Production Accountant at Straight-Gate Publishers Limited

Job Summary

• The Production Accountant will be responsible for overseeing the financial and operational aspects of book production in our publishing company.
• This role combines accounting expertise with hands-on production management to ensure cost efficiency, quality control, and timely delivery of printed materials.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare and monitor production budgets, ensuring alignment with company financial goals.
• Maintain accurate cost estimates and prepare final cost reports for all book projects.
• Track, analyze, and report on production expenses, identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Prepare annual production financial reports, including profit and loss analysis per title.
• Reconcile production-related accounts with the finance department.
• Provide cost breakdowns for each stage of printing (pre-press, press, and post-press).
• Support external and internal audits with accurate production-related financial records.
• Utilize accounting software for expense tracking, invoicing, and reporting.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the printing process from manuscript handover to final product delivery.
• Supervise and coordinate with printing press operators, designers, bindery staff, and vendors.
• Monitor production schedules and ensure timely completion of all titles.
• Ensure optimal use and maintenance of printing equipment and machines
• Ensure quality control at every stage of production to maintain publishing standards.
• Plan production workflow and allocate resources efficiently to avoid downtime.
• Ensure compliance with industry safety standards and company policies.

Job Specialization

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline (professional qualifications such as ICAN, ACCA, or CIPFA are an added advantage).
• Minimum of 5 years’ cognate experience in publishing and printing production.
• Strong knowledge of production processes, printing machinery, and book publishing standards.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g. SAGE)
• Strong budgeting, cost-control, and financial analysis skills.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation, and communication skills
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple production projects simultaneously.