Netflix and Entertainment Partners to Train Next Generation of Production Accountants

As seen on Netflix.

The Australia and New Zealand screen industries are growing rapidly, and production accountants are in short supply. 

To help address this rising skill shortage, Netflix, in partnership with Entertainment Partners (formerly Moneypenny Services), is calling for applicants to participate in a two-week training intensive designed to give an overview of the role of a production accountant and a how-to in managing a production budget; from budget lock-off through to project completion. Training Director Jill Hewitt will lead this professional development workshop. 

From 27th February - 10th March, 15 participants from across Australia and New Zealand will gather in Sydney learning the skills needed to fill necessary gaps in the labour pool. 

Having quality crew is essential to maintaining a healthy industry and production accounting, a critical role of the TV & filmmaking business, ensures all monetary aspects of a production are looked after.

Penny Smallacombe, Manager of Grow Creative Netflix ANZ said: “Netflix aims to be the gold standard in the industry when it comes to having the best talent working across our productions. With the help of Entertainment Partners, we’ll prepare a diverse group of emerging accountants for roles in production accounting and jump-start their careers through real-world work experience on some of Australia's (and the world's) best film and TV productions.”

The workshop is for anyone looking to enter the screen industries as a Production Accountant. Applicants must have academic or vocational qualifications in accounting or an equivalent level of competence through work experience, for example as a bookkeeper or in a junior financial administration capacity.

Candidates interested in participating can submit applications here by 9 February, and must be available to attend the two week intensive in Sydney. Accommodation and flights will be provided to successful interstate applicants.

The Production Accounting workshop is the latest effort from Grow Creative Australia, the local training program of Netflix’s global initiative that aims to expand and up-skill local talent through investment in education and training, with a focus on fostering inclusivity. Together with Netflix’s Creative Equity Fund, Grow Creative is a dedicated effort to help build new opportunities for underrepresented communities within entertainment. Through these programs, Grow Creative will supports external organisations committed to creating equitable opportunities in the TV and film industries, as well as bespoke Grow Creative programs that help us to identify, train and provide job placement for up-and-coming talent globally.

ABOUT THE NETFLIX FUND FOR CREATIVE EQUITY 

The Netflix Fund for Creative Equity is a dedicated effort to help build new opportunities for underrepresented communities within entertainment. Through the fund, Netflix will support external organisations committed to creating equitable opportunities in the TV and film industries, as well as bespoke Netflix programs that help us to identify, train and provide job placement for up-and-coming talent globally.

ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS (Moneypenny Services)

Entertainment Partners have a global team of accountants dedicated to the screen industry for over 40 years. Our services include on site production accountants, external full payroll services, casual post production accounting, specialised accounting software and tax incentive/offset/rebate facilitation. Training Director Jill Hewitt has fulfilled many roles within Moneypenny since joining in 1989, which has equipped her perfectly for the formalisation of her current role as training director.

Continuing Moneypenny’s lifelong commitment to training and development Jill now manages our training partnerships and provides workplace training for assistants as well as mentoring those stepping up to be an accountant.