Sr. Head of Finance - Production

BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, creatively and financially supporting the BBC, its partners, and the wider industry. We combine the strengths of the UK’s most awarded producer with a world-class distributor. Taking ideas from thought to screen and beyond, our activities range from content financing, development, production, through to global program sales, branded services, consumer products, live events and ancillaries.

Together with our independent production labels and content sales partners, we deliver thousands of hours of content annually to the BBC and other broadcasters and services, including Amazon, Apple TV, Channel 4, Channel Five, Discovery, Disney, National Geographic, Netflix, Migu, PBS, Sky and YouTube. BBC Studios Productions creates high quality, award-winning content across an extraordinary range of genres and specialisms. Recent credits, made by BBC Studios Productions and its indie labels, include Happy Valley 3, Frozen Planet II, Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Killing Eve, Am I Being Unreasonable, Grenfell: The Untold Story, Prehistoric Planet, JoJo and Gran Gran, Top Gear, The One Show and Royal and ceremonial events.

JOB PURPOSE

The Sr. Head of Finance for LA Productions is the senior financial leader for BBC Studios’ Los Angeles operation, supporting both the unscripted and scripted businesses that deliver some of the biggest entertainment brands in the U.S. — from global juggernauts like Dancing With the Stars and The 1% Club to high‑profile reality series such as Outlast, alongside a diverse slate of returning franchises and new formats.

The purpose of this role is to provide financial leadership, ensuring rigorous commercial finance practices and delivering the strategic and operational insight needed to drive the sustainable growth of the LA slate. The role leads financial planning, business partnering, commercial evaluation, and the financial control environment across all productions and central operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Finance & Business Partnering

• Act as the primary finance partner to LA Production leadership, advising on strategy, operational decisions, and financial trade-offs.
• Provide financial leadership on production economics and deal evaluation, partnering with Production Management and Business & Legal Affairs to assess implications, support deal structuring, and ensure commercially sound, compliant decisions.
• Partner with production and creative teams to maintain cost discipline, driving best practices in budgeting, cost tracking, cashflow management, and forecasting across each show’s lifecycle.
• Support new business initiatives through commercial analysis, financial modelling, and strategic guidance on revenue streams and partnership opportunities.
• In partnership with the VP of Production Finance, oversee tax incentive and production services frameworks across jurisdictions, ensuring optimal incentive utilisation, compliant structuring, and strong financial controls.
• Embed a cash-first mindset through robust cashflow forecasting, disciplined working capital management, and proactive identification of risks and opportunities.

• Lead all financial planning cycles, including budgets, forecasts, cashflow planning, and long-range modelling.
• Monitor performance against targets, identifying risks and opportunities in real time.
• Oversee and challenge production P&Ls to ensure margin delivery and early identification of profitability opportunities.
• Support greenlight decisions through scenario modelling, cost-to-complete analysis, sensitivity testing, and risk assessment.

Controls & Compliance

• Maintain a strong financial control environment across all production activities.
• Oversee production accounting, ensuring accurate reporting, timely reviews, and adherence to policies and governance.
• Manage month-end and year-end close processes, including reconciliations and reporting requirements.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and fully documented, approved production budgets.
• Drive continuous improvement in controls, workflows, and systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.

Leadership

• Lead and develop the finance team, strengthening capability and delivering high-impact support across productions.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and clear communication across production and corporate finance.
• Promote financial literacy among production partners and senior leaders to support informed decision-making.
• Encourage a “one-team” approach across Finance, Production, Development, BLA, Commercial teams, and UK stakeholders to ensure alignment and transparency.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Qualified accountant (CPA/ACA/ACCA or equivalent) with substantial experience in TV production or entertainment finance.
• Deep understanding of US unscripted and/or scripted production accounting, cashflow cycles, cost reporting, and end‑to‑end production P&L management.
• Proven experience driving production profitability, strengthening margins, and embedding commercial discipline in creative environments.
• Strong capability in financial modelling, scenario analysis, and commercial evaluation of production deals and investment cases.
• Skilled collaborator with a track record of influencing senior creative and production stakeholders.
• Experience working within a global or matrix organisation and managing multiple cross‑territory stakeholders.

Demonstrated leadership of high‑performing teams and ability to develop finance talent within production environments.

COMPENSATION

The anticipated annual salary for this position is $300,000 - $350,000, dependent on experience & market conditions. The role includes a comprehensive bonus, flexible, hybrid working schedule and comprehensive benefits package including but not limited to: 100% BBCS covered medical and dental insurance for employees and their dependents, vision, competitive 401(k) match, mental health, gym reimbursement, pet insurance, commuter benefits.

BENEFITS AND PERKS

• 100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible, Hybrid Working Arrangements
• Work/life balance
• Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
• Pet Insurance
• Bagel Mondays, Thirsty Thursdays, and more!

ABOUT THE BBC

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us.

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

Find out more about BBC Studios

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

For any general queries, please contact: View email address on click.appcast.io

Reasonable adjustments

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: View email address on click.appcast.io

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.