VP, FP&A

JOB TITLE: VP/SVP of Financial Planning & Analysis

REPORTS TO: EVP, Finance

COMPANY: The Arena

LOCATION: West Hollywood, CA

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

The Arena is an independent studio creating global franchises inspired by the worlds of gaming, anime, and event action. With a world-class executive team, robust financing, and deep access to top-tier IP, it is uniquely equipped to build a modern fandom ecosystem. The Arena is a space for and by fans. It engages and expands committed fanbases through an always-on model of offerings, including premium film and television, robust social media communities and content, experiential events, and consumer goods. The Arena is committed to artistic ambition and excellence across its slate of blockbuster films and event series. Producing and financing projects made alongside renowned filmmakers and breakout talents, it aims to blend prestige-level quality with franchise scale, doing justice to some of the world’s most beloved properties and their fans.

Scope of Role:

The Arena is seeking a VP/SVP of Financial Planning & Analysis to own the financial lens on every major decision the company makes, reporting to the EVP, Finance. You will build and run the long-range planning model, keep short-term cash flow projections sharp, and lead the deal analysis and greenlight modeling behind every project we choose to make. You will also play a key role in corporate governance, working with the CEO, CFO, and future Head of Legal to keep board and committee memos and approvals moving. Title (VP or SVP) will be set based on the experience of the successful candidate.

This is a senior, hands-on role. You will be in the room when we decide what to greenlight, how to structure a deal, and which new opportunities are worth pursuing, and you will be expected to bring a point of view, not just a spreadsheet. The right candidate combines deep film ultimates expertise with the ability to operate in a lean, fast-moving environment, equally comfortable presenting a one-page recommendation to the CEO and board as building the underlying model from scratch.

Responsibilities:

Long-Range Planning

• Own and continuously improve the long-range planning model, covering the slate, overhead, financing, and returns over a multi-year horizon.
• Run the annual budget and periodic reforecasts in partnership with the EVP, Finance; translate the plan into clear scenarios for senior management and the board.
• Partner with the EVP, Finance and CFO on capital planning, financing needs, and the financial case for strategic initiatives.

Cash Flow & Liquidity

• Build and maintain short-term cash flow projections, tracking production spend, receivables, financing draws, and overhead.
• Flag liquidity risks early and recommend actions, including timing of spend, financing draws, and collections.

Deal Analysis & Greenlight Modeling

• Lead the financial analysis for every film and series under consideration, building ultimates, waterfalls, and returns across theatrical, streaming, home entertainment, television, and international windows.
• Model deal structures, including co-financing, output and license deals, distribution terms, talent participations, and tax incentives, and advise on how to improve the economics.
• Maintain a consistent greenlight framework and present clear recommendations to the greenlight committee.
• Track performance of released titles against their greenlight ultimates and feed what we learn back into our assumptions.

Strategy & New Opportunities

• Evaluate new business opportunities, partnerships, and investments, including market sizing, financial modeling, and risk assessment.
• Support the leadership team on strategic projects, investor materials, and board materials with rigorous, well-presented analysis.
• Build the FP&A function over time, including tools, processes, and, as the company grows, a small team.

Corporate Governance

• Support the corporate governance process, working with the CEO, CFO, and future Head of Legal to help ensure the right decisions reach the right forum at the right time.
• Help coordinate board, committee, and investor memos, resolutions, and consents, contributing financial analysis and keeping materials on track from drafting through approval.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Deep, hands-on experience building film ultimates across theatrical, streaming, home entertainment, television, and international windows, with a clear understanding of the assumptions behind each line and how they hold up after release.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, strategic finance, corporate finance, or investment banking, including several years at a studio, distributor, financier, or production company.
• Demonstrated ownership of a long-range planning model and short-term cash flow forecasting in an operating business.
• Strong deal modeling skills, including co-financing structures, participations, waterfalls, distribution terms, and production tax incentives.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills; able to build clean, auditable models from scratch.
• Excellent written communication and presentation skills; able to turn a complex model into a concise recommendation for senior executives and the board.
• Comfortable in a lean, fast-moving environment where you are both the strategist and the person building the model.
• Experience contributing to board or committee materials and approval processes; comfortable working alongside legal counsel.

Preferred

• Experience modeling scripted or unscripted series economics, including license fees, deficits, back-end, and library value.
• Exposure to studio or slate financing, including facility structures and lender reporting.
• Experience presenting to a board or investment committee.
• MBA, CFA, or CPA.