Controller/Manager — Greater Los Angeles, California | Pacific Executive Search

Controller/Manager

(Job ID: 1949)

Greater Los Angeles, California

On-Site

Direct Hire

Entertainment

$115,000 – $150,000 base

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Overview

Step into a leadership role at a boutique commercial production company nestled in the heart of Santa Monica. This is more than just a Controller position; it's a chance to directly influence the financial backbone of a company known for its high-quality television commercials. With a small, dedicated team and direct access to the owners, you'll navigate the complexities of production accounting in a union-affiliated environment, ensuring financial integrity and strategic growth.

Title: Controller/Manager
Industry: Advertising and Film Production
Location: Greater Los Angeles

Responsibilities

Manage comprehensive accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, and payroll processes.
Oversee project-based financial management for multiple simultaneous commercial productions.
Ensure precise client billing, revenue recognition, and cost reporting in alignment with production budgets.
Coordinate and verify union and non-union payroll, maintaining compliance with union regulations.
Lead the month-end and year-end financial close processes, delivering accurate financial statements.
Act as the primary liaison for corporate and production insurance matters, including claims submissions.
Collaborate with external auditors, tax advisors, and production partners to refine accounting systems and workflows.

Qualifications

Must-Have:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred.
7–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, specifically in commercial television production.
Proficiency with industry-standard accounting and production software such as CAPS+ and Hot Budget.
Experience with union payroll processes and compliance, including DGA, IATSE, and Teamsters.
Strong communication skills for collaboration with production teams and external partners.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Nice-to-Have:
Experience in film or TV production accounting with a focus on union payroll.
Advanced Excel skills and experience with accounting workflow automation tools.
Stable work history with a preference for small-company environments.

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.
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.
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.

Controller/Manager

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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