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"If somebody said, 'Oh, we have to do this, this, and this,' I can say yes and no to that immediately."
-Ann-Marie Fitzgerald, Production Controller
For veteran production controller Ann-Marie Fitzgerald, production accounting is about much more than balancing budgets. It's about giving producers immediate financial insights while their productions are moving fast. When schedules change, locations shift, or creative decisions affect the budget, the ability to answer questions in real time can keep a complex production on track.
Drawing on more than three decades of experience across film and television, Fitzgerald explains why the best production controllers are not simply accountants. They are strategic partners who help solve problems, support producers, and keep projects moving from prep through wrap.
Production controllers help producers make faster decisions
Production controllers and financial controllers both oversee production finances, but their day-to-day responsibilities are very different.
While financial controllers typically focus on reporting and compliance, production controllers work alongside producers and department heads, giving productions immediate financial guidance as decisions are being made.
As Fitzgerald explains, "I think what they do is they can react faster to solving problems because we're there in the room when it happens."
Being embedded with the production allows controllers to understand the operational realities behind every budget decision. When production circumstances change, they can quickly evaluate the financial impact instead of waiting for reports to catch up. "If somebody said, 'Oh, we have to do this, this, and this,' I can say yes and no to that immediately."
That ability to respond in real time helps productions avoid delays while maintaining financial discipline.
Why TV production accounting is more complex than film
Feature films present their own financial challenges, but Fitzgerald believes episodic television requires an even deeper understanding of production. Every expense must be tracked not only against the overall season budget, but also against individual episodes.
"From an accounting side of it," she explains, "you need to have accounts people who know what's going on every day." That means great production accountants are not simply processing invoices. They understand scripts, call sheets, production reports, and where every cost belongs. "They need to know if [a particular actor] was on episode one or episode four or episode five. They need to know if the dogs were in which episode they were in."
That operational knowledge helps accounting become an active part of production instead of simply documenting it after the fact.
Digital production accounting creates better visibility
Like many long-time production professionals, Fitzgerald admits she was initially hesitant to move away from paper purchase orders to digital ones. "When DPO came out first," she recalls, "I'm not using this. I like the hard copy in front of me."
Today, she considers digital production accounting an essential part of her workflow.
"Oh my God, I have it on every app. I have it on my phone, I have it on my iPad, and I could sit at television at night and I watch POs. I code them from my app. I do absolutely everything from it."
The result is greater visibility across the production and significantly faster financial reporting. "I have to say, it really speeds up cost reporting."
Rather than replacing accountants, digital tools allow accounting teams to spend more time supporting productions and less time managing paperwork.
Building great production accounting teams starts with people
When hiring, Fitzgerald believes personality matters just as much as technical ability. Her first priority is finding people who communicate well and work collaboratively under pressure. "The first thing I look for is, when I sit down with someone, if I can actually have a conversation and click with them."
Production accounting depends on trust between departments, and those relationships are built through communication, professionalism, and teamwork. "I think it's all down to personalities," she says.
Technical skills can be taught. Strong working relationships are what keep productions running smoothly.
The best production controllers solve problems before they grow
Throughout her career, Fitzgerald has approached production accounting as a leadership role rather than simply a financial function. Her philosophy is straightforward: "If there's a problem, it should be addressed immediately."
Whether managing a feature film or a television series, production controllers provide producers with the financial clarity they need to make informed decisions, manage risk, and keep productions on schedule.
For today's productions, accounting is not simply about recording costs. It's about helping every department move forward with confidence. Find out what working with the best in the business actually looks like by clicking the button below and a team member will follow up with you directly.
