This course is delivered in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the National Talent Academy for Film and TV Crew West.
Note: Although this course was created for the UK Screen industry there will be accompanying documentation to highlight the differences between the two countries and provide relevant information for anyone working in the Irish screen industry. This documentation was prepared by an experienced Irish based Production Accountant.
Learn the essential skills to get your first role in this in-demand area of the film & TV industry.
Looking for a communications-led role to break into the industry? Production accounting will take you right to the heart of a production, where an understanding of story is as important as competency working with numbers. This professional development course will give you a broad overview of the roles, functions and purpose of the accounting team on a UK film or TV production. Learn practical skills by taking part in real-world scenarios and find out exactly what goes on in a production office, from understanding the structure of a film crew and production timelines to estimating the final cost of a show. Work with a small group and an expert tutor. You’ll emerge with an understanding of the role, its career progression, an awareness of whether you’d like to work in a production accounts office, and the know-how to get your first role. This course is run over four weeks with weekly assignments plus tutor and peer engagement. The self-led elements can be done in your own time but assignments must be delivered on schedule. It may be possible to arrange work placements for participants interested in obtaining work experience in a production accounts office.
By the end of the course, participants will:
We introduce the purpose of production accounting and how the team might operate within a production, looking at big studio films, streaming TV series, as well as small docs and current affairs shows. Also, how an understanding of story benefits everyone on the production.
We look at setting up the finance office, including crew and procedures. Types of financing, budgets, cashflows, schedules. We’ll ask you to look at the credits in TV and film to test your knowledge of who does what, and you’ll prepare a cash-flow from a sample budget and schedule.
We’ll look in more detail at roles and options for your first job, such as in areas of significant production spend, such as Costume Accountant, Location Accountant and Construction Accountant. You’ll find out about purchase orders, invoices, expenses, Pcards and payroll, with real-life exercises, including completing an audit and expenses form.
We’ll practise forecasting the estimated final cost of a film or TV programme using information gathered from the production. Includes examples of cost reports and how they are used by producers and funders. You’ll review a trial balance and think about next steps, including how to get your first role in a production accounts office.
Open to anyone working, or wishing to work in, the screen industry in the Production Accounts Department. It may suit qualified accountants, accounting technicians or bookkeepers considering moving to the screen industry as an introduction to the industry/department. No accounting work experience required but a level of understanding of accounting theory is important.
Due to CCIS funding, this course is only available to those resident in the Republic Of Ireland.
Online with one in-person or online day with a Production Accountant after the course is complete.
Course fee is €250 per person. Normally this workshop would cost €700 per person without support from Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and the National Talent Academy for Film and TV Crew West.
Interested applicants should create an account and apply via the Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet website HERE
Deadline for applications: Monday, 10th November 2025, noon.
All enquiries should be directed to frankeaveney@furthr.ie
