Film and TV drama
Also known as: Accounts trainee
Cashiers help assistant accountants and production accountants keep accurate records of how the money on a film or TV drama is spent.
They primarily deal with expense claims, comparing what people have claimed with the receipts they have submitted, and making sure VAT is claimed where appropriate. They also track money that’s been given to crew (floats), and make sure this money is available to the relevant crew members (and returned at the end of a shoot).
They also perform petty cash reconciliations, where the cash on site is counted and cross referenced with outgoing spends. They photocopy, input data, and back up data. They might help ensure a production isn’t over-spending by providing comparisons between the budget and the actual spending. They also make tea.
Cashiers work with production accountants and finance controllers.
ScreenSkills has posts for trainees in accounts on its Trainee Finder scheme. This is a very good route into the accounts department of the industry. Follow these steps and you will be in a strong position when you apply.
At school or college:
If you want to go to university, A-levels or Highers in accounting, business or business studies and maths are useful. Or you might want to take the following Level 3 vocational qualifications:
Get an apprenticeship:
Apprenticeships are jobs with training. They’re a great opportunity to earn while you learn. However, it can be challenging to find jobs as an apprentice with production companies as many are not able to take people on for a whole year, which is an apprenticeship requirement at the moment. It might be worth looking for a job as an apprentice in an industry that uses similar skills.
These apprenticeships that might be relevant to a cashier role throughout the UK:
Before taking any apprenticeship, check what you’ll be learning with your prospective employer and college, so you can be sure it will be giving you the skills you want. Go to how to become an apprentice to learn how to find apprenticeships in your region or approach companies directly.
Learn to drive:
It always helps when working in the film and TV industry.
Get a degree:
If you want a degree, a degree in accountancy would be very useful, especially if you want to work your way up to production accountant and finance controller. It also means you can keep other career options open. We recognise courses with our ScreenSkills Select award where they offer training in the relevant software, dedicated time to building a portfolio and have strong links with the film and TV industries.
Network:
Go to ScreenSkills’ events like Open Doors or any other industry events to meet people working in production.
Network online:
Find groups dedicated to jobs in the industry on Facebook and LinkedIn. Check out what’s happening with Production Base.
Watch films:
Keep up your love of film and TV drama. Find out as much about the industry as you can.
Become a trainee:
Get onto ScreenSkills’ Trainee Finder scheme. Get the skills, make contacts and start working in an accounts department.
Working in accounts in any other creative industry such as theatre, games or advertising. This is an area where there are skill shortages so you should be in demand.
Thanks for giving us your feedback, your response has been saved. If you'd like to also leave a comment you can do so in the field below.
Thank you for your feedback, it is greatly appreciated.