Film Accounting
ACTION! From balance sheets to the silver screen
From saving lives to rubbing shoulders with Hollywood A-listers, Guy Dakin’s career shows just where an AAT qualification can take you. Christian Koch reports
In the glitzy world of Hollywood, accountants are lionised as heroes more often than many might think. On-screen, they have made some fantastic characters, whether it’s Ben Affleck’s titular maths genius in The Accountant, financial adviser Marty Byrde in Ozark, or Tim Robbins’ inmate who befriends prison guards by doing their tax returns in The Shawshank Redemption.
Guy Dakin MAAT is a Reading-based accountant who has worked for the NHS for nearly two decades. However, he recently spent eight months fulfilling a life-long dream to work in films, as a trainee accountant for Sony Pictures. The role saw him work on a Marvel movie (where he rubbed shoulders with A-listers such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and also led to him appearing as an extra.
Here he tells us how armed with an AAT qualification and a carpe diem attitude, it’s easy to work in any sector, from healthcare to Hollywood…
In the glitzy world of Hollywood, accountants are lionised as heroes more often than many might think. On-screen, they have made some fantastic characters, whether it’s Ben Affleck’s titular maths genius in The Accountant, financial adviser Marty Byrde in Ozark, or Tim Robbins’ inmate who befriends prison guards by doing their tax returns in The Shawshank Redemption.
Guy Dakin MAAT is a Reading-based accountant who has worked for the NHS for nearly two decades. However, he recently spent eight months fulfilling a life-long dream to work in films, as a trainee accountant for Sony Pictures. The role saw him work on a Marvel movie (where he rubbed shoulders with A-listers such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and also led to him appearing as an extra.
Here he tells us how armed with an AAT qualification and a carpe diem attitude, it’s easy to work in any sector, from healthcare to Hollywood…
AAT is highly regarded in the film industry
From the NHS to Marvel
Like many people during the pandemic lockdowns, Guy took up a hobby. But it wasn’t sourdough- baking or crochet. Instead, he studied new courses: journalism, the science of medicine and… a film production accounting course run by the LightForge Academy, which trains people to get jobs in the media.
With his NHS employers kindly giving him a sabbatical to gain accounting experience in another industry, Guy found an eight-month contract working in the accounts payable team of a film studio run by Sony Pictures. It also meant starting at trainee level again.
“Everybody starts as a trainee in the film industry, even those with chartered qualifications,” he explains.
Although Guy had been working as an accountant for two decades, there were still new things to learn, such as Global Vista and Adobe Acrobat Sign software. It was hard work too: 12-hour days, weekends, bank holidays.
“The work was very intense because volumes were high, especially during the period of what’s known as principal photography,” says Guy. “The film studio knows that film work is pressured for all involved so shortly beforehand, it holds mandatory sessions for the whole workforce to encourage kindness and respect for each other.”
One film he worked on is an upcoming Marvel superhero film, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose and Russell Crowe, which is out this summer. “It’s weird bumping into the person you saw on Amazon Prime last night in the kitchen,” notes Guy.
As part of a Marvel movie’s accounts team, Guy not only gets his name on the film’s credits, but he also has his own Internet Movie Database (IMDb) page.
Inspired by his spell at Sony Pictures, Guy registered with an extras agency. He’s since secured a nonspeaking role in an upcoming, yet-to-be-named movie.
Guy’s four tips on how to change channels
1
Say yes to every opportunity. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. But you’ll learn from every new thing you do.
2
Do ‘light touch’ voluntary roles. It might be wearing a high-vis tabard cheering runners on at your local parkrun or joining your local AAT branch committee. Volunteering is a great way of developing your confidence. “It makes you more assertive, helps you have an opinion, plus there’s also the satisfaction of helping others,” says Guy,
3
Use small steps to stretch your comfort zone, whether it’s attending an improv taster session, or introducing speakers at AAT events. "Take it from me," he says. "It doesn’t hurt if you trip over the edge."
4
Always have a safety net, such as your AAT certificate and evidence of CPD. The AAT qualification helps show your worth wherever you go.
How you can get into film accounting
“AAT is highly regarded in the film industry,” says Guy. “However, you may need to do a course in something such as production accounting first; try looking at ScreenSkills [the body funded by the film/TV industry to provide training] for opportunities. ScreenSkills is where I found the LightForge Academy, which was running a course called Transfer to Production Accounting, which is designed for accountants working outside the media who want to move into the film sector.
Guy warns that working in movie accounting may not be for everybody, especially those who appreciate the security of a full-time position.
“Employment in the film sector can be quite precarious,” he says. “Few people are employed permanently on productions, meaning your contract lasts until the project is complete… Working in film can mean periods of no income.”
Still, it’s a fun industry and the work can be rewarding. To work in the sector, Guy recommends having “good IT skills, being a good team player and be prepared to work very hard once you get there.”
