Allen Bleza

Key Responsibilities:

• Overseeing budget reporting, ranging from £1.5k to £50m+ across multiple genres, both short and long form.
• Managing 2 in-house UK production accountants; providing support to 3 US/Canada production accountants.
• Collaborating with external financial controllers and production accountants on scripted projects.
• Producing weekly pipeline reports to track revenue forecast against budget.
• Coordinating bi-weekly project margin reporting across US and UK divisions.
• Leading regular meetings with heads of production and legal to discuss awarded and development projects, highlight areas of risk and implement action plans.
• Quarterly reporting of participation profits on scripted projects to external stakeholders.
• Quarterly reporting of profit share on commercials to rostered directors.
• Administering film and high-end TV tax relief on qualifying projects.
• Identifying opportunities of FX gains and mitigating FX loss through scrutiny of production cashflow and spend.
• Coaching and mentoring junior staff to maximise capabilities.

Key Achievements:

• Launched and implemented PMI as the in-house cost managing system via group seminars and one-to-one training.
• Collaborated with PMI system consultants to tailor reports and templates to Pulse's requirements.
• Established financial controls, processes and procedures as blueprint for production accounting workflow.
• Introduced regular reporting of development and awarded project revenues, cost and margins, enabling internal stakeholders to make informed decisions.
• Ensured regularity of production finance meetings.
• Devised a tracking schedule in order to meet targets for the recharging of production staff to projects.
• Designed and created profit share reporting system for rostered directors.

• Responsible for production accounting unscripted TV commissions (approximately 20 productions) with budgets up to £8m.
• Trained new employees on production accounting principles and company procedures.
• Implemented systems and accounting processes to reduce cash loss.
• Reviewed and processed employee/freelancer expense reports and supplier invoices for payment.
• Fostered strong relationships with heads of production and production managers through weekly meetings.
• Produced quarterly VAT returns final year end packs for auditing purposes across all productions.

• Assisted in production accounting of major ITV scripted drama series with a budget of £6m, also on music video budgets ranging from £20k to £1m.
• Prepared weekly bank reconciliations, TB and assisted in preparation of cost reports.
• Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.

• Streamlined development cost reporting processes to ensure efficient and accurate reporting.
• Facilitated successful outcome of development projects by monitoring financial performance, including income against costs, WIP and cashflow.
• Ensured accuracy of financial close processes by monitoring and analysing results and promptly following up on variances.

• Provided financial analysis of film production expenditure against budget and lottery grants.
• Consistently produced and delivered profit participation statements for 300+ titles in a timely manner.