Financial Analyst, Planning and Analysis

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role…
As a key member of the COE FP&A team, the Sr. Financial Analyst, Planning and Analysis is supporting the Participations and Residuals ultimates reporting process for Television, Theatrical, Home Entertainment, and Direct-to Video Products produced or acquired by Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO/Max according to Film Accounting Standards ASC 926 for the planning cycles (Budget, Forecast, Monthly Update).  This includes analysis and review of contractual obligations, setup and review of participation and residual ultimate models, calculation of plan participation and residual ultimates to ensure the accuracy of reporting obligations.   

Participations and Residuals Ultimates Reporting

• Supports monthly by-title participations and residuals ultimates calculations and analysis for Television, Theatrical, Home Entertainment and Direct-to-Video products managed by FP&A
• Updates ultimate participation and residuals models and calculates participations and residuals ultimates by title utilizing detailed excel models and SAP
• Collaborates with departmental personnel and provides participations ultimates for inclusion in weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements
• Assists in updating participations agreements abstract control log on a regular basis to ensure that the most recent information provided by the Corporate Participations Group is used for the calculation of participations ultimates for all products
• Assists in updating residuals control log monthly and validates rates from AIRS (corporate residuals system) to ensure that the most recent information provided by the Corporate Residuals Group is used for the calculation of residuals ultimates for all products
• Reviews participations and residuals ultimate model setup and calculation with the Corporate Participations and Residuals groups to ensure accuracy and completeness based on mutual understanding of issued agreement abstracts as a SOX key control (quarterly)
• Ensure the necessary system adjustments are reviewed and maintained to produce accurate costing (expense) results, including costing class and MPM attribute maintenance, and system overrides (stat items)
• Works closely with Studios & Networks Corporate Participations and Residuals groups and various Business Unit personnel, as required
• Review the procedures to be followed by departments that provide data for participations ultimates
• Ensures appropriate analytical analysis is completed and communicated to Senior Management and responds to queries of Senior Management related to issued participations and residual ultimates
• Determines appropriateness of current procedures, processes for participations ultimates
• Determines appropriateness of current procedures, processes for residuals ultimates

By-Title Financial Analysis

• Analyzes ultimates as needed to ensure costing functions produce expected results and communicate any issue to manager
• Analyses plan by-title costing results to ensure accuracy of financial reporting for all planning cycles (forecasts, budget) for participation and residuals costing
• Analyzes and prepares various journal entries affecting participations and residuals costing for corporate and sister companies reporting (forecasts, budget)
• Performs necessary analysis whenever significant sales are made to ensure accrual functions will result in appropriate liability accruals
• Ensures all required reconciliations and account analysis are completed with sufficient documentation

Other / Special Projects

• Documents and communicates requirements for additional system reports, calculations, and changes
• Reviews and maintains documented departmental procedures in a complete and timely manner
• Ensures compliance with SOX requirements and internal and external auditors
• Coordinates with Corporate Participations and Residuals group and other Business Unit personnel on the reconciliation of by-title accounts
• Participates in SAP system projects and other projects as required by FP&A management

Your Role Accountabilities…

• Advanced proficiency in Excel required (creating spreadsheets, pivot tables, v-lookups, macros)
• SAP BW/BPS experience preferred
• Strong analytical and logic skills including ability to grasp the “big picture” while also maintaining strong detail orientations
• Must have effective writing and verbal communication skills
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and practices (GAAP) and financial statements
• Advanced proficiency in Excel required

Qualifications & Experience…

• Minimum of 2-3 years’ experience in an accounting/forecasting or related environment required
• Previous experience in public accounting and/or the entertainment industry preferred
• BA/BS degree in Accounting/Finance/Business or related field required

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/  along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, union status, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.