Controller/Manager

(Job ID: 1949)

Westside (LA), California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Entertainment

$115,000 – $150,000 base

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Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Corporate Controller to play a pivotal role in our fast-paced, award-winning television commercial production company. This position offers a unique opportunity to partner closely with senior leadership, ensuring the integrity and scalability of our financial systems while contributing to the strategic direction of our organization. You will thrive in a collaborative and innovative environment, where your expertise will directly impact our growth and operational efficiency. Join us to advance your career in a dynamic industry that values creativity and excellence.

Responsibilities

Oversee all accounting operations, including general ledger management, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and bank reconciliations, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Manage project-based accounting for multiple commercial productions, supervising cost tracking and variance analysis to optimize financial performance.
Ensure timely and accurate client billing, revenue recognition, and cost reporting, enhancing financial transparency.
Lead month-end and year-end close processes, delivering precise financial statements and participation reports upon production wrap.
Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors, tax advisors, and production partners, facilitating effective communication and compliance.
Continuously refine accounting systems and workflows, implementing automation tools to improve operational efficiency.
Review and provide recommendations for legal documents, ensuring alignment with financial strategies and compliance requirements.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA strongly preferred.
7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, specifically in a commercial television production environment.
Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, NetSuite) and project accounting software (e.g., CAPS+, Hot Budget).
In-depth knowledge of payroll platforms and union reporting (DGA, IATSE, Teamsters) with experience managing compliance audits.
Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and problem-solving abilities.
Advanced Excel skills.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience improving or implementing accounting workflows and automation tools.
Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with Executive Producers, Line Producers, and Production Managers.
Familiarity with agency-driven commercial budgets and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why are SaaS accounting and finance roles different from general corporate roles?
Because recurring revenue models create different pressure points around revenue recognition, deferred revenue, forecasting, metrics, and scale. Even strong general accounting or finance candidates can struggle if they have not operated in an environment where recurring revenue and growth-stage process discipline matter.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.

Controller/Manager — Westside (LA), California | Pacific Executive Search

Controller/Manager

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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