Finance Accounting Manager - Warner Bros. Discovery (w/m/d)

Pay Competitive

Location Cologne/North-Rhine-Westphalia

Employment type Full-Time

Job Description

Req#: R

Every great story has a new beginning, and yours starts here.

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.

Deine Aufgaben

Koordinierung der monatlichen Buchungen mit den Produktionsbuchhaltern, Erläuterung gegenüber dem lokalen Finanzmanagement, dem Business Director/ CFO und dem Central Europe Hub Controller
Erstellung von Jahresabschlüssen, Management des Audit-Prozesses, Vorbereitung von Audit-Unterstützung und Hauptansprechpartner für die Auditoren
Du trägst die Gesamtverantwortung für die Bilanzen der lokalen Einheiten und Hauptansprechpartner für GBS (Outsourcing-Partner für Buchhaltungs- und Abstimmungsprozesse)
Du bist zuständig für nicht produktionsbezogene Monatsabschlüsse, einschließlich der Verrechnung von Gemeinkosten
Vorbereitung von Buchungseinträgen und Überprüfung von Abgrenzungen für Nebeneinkünfte und damit verbundene Beteiligungseinträge
Unterstützung des Central Europe Hub Controllers sowie Einhaltung der Richtlinien und Reports der WBITVP-Gruppe
Du überwachst die täglichen Finanzoperationen innerhalb des Unternehmens (inklusive Cash-Themen und Rechnungstellung)
Zusammenarbeit u.a. mit den Produktionsbuchhaltern, zur Erstellung von Finanz- und Aufsichtsberichte
Du trägst die Verantwortung für die System-Schnittstellen und Behebung von Schnittstellenfehlern, Einrichtung neuer Produktionen und anderer Stammdatenänderungen
Sicherstellung angemessener Prozesse zur Rückforderung der Mehrwertsteuer für die inländische und internationale Berichterstattung.
Du stellst die Zusammenarbeit mit der Steuerabteilung der WBD in Hamburg (u.a. zur Körperschaftssteuer, der indirekten Steuern, dem Steuerdienstleister KPMG, Mehrwertsteuererstattung) sicher
Führung von einer Untergeordneten (Accountant)

Dein Profil

Erfolgreich abgeschlossenes Studium (Master) mit dem Schwerpunkt Rechnungswesen oder einschlägiger Bachelor-Abschluss mit 5 Jahren Erfahrung im Finanzwesen erforderlich
Du hast bereits relevante Berufserfahrung in einer ähnlichen Funktion (idealerweise in einer Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft)
Du weist vertiefende Kenntnisse der in der Finanzbuchhaltung auf (u.a. lokale GAAP/ US GAAP, direkte und indirekte Steuern, Erstellung von gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Jahresabschlüssen und anderen aufsichtsrechtlichen Berichten)
Du arbeitest proaktiv, eigenständig und teamorientiert
Klares Denken und eine Fähigkeit, das Wesentliche im Auge zu behalten prägen deine bisherige Arbeit
Du bist belastbar und in der Lage, nach einer angemessen Einarbeitungszeit eigenverantwortlich zu arbeiten
Du weist fortgeschrittene MS Excel-Kenntnisse auf, sowie Grundkenntnisse bei anderen MS Office-Produkten
Du sprichst fließend Deutsch und verfügst über verhandlungssicheres Englisch in Wort und Schrift

Unser Angebot

Eine anspruchsvolle und spannende Tätigkeit
Moderne, neue Büroräume mit guter Verkehrsanbindung im Herzen von Köln Nippes
Eine offene Unternehmenskultur mit gemeinsamen Screenings, Grillfesten und vielen anderen Aktivitäten
Du solltest bereit sein, im Kölner Office in Präsenz zu arbeiten. Zudem sind hybride Arbeitsformen möglich (2 Tage pro Woche im Homeoffice)
Ein erfahrenes und sympathisches Team, das sich sehr auf dich freut!

Your New Role...

WBITVP Germany is an award-winning group of companies and is part of the London-headquartered division of WBITVP a group of production companies in major territories around the world (outside the US) and is owned by WarnerBrosDiscovery

WBITVP Germany is a creative and talented company that develops, produces and distributes content for our local German and Swiss market in all major genres: Scripted TV & Film, Studio Entertainment, Docureality. WBITVP Germany produces for public and commercial, VOD & SVOD channels in Germany, Switzerland & Austria. WarnerBros International formats are also translated to the German speaking markets.

