Would-be accountants are being offered the chance to step into the limelight with the launch of a new recruitment drive to encourage applicants with accountancy skills to move into roles with the companies who make films and high-end television dramas.
The Production Guild of Great Britain, the industry organisation for film and TV production accountants, is looking for 13 people to become assistant production accountants on major feature films and high-end TV dramas in the UK and is providing the essential training to help people working in accountancy in other industries to transfer their skills.
Training will be provided through the Production Guild's Assistant Production Accounting Training Scheme (APATS) which has trained 42 new entrants to enter UK feature film production over the past ten years. The training programme includes placements on film and television drama productions over 10 months during which candidates are able to receive a tax free training allowance of £300 a week and a travel allowance.
Alison Small, chief executive of the Production Guild, said: 'There are real employment opportunities for film and television accountancy and financial professionals who play a vital part in the UK's ability to deliver world-class film and television productions. Over the past ten years we have successfully attracted qualified people from other industries to transfer and augment their skills and build careers working in UK film and television.'
Around 46,000 people work in film production in the UK, with more than 180 films produced here, accounting for spending of over £800m. Trainees who joined last year's scheme worked on major TV productions, including Downton Abbey, Whitechapel and Mr Selfridge as well as a range of films.
Andrew Noakes, financial controller of Bond films including Skyfall, said: 'The APATS scheme is a very valuable tool for financial controllers. I know that anybody coming out of the scheme has been fully trained and has the specific knowledge and skills in accountancy to work in film production.'
Application packs are available for download from the www.productionguild.com or by emailing [email protected]. The closing date for applications is 10 January 2014.
