Tennis Channel is seeking a hands-on Director, Production Finance to lead and manage production budgeting,
forecasting, accounting, controls, reporting, and continuous improvement across Tennis Channel production
activities. This role sits within Tennis Channel Corporate Finance & Accounting and reports to the Controller / VP
Finance, serving primarily as the finance partner in support of the Head of Production & Programming and the related teams across live events, studio productions, original content, digital initiatives, creative, and production
operations.
The Head of Production & Programming owns the department budget, including Creative budgets; the Director role supports that responsibility through production-related financial management, reporting, analysis, and decision support. The Director will work closely with Production, Programming, Rights & Acquisitions, Creative, Operations, Legal, HR and Finance & Accounting, as needed, to support the production-related financial responsibilities. This role is onsite and located in Santa Monica, CA.
In this role, you will...
Lead Strategic Production Finance & Planning
Prepareannualproductionbudgets,quarterlyforecastsandlong-rangeplans.
Build financial models for productions/tournaments, seasonal coverage plans, and production cost centers to support staffing, resource allocation, and investment decisions.
LeadPickleballTVjointventureproduction-relatedforecasting,actualization,andvarianceanalysisin coordinationwithproductionleadershipandFinance&Accounting.
Preparefinancialsupportforgo/no-godecisions,cashflow,productioneconomics,andfinancialrisks.
Oversee Production Accounting & Financial Controls
Leadproductionaccounting,includingjobcosting,accruals,amortization,andclosesupport.
Trackproductioncosts,commitments,vendorobligations,andtalentcoststosupportaccuratereporting.
Reviewproductionpayables and purchasingcard activityforpropercoding, approvals,and controls.
PrepareforecastupdatesandcostvarianceexplanationsforFP&A,Accounting,and Production.
Drive Business Analytics & Executive Reporting
Prepare KPI dashboards, forecast packages, cost summaries, and recurring reports for the Head of Production & Programming to support production planning, cost visibility, and decision making.
Conduct post-event production cost reviews to explain variances, capture planning takeaways, and recommend improvements for upcoming productions.
Summarizeproductionfinancialinsightsforexecutivereportingandupcomingproductionplanning.
Champion Continuous Improvement
Improvebudgeting,forecasting,accounting,reportingquality, forecast accuracy,anddecisionsupport.
Developcostbenchmarks,productivitymetrics,savingstrackers,andperformanceindicatorsacrossproductions,vendors,staffing,travel,andoperations.
Implement automation, AI-enabled tools, templates,andreporting improvements to increase efficiencyand financialvisibility.
Manage Financial Governance & Oversight
Reviewproduction agreements, vendor arrangements, talent commitments,andrelated documents for financial terms, budget impact, cost tracking, and risks in support of the Head of Production & Programming.
Coordinate with Legal, HR, Treasury, Tax, and Accounting as needed on production-related financial risks,labor costs, international requirements, cash flow, and compliance.
Supportinternationalproductions,includingforeigncosts,tax/VAT,paymenttiming,currencyexposure,and complianceimpacts.
Maintainpracticalgovernance,controls,andprocessesthatsupportgrowth,compliance,costdiscipline,and operationaleffectiveness.
Provide Leadership & Team Development
Provideday-to-day leadership,coaching,andsupporttothe ProductionFinanceteam.
Setpriorities,goals,development plans,andoperatingrhythms.
Fosteraccountability,collaboration,financialdiscipline,improvement,anddata-drivendecisionmaking.
Key Qualifications
Bachelor'sdegreeinFinance,Accounting,Business,orrelatedfield.
CPApreferred.
8+ years of progressiveexperience in Production Finance, Production Accounting, MediaFinance, FP&A,or relateddisciplines.
Experience in live production, sports media, entertainment, streaming, digital media, or content businesses preferred.
Strong hands-on financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, controls, reporting, and analytical skills.
Experience with project accounting, production costing, close support, operational budgets, and cost governance.
Abilityto partnerwithoperationalleadersandtranslatefinancialdataintobusinessrecommendations.
Experience with ERP/project costing systems, production accounting tools, Excel, and BI reporting; Oracle experiencepreferred.
Strongcommunication,leadership,judgment,businesspartnership,andstakeholdermanagementskills.
Tennis Channel is proud to be equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by virtue of an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
About Tennis Channel
Tennis Channel is the only multiplatform destination dedicated solely to tennis year-round. Together, the Tennis Channel flagship network, Tennis Channel 2, and the Tennis Channel app (tennischannel.com) deliver the most accessible and concentrated single-sport coverage anywhere. As the exclusive U.S. home of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour, Tennis Channel features live coverage of every Masters 1000 tournament - including Indian Wells, the Miami Open, Madrid, Rome, Cincinnati, and more - alongside live studio programming including its premier series, TC Live. Tennis Channel 2, a free FAST channel available in over 100 million homes, brings fans matches from across the globe at every level of the game. The Tennis Channel app brings it all together in one place, delivering live and on-demand matches, original content, and a personalized multi-view experience for fans, available on mobile and connected TV devices. Owned by Sinclair, Tennis Channel is also a co-owner of PickleballTV (pickleballtv.com), a joint venture with the Professional Pickleball Association.
About Sinclair
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 177 television stations in 79 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; and multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair's AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at www.sbgi.net .
About the Team
The life-blood of our organization is our people. We have a compelling story, a goal-oriented culture, and we take really good care of people. How good? Here is a glimpse: great benefits, open-door policy, upward mobility and a strong desire to see you succeed. Ready to be part of a winning team? Let's talk.
The base salary compensation range for this role is $140,000 to $148,000. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors such as a candidates' relevant work experience, skills, certifications, and geographic location. Full time positions are eligible for benefits that include participation in a retirement plan, life and disability insurance, health, dental and vision plans, flexible spending accounts, sick leave, vacation time, personal time, parental leave and employee stock purchase plan.
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