Productions include entertainment shows such as The Bachelor, Bares fur Rares, Mann Seiber! & First Dates and scripted titles include Wilsberg, Murder in the North, & Marie Brandt.

Your Role Accountabilities...

Coordinate monthly bookings with the Production Accountants, explain material balances and movements to local finance management, Business Director/CFO and Central Europe Hub Controller. Preparation of balance sheet reconciliations and participate in balance sheet reviews with GBS.
Preparation of annual financial statements, management of audit process, preparation of audit support and principle point of contact for the auditors.
Overall Balance Sheet responsibility for local entities and primary point of contact for GBS (outsourcing partner for accounting and reconciliation processes). Ensure balance sheets are reviewed and reconciliations prepared to an acceptable standard for both US GAAP reporting, tax and statutory purposes. Assist GBS in the clearance of reconciling items where required.
Ownership of non-production month end activities including intercompany overhead recharges and fixed asset accounting. Liaise with GBS and Warner Bros. Discovery on accounting entries driven by them such as lease accounting, bonus and RSUs and ensure associated taxes are accurately accrued and accounted for.
Working closely with the Head of Finance, prepare accounting entries and review accruals for ancillary revenue and associated participation entries.
Support Central Europe Hub Controller in ensuring adequate processes and controls exist and that the business operates in accordance with WBITVP divisional and Warner Media group policies.
Coordinate compliance and regulatory reporting. Monitor the day-to-day financial operations within the company to ensure compliance with control environment, group policy, local regulations, local GAAP and US GAAP.
Monitor GBS performance of cash and bank clearing activities to substantiate appropriate and timely clearing.
Coordination of billings, as required, customer receipts posting and cash clearing with Production Accountants and GBS.
Support Central Europe Hub Controller in their role as SME for application and interpretation of WB policies within production environment. Ensure Company management reporting is consistent with US GAAP and is up to date with relevant local GAAP.
Manage relationships with other WB partners including ITVP HQ, Tax, Corporate Finance and CapGemini.
Work with Production Accountants and other partners to provide supplemental information for WBD’s quarterly financial and regulatory filings.
Working with WBD tax department in Hamburg, support for Corporation Tax and Indirect Tax submissions to local tax regulators. Management of relationship with ITVP’s tax service provider, KPMG. Ensure adequate processes to reclaim VAT for Domestic and international reporting.
Coordination of other regulatory compliance reporting.
Local SAP owner including reconciliation to production accounting system, responsibility for production interface and resolving interface errors, set-up of new productions, and other master data changes.
Working with the Hub Controller to set performance & development objectives for the ITVP Germany GBS accountant. Supervise daily tasks & manage team deliverables.
Provide support for local Corporate Finance activities as required.
Participate in financial systems development and deployment as required.

Qualifications & Experience...

Accounting qualification or relevant bachelor’s degree preferred with solid finance experience
Professional accounting firm background preferred
English language (written and spoken) essential
German language (written and spoken) essential
Prior experience working in multi-national matrix organisation required
Prior experience working with outsourcing partners beneficial
Experience of supervising accounting staff preferable
Enterprise system skills required (Just Produce / Navision and SAP preferred)
Advanced excel skills required. Mid-level for all other Microsoft applications required
Experience in the following finance accounting areas:
Local GAAP essential, US GAAP beneficial
Direct and indirect tax
Preparation of statutory financial statements and other regulatory reports
Must possess strong analytical, problem-solving and judgment skills
Demonstrable achievements in process improvements
Prior experience managing an audit process required
Proactive, detail-oriented, hands-on mentality
Must be a team player with strong interpersonal and relationship management skills
Prior work experience within a similar industry, or other relationship-based industry, preferred
Must be self-motivated and able to work under a deadline and handle multiple tasks
Ability to work independently as well as partner with others

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 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.

The Legal Bits…

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, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law. Severely disabled employees are welcome in our company and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified. Flexible working hours are offered to assist. If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for this position, please contact us at

About the company

WARNER BROS. is a global leader in all forms of entertainment and their related businesses across all current and emerging media and platforms. A WarnerMedia Company, the fully integrated, broad-based Studio is home to one of the most successful collections of brands in the world and stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, television and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD and Blu-ray, digital distribution, animation, comic books, video games, product and brand licensing, and broadcasting.

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Warner Bros. Entertainment