The Role
Prepare production accounts, payroll journals, reconciliations, royalty and profit distribution statements, VAT returns, accounting schedules, and financial analysis for theatre and production clients. Monitor costs against budgets and forecasts, investigate variances, support year-end accounts and tax relief workings, and communicate with clients and colleagues. The role requires accuracy, deadline management, strong Excel skills, accounting software experience, and occasional travel to London client premises.
Summary Generated by Built In
We’re looking for a Production Accountant to join our specialist Theatre team based in our West End office.
This is a varied, hands-on role supporting a portfolio of theatre and production clients, with responsibility for the day-to-day preparation and delivery of production accounts. You’ll work across areas including payroll journals, reconciliations, purchase ledger, royalty statements, VAT and year-end accounts, while liaising closely with clients and colleagues to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
The role would suit someone with strong accounting experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, with previous theatre or production accounting experience being advantageous but not essential.
This is a varied, hands-on role supporting a portfolio of theatre and production clients, with responsibility for the day-to-day preparation and delivery of production accounts. You’ll work across areas including payroll journals, reconciliations, purchase ledger, royalty statements, VAT and year-end accounts, while liaising closely with clients and colleagues to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
The role would suit someone with strong accounting experience who enjoys working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, with previous theatre or production accounting experience being advantageous but not essential.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and post weekly payroll journals accurately, following client instructions and relevant sector rules, and investigate unusual movements or variances.
- Maintain weekly bank, petty cash, purchase ledger, supplier payment and control account reconciliations.
- Prepare sales contra calculations and post the required accounting adjustments.
- Produce weekly production accounts, including reconciliations, prepayments, accruals and detailed variance analysis.
- Monitor actual production costs against budgets and cash-flow forecasts, highlighting unusual balances or emerging issues promptly.
- Prepare royalty, merchandise royalty and profit distribution statements, reconcile these to control accounts and communicate payment information to relevant stakeholders.
- Prepare VAT returns, including any sector-specific adjustments, and support the quarterly preparation and submission of CT61 and FEU forms.
- Complete government surveys and provide ad hoc financial analysis and reporting in line with client requirements.
- Prepare year-end accounting schedules to first-draft stage and assist with Theatre Tax Relief workings.
- Build effective relationships with clients and internal colleagues, following agreed processes and travelling to client premises in London when required.
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise
- Practical experience in production accounting, management accounting, bookkeeping or a similar finance role involving regular reporting and reconciliations.
- Experience preparing and posting journals, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and explain unusual movements.
- Hands-on experience of bank, control account and purchase ledger reconciliations, together with prepayments and accruals.
- Experience producing management or production accounts and reviewing actual costs against budgets or forecasts.
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, filtering and maintaining reconciliation schedules.
- Experience using accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage 50 or a comparable system.
- Evidence of managing multiple deadlines and maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to resolving queries.
- Willingness to travel to client premises within London when required.
Desirable
- Experience within theatre, entertainment, media or another production-led sector.
- Experience preparing royalty or profit distribution statements.
- Experience preparing VAT returns, CT61 or FEU submissions.
- Exposure to year-end accounts preparation or Theatre Tax Relief workings.
Job Benefits
- Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 25 days plus three days off at Christmas.
- Flexible Working: We're committed to a positive work-life balance, offering a hybrid working policy that prioritises your well-being and flexibility.
- Comprehensive Wellbeing Support: Private Health Insurance, Access to Digicare+, Employee Assistance Programme, and more!
- Professional Subscriptions: Invest in your growth and development.
- Inclusive Employer: Be part of a diverse team with equity, inclusion, and flexibility at the core
About
At Moore Kingston Smith, we believe in the potential of people to make a positive impact, fuelled by the power of genuine understanding. Working with small, medium and large clients, we are a multi-disciplinary advisory, tax and audit firm with expertise across multiple sectors, uniquely positioned to help people realise their ambitions. Our London and regional teams deliver quality results locally and nationally, and worldwide alongside the Moore Global network. Through respect, collaboration and active listening, understanding is at the heart of everything we do with our clients, colleagues and communities. We value people and projects that promote positive change for the future. Come and join us to make a difference.
Skills Required
- Practical experience in production accounting, management accounting, bookkeeping, or a similar finance role involving regular reporting and reconciliations
- Experience preparing and posting journals and investigating discrepancies or unusual movements
- Experience with bank, control account, and purchase ledger reconciliations, including prepayments and accruals
- Experience producing management or production accounts and reviewing actual costs against budgets or forecasts
- Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, filtering, and reconciliation schedules
- Experience using accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks, Sage 50, or a comparable system
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines while maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced, client-focused environment
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, strong attention to detail, and a proactive approach to resolving queries
- Willingness to travel to client premises within London when required
- Experience in theatre, entertainment, media, or another production-led sector
- Experience preparing royalty or profit distribution statements
- Experience preparing VAT returns, CT61, or FEU submissions
- Exposure to year-end accounts preparation or Theatre Tax Relief workings
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The Company
What We Do
Moore Kingston Smith is a multi-disciplinary advisory, tax, and audit firm with expertise across multiple sectors, uniquely positioned to help people realize their ambitions.
