There are two types of Financial Controllers who perform different roles depending on the specific circumstances of film productions: 

1.  A large production company, studio or broadcaster may employ an experienced Production Accountant or qualified Accountant as a Financial Controller, to ensure that proper financial controls and reporting procedures are in place across every aspect of the company's activities, including those of individual productions. 


2. On larger productions, a freelance Senior Production Accountant may be engaged as a Financial Controller to oversee the work of the Film Production Accountant and of the Accounts team. The role of Financial Controllers is very challenging and requires excellent analytical skills, a wide-ranging perspective, and flexibility regarding schedules and working hours.

Responsibilities
Financial Controllers are responsible for controlling accounting, taxation and financial analysis for all the company's areas of operation, which may encompass development, production and distribution. Financial Controllers may also be required to supervise the activities of one or more full-time Assistants. On individual productions, Financial Controllers normally help Producers and Executive Producers to prepare original budgets and to raise finance, taking into consideration any relevant Government Tax Incentive schemes that may be available at that time.

Financial Controllers may undertake some or all of the Film Production Accountant's activities, depending on the scale of the individual production. These can involve a wide variety of tasks, ranging from controlling cash flow in order to ensure that payments are made on time, to setting up and managing the Accountancy team.

Skills
Financial Controllers need an excellent grounding in commercial and film production accounting, as well as in film finance and all relevant Inland Revenue and Government Tax regulations. They must have excellent problem solving and strong leadership skills, particularly in relation to organisation, planning, communication and team working. They need to be self-starters with the insight and vision to propose changes even in the face of strong opposition, and they should be able to prioritise work efficiently across a wide range of responsibilities. 

Controllers should be excellent negotiators, administrators and communicators, who possess a thorough working knowledge of IT, accountancy, budgeting and scheduling software.

Qualifications/Experience
Financial Controllers are usually qualified Accountants with a BA in Accountancy, combined with a number of years' experience, ideally within film production, media or film finance. Financial Controllers in permanent employment in production companies are usually Chartered Accountants with a solid grounding in company and commercial accounting. Freelance Senior Production Accountants who are engaged as Financial Controllers on large films must have an excellent track record in large film productions, in order to be approved by the production's various Financiers.

Individual course accreditation in certain subject areas is currently being piloted. As part of Skillset's and the UK Film Council's Film Skills Strategy, A Bigger Future, a network of Screen Academies and a Film Business Academy have been approved as centres of excellence in education and training for film.

Where to go for more information
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries. The first sources of information for all jobs in the industry are the National Occupational Standards. Browse Skillset's website for links to our network of training partners, information about training and access to the comprehensive Skillset/BFI course database. Finally, Skillset Careers is UK's only specialist media careers advice service; for detailed media careers information and advice, visit www.skillset.org/careers.