Sr. Manager/Director, Technical Accounting

Role: Sr. Manager/Director, Technical Accounting
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Compensation: $145K-$195K annual base salary + discretionary target bonus

Role Summary:
At FIFTH SEASON, we’re a team of superstars, driven by a passion for crafting innovative and compelling content that captivates audiences worldwide. We are committed to fostering a supportive environment where the contributions of each employee fuel our mission of excellence and help to cultivate a lively and engaging company culture.

We seek an accomplished and strategic Director of Technical Accounting to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will play a crucial part in ensuring the accuracy and compliance of our financial accounting. Your responsibilities will include researching and documenting significant and non-routine transactions, collaborating with various departments to conduct Technical Accounting research and reviews of proposed transactions and draft contracts.

As a key player in our finance and accounting team, you will lead the creation of new and review of our existing accounting policies and support the accounting for complex business transactions. We are looking for an individual with an exceptional grasp of US GAAP, coupled with a passion for applying accounting principles to existing and new business activities. Moreover, your ability to navigate ambiguity, meet tight deadlines, and foster strong relationships with FP&A and business partners will be essential for success in this role.

This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the financial accounting of FIFTH SEASON. If you are driven by the challenge of applying your Technical Accounting expertise in the entertainment industry and are committed to contributing to a team dedicated to maintaining financial integrity, we invite you to apply.

Role Responsibilities:

Technical Accounting Research & Analysis

• Performing Technical Accounting research and analysis for new or proposed transactions.

• Documenting and reviewing accounting conclusions under both US GAAP and IFRS.

• Working closely with external auditors on Technical Accounting matters and concluding on accounting analyses promptly.

• Responding to Technical Accounting inquiries from internal and external parties.

• Communicating Technical Accounting matters to all levels within the organization.

Business Partnership & Transaction Support

• Partnering with various teams to provide expertise in deal structuring and new transactions.

• Assessing the financial impact of proposed or complex transactions.

• Providing recommendations to senior management based on evaluations.

• Organizing finance-wide trainings on topics related to US GAAP, IFRS, and internal controls.

Accounting Policy Management & Implementation

• Developing and maintaining accounting policy documentation.

• Implementing new accounting standards and related processes.

• Operationalizing accounting for new or evolving accounting policies.

• Monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of existing accounting policies.

• Recommending updates to accounting policies as needed.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Ensuring internal controls for accounting policies are effective for Korean SOX (K-SOX) compliance.

• Developing documentation around K-SOX compliant internal controls.

• Ensuring all controls meet external auditor requirements.

• Supporting other compliance initiatives and testing for K-SOX.

Requirements & Skills:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting; Active CPA required

• 5-8 years of combined public and private experience, with exposure to complex accounting issues, technical research, and memo writing

• Strong breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in US GAAP, including:

• Revenue recognition

• Film accounting

• Collaborative arrangements

• Consolidation and VIE assessments

• Hedge accounting

• FX transactions

• Stock-based compensation

• Leases

• Experience in IFRS with knowledge of key differences between US GAAP and IFRS

• Proficient in Technical Accounting memo writing

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)

• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems

• Familiarity with SOX and internal control concepts, including documentation requirements

• Strong communicator with high self-awareness and adeptness in leading through influence across the entire organization.

Characteristics & Personality:

• Agile and adaptable, thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments while skillfully navigating change.

• Resourceful and proactive, demonstrates a self-starter mentality with a problem-solving mindset, both independently and within a team.

• Resilient and determined, overcoming challenges while prioritizing continuous growth and improvement, and adept at working cross-functionally to obtain relevant facts and understand business and accounting requirements.

In addition to the competencies above, the ideal candidate will:

• Embody FIFTH SEASON's commitment to fostering an inclusive, anti-racist, and feminist workplace. All candidates must have a proven track record of promoting and valuing diversity and inclusivity in previous roles, and a commitment to fostering these values in the workplace.

About Us:

FIFTH SEASON is a global leader in the creation, production, and distribution of feature films and premium television series. Known for producing and distributing award-winning content that engages audiences and moves culture, the studio’s film titles include the multi-Oscar-nominated The Lost Daughter from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ambulance directed by Michael Bay, Destin Daniel Cretton’s Just Mercy, the Book Club franchise, the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award winner Cha Cha Real Smooth, and 80 For Brady. The studio produces premium TV series including the 14-time Emmy-nominated Severance, See, and Truth Be Told for Apple TV+, Wolf Like Me for Peacock, Life & Beth, Nine Perfect Strangers, and McCartney 3, 2, 1 for Hulu, and Tokyo Vice for HBO Max. FIFTH SEASON also handles global distribution for dozens of hit series in addition to its own studio productions, including Killing Eve, The Morning Show, Normal People, and The Night Manager.

Our Culture:
A studio with a soul, FIFTH SEASON is proud to be an anti-racist and feminist company, focused on leaving the entertainment business better than we found it. We empower freedom and ownership, delivering the expertise of a big studio with the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity of a start-up. FIFTH SEASON is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Our Benefits:

• Hybrid schedule

• 14 company holidays

• 3 volunteer days annually, to support and give back

• PTO, Paid Leave (Parental, Fertility Treatment, Menopause, Bereavement, and more)

• Medical/Dental/Vision, Fertility/Adoption/Education Assistance Programs, 401K Match

We offer competitive compensation, benefits, and opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic and exciting industry. The ideal candidate is driven and hungry to learn and wants to be in the trenches of the entertainment industry. If you meet the above requirements and are excited about this opportunity, we invite you to apply.