Sr. Director, Accounting TV Networks

Company Description

VERSANT is a leading force in news, sports and entertainment - home to iconic and trusted brands that inspire, inform, and delight audiences. Our unique combination of content, technology and services enriches the cultural fabric, igniting passions, sparking conversations, and connecting people to what they love most.

As an independent, publicly traded company, VERSANT brings together powerhouse cable networks - including USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), Oxygen, E!, SYFY, and Golf Channel - with dynamic digital and direct-to-consumer brands such as Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. Together, these businesses reflect our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences across every screen and service.

VERSANT is an industry-changing media company fueled by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. With a strong foundation and a forward-looking vision, VERSANT empowers creativity, embraces change, and drives connection in an ever-evolving world.

Job Description

Position Overview

Versant is seeking a Senior Director, Accounting – TV Networks to lead the controllership activities across the Sports and Entertainment Networks portfolio to ensure accurate accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls over multiple revenue streams and operating expenses. Reporting to the Controller, TV Networks, this leader will oversee a TV Networks business unit controllership team and manage the work supported by the shared services accounting operations team.

This role will partner cross-functionally with Corporate Controllership, Finance, Technical Accounting, Internal Audit, Legal and Technology.  This role will also be instrumental in building and optimizing the accounting foundation of a newly independent public company by driving controllership excellence, enhancing internal controls, supporting ERP and finance transformation initiatives, and developing scalable accounting processes that enable future growth.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical accounting expertise with operational leadership, exceptional people management skills, and the ability to lead through change in a dynamic media environment.

Key Responsibilities

Controllership & Financial Reporting

• Lead the controllership function for the Sports and Entertainment Networks, including accounting oversight for linear distribution, advertising sales, affiliate revenues, licensing, and other revenue streams, as well as non-programming operating expenses.
• Oversee all accounting activities to ensure transactions are recorded, documented, reviewed, and supported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, company accounting policies, and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, account analyses, and supporting schedules.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, and other accounting estimates, ensuring completeness and accuracy of the general ledger.
• Lead balance sheet reviews, identifying trends, risks, and unusual items and ensuring the completeness of external reporting support schedules.
• Ensure the accurate and timely preparation and delivery of recurring and ad hoc management reporting for executive leadership.

Business Partnership

• Serve as a key accounting partner to the Sports and Entertainment Networks Finance organization, providing guidance on accounting implications, reporting requirements, and internal controls for new business initiatives and transactions.
• Partner closely with Business Unit Controllership Leaders including the Senior Director, Programming & Content Accounting and the Director, Participations & Residuals.
• Partner with cross-functional groups including Technical Accounting, Corporate Accounting, FP&A, Treasury, Tax, Legal, Accounting Operations, Technology, Internal Audit, and external auditors to support business initiatives and resolve complex accounting matters.
• Provide accounting guidance on strategic initiatives, commercial agreements, contract interpretation, and new revenue arrangements.

Transformation & Process Improvement

• Partner with Controllership, Accounting Operations and Technology groups on accounting transformation initiatives focused on process standardization, automation, ERP implementation, close optimization, and reporting modernization.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts to enhance efficiency, strengthen controls, reduce manual processes, and improve reporting quality.
• Identify accounting process improvement opportunities and implement best practices that improve accuracy, efficiency, governance, and scalability.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting organization by fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Build organizational capability to support evolving scope, greater centralization, ERP transformation, and future-state accounting operations.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA required.
• Public accounting experience and/or experience within a publicly traded company is preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive accounting and controllership experience, including significant leadership responsibility within a large, complex organization.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC/public company reporting, internal controls, and SOX compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading month-end close, financial reporting, balance sheet governance, reconciliations, and accounting operations.
• Experience in media, entertainment, digital, advertising, networks, streaming, technology, or similarly complex industries.
• Experience leading process transformation, automation, centralization, or operating model redesign.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to partner effectively with stakeholders across Finance, Accounting, and business organizations.

Leadership Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Deep technical accounting expertise balanced with operational excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships across Controllership, Finance, and operational business teams.
• Ability to lead through organizational change and ambiguity while driving execution and accountability.
• Continuous improvement orientation with a passion for automation, standardization, and process optimization.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to financial stewardship and strong governance.
• Collaborative leadership style with a focus on developing talent, building high-performing teams, and fostering an inclusive, performance-driven culture.

Why Join Versant?

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the accounting and controllership function of a newly independent public media company. As a senior leader within the TV Networks Controllership organization, you will play a critical role in overseeing the accounting and financial reporting for Versant's Sports and Entertainment Networks while helping establish scalable accounting processes, strengthen governance, support business growth, and drive finance transformation.

This role is based at Versant's CNBC headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, offering the opportunity to collaborate with executive leadership in a highly dynamic and evolving environment. The office is easily accessible from New York City, Westchester County, and throughout New Jersey, with a complimentary daily shuttle service from Manhattan.

Additional Information:

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. Subject to change based on business need. This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks.

• Salary range: $160,000 - $200,000 (bonus and long-term incentive eligible)

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with a VERSANT Media employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. VERSANT Media's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

VERSANT Media is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. We include a good faith pay range for each position to comply with applicable state and local pay transparency laws and to promote equity across our organization. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, experience, and location and may include additional forms of compensation and benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, etc.

VERSANT Media is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at VERSANT via-email, the Internet, or in any form and/or method without a valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from VERSANT's Talent Acquisition team will be deemed the sole property of VERSANT. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by VERSANT as a result of the referral or through other means.