivering per diems to the crew, inserting data into accounting software, making and recording payments, checking if records are accurate, answering phone calls, posting cheques and documents and any other daily activity which can support other Production Accountants.
The job is office based, but trainees can often be asked to run errands outside of the office as well.
Key Skills
Numeracy skills and bookkeeping knowledge are obviously key to this role. Familiarity with accounting software, being confident with data entry and having a thorough knowledge of spreadsheets and word processing software are also basic requirements.
The role is entry level. The ideal candidate must therefore be prepared to follow all instructions from superiors, seamlessly communicating information about sensitive data in a clear and concise way.
Being able to prioritise and work well under pressure within strict deadlinse is a must in the whole film industry, but especially in the accounting department.
How to Get Work as an Accounts Trainee
Accounts Trainees are usually hired on a freelance basis by the Accounts Director. A good way in could be an internship or work experience whilst studying accounting-related subjects.
Education & training
Accounts Trainees should hold a qualification in Bookkeeping, or otherwise have relevant work experience. Knowledge of Film Accountancy Budgeting software is also definitely beneficial.
Often a driver’s licence is also required in order to run errands and complete tasks outside of the office.
Where Can It Take You?
Accounts Trainees can progress to higher roles, starting with Assistant Accountant, within the Production Accountancy department. For legal reasons though, further professional qualifications may be required in order to take on roles of higher responsibility.
Become a Film/TV Accounts Trainee today
If you are ready for the next step in your career, why not take a look at the latest Film/TV Accounts Trainee vacancies on our jobs board? You can view our latest vacancies here.