Wherever money flows, someone needs to manage it.
The accountancy profession has a hard time when it comes to stereotypes. However, this can be an enjoyable, exciting, and rewarding career for many. Here are some of the unexpected places you’ll find an accountant.
1. Film and TV
Have you ever wondered how much it costs to blow up a car in a Hollywood film? Or how do production companies ensure that a TV series doesn’t overspend? That’s the job of an accountant.
Some of the job requirements for an accountant or financial professional within the film and television industry include:
- Budgeting for special effects, costumes, and location shoots
- Tracking international tax incentives for filming internationally
- Managing cast and crew payroll, including high-profile salaries.
Huge blockbusters like ‘Avengers: Endgame’ or ‘Mission: Impossible’ may have explosive action, but behind the scenes, accountants ensure that production stays financially on track.
Watch our Career Goals interview with the Head of Finance at ITV Studios, Kim Halliday, to learn more about the film and TV industry.
2. Music
The music industry is a financial juggling act, from major festivals to sold-out world tours. Accountants can help artists, managers, and event organisers keep the numbers in check.
Some of the responsibilities for accountants within the music industry will include:
- Managing cash flow for concert tours, including travel, accommodation, and crew salary.
- Ensuring record labels and artists are paid fairly through royalties.
- Handling tax and international finance for global tours.
Without accountants, many artists would struggle to manage their earnings, especially when navigating complex music rights and revenue streams.
And if you still don’t think accountancy sounds exciting, imagine what it was like for Taylor Swift’s finance team during her record-breaking Eras tour!
3. Space exploration
Space agencies and private organisations in this industry operate with huge budgets, and every penny counts when you’re launching a rocket into orbit. Accountants help to manage these complex finances.
Responsibilities include:
- Budgeting for multi-million-pound projects, including spacecraft construction
- Ensuring funding is allocated efficiently for research and development
- Managing international collaborations and financial compliance.
As space tourism becomes more widely discussed, accountants will be instrumental in making commercial space travel financially viable.
4. Formula 1
Formula 1 is one of the most expensive sports in the world, and strict financial regulations require accountants to play a crucial role in every racing team.
Motorsport accountants handle tasks like:
- Managing the team’s budget, including car development and travel expenses
- Ensuring compliance with the FIA’s cost cap regulations
- Overseeing sponsorship deals and prize money distribution.
In a sport where milliseconds matter, financial precision is just as important as speed on the track.
5. Fashion
Behind the scenes of each glamorous runway show and designer brand is a finance team that ensures the fashion houses remain profitable.
Accountants in the fashion industry oversee:
- Cash flow management for seasonal collections
- Budgeting for production, marketing, and international distribution
- Managing financial risks related to changing trends and fast fashion.
With designers and brands constantly evolving, financial strategy is key to survival in this competitive industry.
6. Football
Football fans should be thanking the accountants who keep the business side running! Sports accountants manage:
- Transfer budgets and compliance with financial fair play regulations
- Revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting rights
- Player contract negotiations and tax management for international stars.
Clubs that fail to manage their finances properly tend to lose some of their better players, and even may fall victim to financial collapse. Therefore, it’s clear that accountants are just as valuable as top goal scorers.
7. Theme parks
Running a theme park is much more than just building roller coasters.
Accountants in this area ensure that attractions remain financially viable. Responsibilities may include:
- Budgeting for ride maintenance, staffing, and park expansions
- Managing seasonal fluctuations in revenue
- Overseeing ticket pricing strategies to maximise profit without deterring visitors.
Even the most magical experiences, from Disneyland to Alton Towers, rely on financial planning to keep the gates open.
8. Video game development
The gaming industry generates billions each year. However, without accountants, many studios would struggle with rising development costs. Accountants in the video game industry will focus on responsibilities such as:
- Budgeting for game development, including software, design, and marketing.
- Managing microtransaction revenue and subscription-based gaming models
- Ensuring international tax compliance, especially for digital sales
Games are becoming more complex and expensive to create, which means that financial management is critical to keep developers in business.
Final thoughts
Accountants are everywhere, from Hollywood to the racetrack. Their expertise is essential in industries that may not initially seem finance-focused. This profession is the hidden force that ensures the rest of the world runs smoothly.
So, if you’re considering a career in accountancy, remember that your skills could take you anywhere - even to the stars.
Kickstart an exciting career in finance
At Kaplan, we have a variety of courses and programmes within the accountancy and tax, banking and finance, and data and technology industries. For more information, get in touch with the team.