Director, Accounting – News, Sports and Entertainment

Versant•Englewood Cliffs, NJ

4d•$135,000 - $160,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Versant is seeking a Director, Accounting to lead central accounting operations supporting its TV Networks businesses. Reporting to the Controller, TV Networks, this role oversees accounting and reporting for the Central Services Agreement (CSA) between Versant and NBCUniversal and serves as the key accounting partner to the Content Distribution business. The Director will lead centralization efforts across the TV Networks Controllership organization, drive process improvements and ERP transformation, and help build the accounting foundation of a newly independent public company. The role calls for technical accounting expertise, operational leadership, and process improvement experience in a changing organization. The position is based at Versant’s CNBC headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and is hybrid, generally requiring at least three days per week in the office. The role is eligible for company-sponsored benefits and is bonus and long-term incentive eligible.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance, or a related field.
CPA required.
10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leadership responsibility within a complex organization.
Strong technical accounting knowledge, including financial reporting, month-end close, reconciliations, balance sheet governance, and SOX.
Ability to interpret contracts and translate key terms into appropriate accounting treatment and reporting requirements.
Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Excellent communication skills and ability to partner effectively with Accounting, Finance, Content Distribution, Corporate, and external auditors.
Detail-oriented and highly organized, with a strong commitment to accuracy, completeness, and process discipline.
Proactive problem-solver who can identify issues, investigate root causes, and drive practical resolutions.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced close environment with competing priorities and evolving business needs.
Collaborative team player able to lead through influence, build relationships, and support team development.
Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and commitment to process documentation, with the ability to establish scalable, well-controlled accounting processes and maintain high standards of accuracy and accountability.

Nice To Haves

Big Four or similar public accounting experience and/or public company experience.
Experience in media, entertainment, advertising sales, content distribution, licensing, or other complex revenue environments.
Strong systems aptitude, including experience with ERP systems, reporting tools, and reconciliation or close-management platforms.

Responsibilities

Manage accounting and governance for the Central Services Agreement (CSA) between Versant and NBCUniversal, including shared services supporting advertising sales, TV content distribution, and other transition service arrangements.
Lead accounting for the Content Distribution business, including journal entries, reconciliations, variance analysis, subscriber audits, and financial reporting.
Manage month-end close activities, balance sheet integrity, reconciliations, and reporting for the Central Accounting team.
Oversee accounting for cross-brand transactions and strategic initiatives.
Partner with Technical Accounting, Corporate Accounting, Business Unit Controllership, Treasury, Legal, Accounting Operations, FP&A, Tax, Technology, Internal Audit, and external auditors to support business initiatives and resolve complex accounting matters.
Lead accounting process improvements, standardization, documentation, and ERP implementation initiatives to build scalable processes and strengthen internal controls.
Identify accounting issues, implement sustainable solutions, and improve processes through automation, standardization, and strong governance.
Ensure compliance with US GAAP, SOX requirements, and company accounting policies.