Production Accounting for Film and Television

Jump Start Your Production Accounting Career

Gain entry-level certification in production accounting for film and TV productions. Over six weeks, learn the fundamentals of the production workflow from the perspective of the accounting department. Developed with top-level production accountants and industry experts, this program will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of accounting in film and TV and provide the opportunity to enter a sustainable career in this high-demand department of the sector.

Production Accounting for Film and Television

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Fees: $2,500
Length: 12 three-hour modules over 6 weeks
Next Session: June 6, 2023 to
July 13, 2023

Production Accounting for Film and Television

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  • Programs
  • Production Accounting for Film and Television

Level Up Your
Production Accounting Skills and Career

The demand and labour shortage for production accountants in Ontario’s film and television industry is growing. But how do you enter this thriving industry? This comprehensive introductory program, offered in partnership with Cinespace Studios Toronto, The York University Motion Media Studio, and Schulich ExecEd, will prepare you to begin your production accounting journey.

Explore the function and importance of the production accounting department, review bookkeeping standards within film and TV, and familiarize yourself with common systems, tools and techniques used in the production accounting office. Review the stages of a film and TV production and the roles of the production accounting office from “greenlight” and “prep” through to “post-production” and “delivery.” With a logical and consistent framework for problem-solving, aspiring production accountants can jump into this fast-paced industry.

Get Training in Marketable Skills

Accounting
Budget Management
Data Analytics
Financial Analysis

4 Reasons to Enrol

Amazing Education For Busy Professionals

This program packs rich learnings into 12 three-hour modules over 6 weeks, so you can put your new skills to work right away. With evening modules, you don’t need to put your life on pause to grow your career.

Stand Out From The Crowd

Build on your bookkeeping, administrative and film experience and level up for a career in production accounting. With this complete introductory program, you can also level up for other roles in the industry.

Learn From The Pros

Train with distinguished and seasoned professionals in the production accounting and film industry, with a curriculum designed in consultation with top Production Accountants who are members of the Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario.

Earn Higher Pay

Gain the confidence, skills and perspective to attain better roles, launch new ventures, and lead your teammates.

Who Will Benefit

Aspiring Administrators

This program is designed for participants currently interested in administration and the creative sector as well as those currently working as bookkeepers, in administrative roles, and in other junior film positions looking to expand their capabilities in production accounting. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of accounting in the creative sector, gaining the accounting, film, and procedural skills to level their careers.

Program Overview

  • Discover how a movie gets approved, the process that follows it, and all that is involved in making the magic happen. Learn about:

    • The importance and function of Production Accounting
    • Major and Minor Studios shooting in Canadian jurisdictions
    • Prep/Production/Post-Production
    • Hierarchy of the film and TV industry
    • Roles and responsibilities of the production accounting team
    • Basic production paperwork
  • Learn the proper ins and outs of bookkeeping for a better project flow and accomplishment. Learn about:

    • Industry standards
    • Policies and procedures
    • Industry etiquette
    • Trial balance
    • Financing, cashflow and banking
  • Understand how a budget is created, how to track costs, and create a chart of accounts. Then, learn about tax credits in general and specifically for shooting in Ontario. Learn about:

    • Basic budgeting overview
    • Chart of accounts
    • Cost tracking/item identification
    • Associating codes to costs
    • Overview of tax credits
  • Understand the process of setting up vendors and obtaining approvals for departmental purchases. Learn about:

    • Establishing vendors and vendor entry
    • Purchase orders
    • Software skills (DPO & Smart PO)
    • Approval processes
  • As a continuation of paying debts further, dive into checks and processing them, as well as handling invoices. Learn about:

    • Invoices
    • Check requisitions
    • Coding blocks and drawing down Pos
    • Check processing/ACHs
    • Software skills (PAS input)
  • Not all transactions are via checks and e-transfers. Understand how petty cash works, how it is recorded and monitored, and how it is processed systematically. Learn about:

    • Petty cash advances
    • Crew vendor setup
    • Types and limits of expenses
    • Reporting requirements
    • Auditing and coding PC reports
    • Processing/software skills (PAS input)
  • Review payroll systems and related paperwork. Learn about the different unions, who they represent and how they are paid. Learn about:

    • Payroll paperwork (Deal Memos, Residency Declarations)
    • Introduction to unions (IATSE, NABET, DGC, ACTRA)
    • Payroll systems and workflow
    • Software skills (EPOL)
    • Intro to timecard calculations – Background performers
  • Understand the process of preparing payrolls, focusing mainly on timelines and deadlines. Gain a deeper knowledge of your routines as a payroll accountant and how timecards are processed. Learn about:

    • Daily and weekly routines
    • Deal memo entry (EPOL)
    • Timecard processing
  • Explore timecard calculations, focusing on how the various union contracts differ and how they affect those calculations. Learn about:

    • Union contracts and variances
    • Government fringes and WSIB obligations
    • Payroll processing/Software skills (PAS)
    • Cast and “Above the Line” personnel
    • Proof of residency protocols
  • Monitor costs and ensure that they are within the budget. Compare the costs of shoots and how they align or differ from the set budget for more control of the project. Analyze and prepare proper reporting processes of costs. Learn about:

    • Description and function of hot cost reports
    • Weekly/episodic cost reporting
    • Spontaneous reporting
    • Departmental reporting
    • Tax Reporting
  • Dive into post-production accounting. File reports for different entities and audit and update transactions and documentation. Learn about:

    • Wrap reporting requirements
    • Residuals/ACTRA cast reports
    • File auditing
    • Final Trail Balance and notes
    • Turnover of books and records
  • Understand everything you need for a job with a Production Accounting team. Learn what to expect and how to best handle whatever comes your way in this fast-paced, high-intensity and very exciting environment. Learn about:

    • Soft skills / Personal effectiveness
    • Day-to-day reality of the industry
    • Conflict resolution
    • Customer service and communications
    • Time management
    • Final review and questions
  • Spring 2023 Dates Time
    Production Accounting for Film and Television 6/6/2023 - 7/13/2023 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Faculty

Marr Morgan,

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Christina Kitty Spiropoulos,

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What You Get

After completing Foundations of Production Accounting, you'll receive an authentic digital badge from the #1 business school in Canada that employers will recognize.

As more and more companies look for candidates with specific skills, this badge on your CV will be a credible assurance of your achievements and expertise, allowing the right roles to find you faster.

Foundational Badge

Signifies that you’ve gained information and insight into new skills.

Custom Programs for Organizations

Use this program as we designed it, or alter it to fit your company’s needs. Either way, we can help you improve your organization's talent pipeline. Get in touch with our custom programs team today.

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