Finance Director, Content Sales & Investment

Finance

Permanent - Full Time

London, GB, W12 7FA

Job Closing Date: 30/10/24

THE ROLE

BBC Studios is a world-renowned content studio and channels & streaming business, powered by British creativity, with a reach that touches audiences in every corner of the globe.

We work with outstanding creative talent who are responsible for platform-defining shows from Strictly Come Dancing to Bluey, Prehistoric Planet to Planet Earth III.

The range and quality of our content is unsurpassed, creating critical and commercial successes and global phenomena.

From BAFTAs to RTS Awards, BBC Studios is Britain’s most awarded production company and the only producer with three of the top ten shows on IMDB; we’re the home of bbc.com, the widest-read English language news website in the world; and the UK’s largest distributor of British content.

THE ROLE

BBC Studios has an ambitious growth plan to double revenue and EBITDA in the next five years. This growth is underpinned by developing, creating and investing in the right content to drive financial returns at all points in the content life cycle. This newly created role will oversee all finance activities involved in content monetisation: business partnering and sales support, content investment and accounting for content distribution costs. The role requires a finance leader at ease with understanding the detail behind the content life cycle to identify and execute on opportunities to increase returns in content monetisation, to maintain sufficient rigor and control, as well being a strategic thinker, effective business partner to senior stakeholders and a strong team leader.

Key responsibilities and accountabilities:

Driving Growth Through Commercial Business Partnering

• Forge strong relationships across the Studio with collaborative business partnering to maximise financial returns from content monetisation
• Assist on commercial negotiation strategy
• Identify and capitalise on growth opportunities to develop new revenue streams
• Champion the execution of the Content Studio’s growth strategy through timely financial insights and analysis

Controls & Compliance

• Establish a strong controls framework, particularly crucial during the initial phase of this newly created role
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and company policies
• Implement and maintain robust financial controls to safeguard assets and manage risks to asset ledger
• Oversee and enhance the financial audit process
• Be the primary contact for investment impairment and amortisation processes
• Ensure rigorous cash management, forecasting and reporting across all component parts of the Studio

Strategic Oversight, Input to Help Drive Investment & Financial Performance

• Ensure optimal and informed capital allocation to maximise ROI working with the Global Head of Content Sales, Genre MDs and CCO, Productions
• Deliver strategic financial analysis to support investment decisions
• Lead long-term strategic planning and financial forecasting for content sales and investment
• Evaluate new investment opportunities and assess their potential impact on the Content Studio’s financial health and full content life cycle

Managing Overall Studio Reporting

• Oversee and manage comprehensive Content Studio reporting to track and report on all crucial key performance indicators across the Studio
• Analyse financial results and business trends to provide actionable insights and recommendations
• Coordinate seamlessly with Production and Global Media & Streaming teams to consolidate financial data and ensure accuracy and completeness
• Lead the monthly and quarterly reporting of Content Sales and Investments results and forecasts to senior management, highlighting opportunities and risks
• Lead and develop a high-performing finance team that supports the Content Studio’s objectives, as well as being a pivotal leader and team in fulfilling BBCS’ ultimate goal of “Growing our Content Studio”
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional development within the team, showing ambition, accountability and enterprise
• Encourage cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing with smooth relationships across the Studio
• Set clear goals and provide regular feedback to team members under the ultimate Finance purpose of “designing and driving value”

WHAT DOES IT TAKE?

• Prior experience of holding senior strategic financial leadership roles in a matrix managed production or media businesses
• Excellent commercial acumen and demonstrated ability to exercise strong judgement from a business perspective to attain positive outcomes
• Hands-on experience in managing content investment or distribution within the media industry, and exposure to Content Studio operations, including production cycles, content development and knowledge of the way in which programmes are commissioned, financed and produced
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams
• Adept at managing numerous, diverse senior and executive level stakeholders, able to undertake significant change and project management activities with wide-ranging BBC impact, often operating under tight timescales and managing numerous competing priorities
• A convincing and accountable communicator and influential leader
• Exposure to a large-scale studio environment with significant financial volume and complex operations is highly desirable
• Familiarity with IP rights, licensing, and content ownership and asset management
• Exposure to various Content Funding routes/methods and processes
• Experience working in a multinational studio environment

LIFE AT BBC STUDIOS

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. The BBC is committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and therefore strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of their background.

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN FROM WORKING AT BBC STUDIOS?

• We offer a competitive salary package
• Flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance
• 26 days holiday (plus an additional day which is a Corporation Day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
• A defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more
• Excellent career progression – access to courses, webinars, workshops and the opportunity to work in different areas of the organisation

PACKAGE DESCRIPTION

Job Reference: 19341
Band: SL
Salary: £170,000 - £220,000 depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience, plus 50% bonus. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Office Base is London Television Centre. This is a hybrid role and the successful candidate will balance office working with home working.

NEXT STEPS

We appreciate your interest in this position and understand how important this opportunity is to you. Due to the high volume of interest we may need to close the application period earlier than anticipated. This step is necessary to ensure we can provide a high level of attention and service to all applicants. Thank you for your understanding.

We are proud to share that we are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply please contact us on [email protected]

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.