Advanced training for production accountants in high-end TV and film

The ScreenSkills’ advanced training for production accountants in high-end TV and film is an intensive training programme aimed at empowering production accountants to take on bigger budgets and lead bigger teams.

A formidable team of industry experts is ready to deliver a course with a dual focus: production accounts expertise and team leadership.

This unique programme will cover key financial topics while also aiming to boost team management skills, equipping leaders to support team wellbeing in high-pressure accounts offices.

This training for 50 participants in working in HETV and 25 in Film, is supported by the ScreenSkills High-end TV Skills Fund with contributions from UK high-end TV productions and by the ScreenSkills Film Skills Fund with contributions from UK film productions. It will be delivered by thecallsheet.co.uk 

Who it's for

The course is primarily for production accountants, but we will consider applications from experienced 1st assistant accountants. 

• applicants from HETV should have at least one credit at that grade on a band 1-4 High-end TV production
• applicants from film should have at least one credit on a theatrically distributed feature film or at least one credit on a feature film commissioned directly by a streamer platform for streaming premiere.

To be considered for a place you must be nominated by a financial controller, producer, executive producer, head of production, production executive or a line producer working in the industry and supply a reference.

ScreenSkills supports current and future generations of talent to flourish in the screen industries. We are committed to embedding diversity in all its forms, including geographic representation, in the workforce we help to build. 

We always welcome applications from under-represented groups, including, but not limited to: those from minority ethnic backgrounds; people with a disability; people from the LGBTQ+ community and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

We offer inclusive training. If you have any needs which we can accommodate during the recruitment process and beyond, or would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email: info@thecallsheet.co.uk

This is a nationwide scheme so we welcome applications from across the UK. 

What it covers

This programme will cover:

• Accounts with financial and production controllers Neil Cairns, David Blank, Dominique Tucker and Seamus Devine.
• Leadership and management with Sam Jukes-Adams.
• Managing mental health in the workplace with Matt Longley
• Psychological safety for managers with Michelle White (Msc, MAPPCP).
• HR with Lisa Balderson (Assoc. CIPD).
• Q&A with financial controllers from streamers.
• Q&A with art department and costume.
• Q&A with line producer and assistant director.       
• Tax credits with Saffery and Anna Mansi from the BFI.
• 1:1 with financial controllers.
• Networking event in central London.

Lead trainer Neil Cairns is a financial controller in film and HETV with credits including T2 Trainspotting, Dept. Q and Bridgerton.

Financial controller David Blank (Bridgerton, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire) currently oversees production finance across Amazon MGM’s UK film slate.

Production controller Dominique Tucker (Mickey 17) has just finished work on Tom Cruise and Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest film.

Production controller Seamus Devine (How To Train Your Dragon, Snow White, Dune 3) has worked on large scale budgets for Disney, Universal, Legendary, Sony and Warner Bros.

The programme will start with our groundbreaking leadership module, putting people management at the heart of the programme. 

Across two mornings of one weekend, executive coach Sam Jukes-Adams will lay out how you can define leadership principles and style. Sam’s “managing in motion” ethos will help you articulate those principles and put them into practice.

Experts in HR and managing for mental health will help you create a positive working environment. 

Our senior financial controllers will discuss their approach to managing a team for Band 4 HETV and tentpole blockbuster films and how you can best lead your department as you increase in budget scale and scope. 

How to apply

Online training across eight Saturdays from January 2026 will be augmented by weeknight Q&As with industry leaders, 1:1 mentoring with a Financial Controller and a summer networking event. 

Dates:

• Leadership and Management   
  • Saturday 10 January 26 10.00 to 13.00
  • Sunday 11 January 26 10.00 to 13.00
• Mental Health in the workplace/ psychological safety for managers/ HR (delivered in 3 small groups of 25 - participants will be able to select groups based on availability)
  • Group 1: Saturday 17 January 26 10.00 - 17.00 (AM:Mental Health & PM: HR)
  • Group 2: Sunday 18 January 26 10.00 -17.00 (AM:Mental Health & PM: HR)
  • Group 3: Wednesday 21 January 26 10.00 - 13.00 (Mental Health)
  • Group 3: Friday 23 January 26   14.00 - 1700  (HR)
• Accounts Training
  • Day 1 - Saturday 31 January 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)
  • Day 2 - Saturday 7 February 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)
  • Day 3 - Saturday 21 February 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)
  • Day 4 - Saturday 28 February 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)
  • Day 5 - Saturday 14 March 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)
  • Day 6 - Saturday 21 March 26 10.00 - 16.00 (times tbc)

A series of Q&A’s will take place on weeknight evenings during this timeframe. Times and Dates will be announced at least 2 weeks prior. 

1:1 mentoring sessions will take place for those who complete of the training.

Networking event: late June/early July 2026 TBC

Click ‘apply now’ to apply for your place.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 30 November 2025.

Contact information

Email: info@thecallsheet.co.uk