Business Director

WARNER BROS. INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION PRODUCTION NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – Auckland, North Island

At Warner Bros., we are committed to nurturing a workforce that encompasses all facets of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds, and cultures.

Company Overview:

Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s largest and most exciting production companies, producing award-winning television for audiences both in New Zealand and around the world. Warner Bros. New Zealand team has secured a reputation as a trusted production partner and passionate producer of outstanding New Zealand television. It remains committed to telling great stories, developing exciting formats and creating and producing content that will engage audiences worldwide.

Primary Purpose of Position:

The Business Director is a key member of the WBITVP NZ senior management team and will have overall responsibility for all financial matters. The position will be integral to ensuring the successful management and group reporting for the operations of the New Zealand TV production business, optimising production margins and overseeing business and financial matters.

Position Responsibilities:

• As a member of the senior management team, provide strategic input to the organisation and lead process for preparing annual plan.
• Work closely with the Managing Director advising on all significant strategic and commercial decisions for productions (such as maximising funding, favourable cashflows, recharge opportunities) and ensuring that production accounting and management remains aligned to overall business objectives.
• Prepare and execute business plans and financial forecasts ensuring that budgets are met and commercial activities are maximised.
• Present financial models to senior ITVP leadership in UK.
• Advising on all significant strategic and commercial decisions and ensuring that the company remains aligned to overall business objectives, including the management of cost base, discretionary spend and overheads.
• Approve and sign off invoices and investment proposals.
• Ultimate ownership of Opco US GAAP P&L & Balance Sheet, incl. judgmental areas (e.g. provisions, accruals etc).
• Quarterly balance sheet reviews with local F&A team, including commercial ownership on assumptions behind balance sheet positions.
• Management of company and production payrolls – software, approvals & PAYE tax returns.
• Responsible for Capex business cases.
• In conjunction with the Managing Director:
  • model, support and ensure appropriate controls exist for negotiations with clients/partners on all media funding, other finance, contractual matters and other business and commercial affairs issues.
  • negotiation and contracting of key talent and business third-party suppliers.
  • ensure Production and Finance are fully aligned and communicating effectively in order to optimise the financial performance of the business overall.
• Oversee and support Production Accounting to ensure that:
  • productions are executed in a manner consistent with budgets and core strategies.
  • any production accounting liabilities and contingencies are communicated and where relevant, recorded in the financial statements.
• Manage the process for accessing production incentives (PDV, NZ & International Screen Production Rebates and provincial subsidies), ensuring applications are made on a timely basis and the underlying qualifying production expenditures (NZQPE) are tracked and the associated documentation meets the necessary audit standards and is recorded in accordance with group accounting policy.
• Act as principal sponsor for Just Produce (company production accounting solution) ensuring that relevant production teams and production accounts have adequate training on the use of the system and that Just Produce is used consistently and in accordance with group guidelines.
• Provide an independent challenge to the production teams on the management of production spend.
• Have budgetary oversight for ITVP and allocations of head office recharges and costs into production budgets.
• With the Managing Director dictate any margin allocations required of each production.
• Develop and build the new financial infrastructure and procedures to support the growth of scripted business.
• Working with Managing Director & Head of Television to optimise slate margins and manage reporting of slate along with overall business model.
• Oversee process for preparing and reporting on monthly and quarterly reporting pack, including slate, reporting pack, cashflow, development budget and management reports.
• Prepare and present variance analysis to regional Business Partner.
• Work with the WBD Corporate Finance Accounting teams (including GBS) to ensure the necessary inputs to the statutory accounting, audit and tax reporting processes occur and the company meets relevant statutory deadlines.
• In conjunction with the ANZ Hub Controller, responsible for ensuring adequate processes and controls exist for operational and production systems and that the business operates in accordance with WBITVP divisional and WB Group policies.
• Oversee HR reporting and work directly with WB local HR management to ensure company follows appropriate policy on all payroll and employment matters as well as ensuring staffing models and overhead costs remain flexible.
• Ensure that headcount is closely monitored and that the Company can respond in a timely manner which reflects the size of the commissioned production slate.
• Ensure any significant changes to the commercial, Taxation or regulatory environment are escalated to the management team and group.
• Continually seek ways to improve and streamline budgeting process.
• Track all program deliveries to the network in accordance with contractual, creative, and financial requirements of the business.
• Oversight and responsibility of P&L to hit target and departmental budgets.
• Determine and approve cashflow timing for all production agreements.
• Statistics NZ returns.

People Management Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all finance staff members (permanent, fixed term and crew) are motivated, trained and developed to their full potential to ensure that each project achieves its creative and operational objectives to maximum effect.
• Coach and mentor finance team to translate strategies into specific priorities, objectives and action plans.
• Work closely with ANZ Hub controller to manage Financial Accounting (as a dotted line manager).
• Provide regular, timely and clear feedback to all production finance team members.
• Foster a positive and high achieving culture that embraces continual change.
• Create a workplace environment that encourages problem solving, process improvement and stretch goals.
• Work closely with MANAGING DIRECTOR, Head of Television and People & Culture to proactively recruit, retain and develop team engagement to achieve the business goals.

Other responsibilities:

• Work closely and effectively with key stakeholders across the UK and Australia.
• General financial reporting, modelling and projects as required.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Must be a Chartered Accountant or Certified Public Accountant.
• A minimum of 5 + years’ experience in a similar leadership role.
• Experience of working in a local Territory of a multinational organisation & ability to manage teams through change and lead the local business process initiatives would be an advantage.
• Considerable experience in media/Production industry is essential.
• Good understanding of the TV market is essential, including programme making, the production process, finance models and deal making.
• Strong financial competency required and will have presented strategic, financial and commercial information to senior executives.
• Proven track record working successfully with senior business leaders, creative heads, operational and financial management.
• Strategic thinking capability with good overall business skills, commercially aware and grounded but with the ability to be “hands-on” when required.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to successfully lead and build a motivated team.
• Superior interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively manage multiple projects and deal with the various internal and external stakeholders.
• Adaptable operator with the ability to support, manage and direct commercial and business requirements.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are required as well as the ability to interact effectively and influence management at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to grasp the "big picture" and to think strategically.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.