Content Tabs
Built specifically for Assistant Accountants working in Scotland, this course gives you the practical expertise and confidence to step up into a Payroll Accountant role within High-end TV.
The course will cover the whole payroll process including onboarding, processing, record-keeping and offboarding initially focusing on crew payroll before moving on to cast and stunts. During each session there will be realistic exercises to work through to put what you have learned into action and we will make use of Mentimeter to allow participants to interact with the content in real time. Follow up one-to-one consultations with the course tutor Jamie Fleming (OUTLANDER, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, ENDGAME and THE BUCCANEERS) will also be offered on completion of the seven taught sessions.
This course is fully-funded by the ScreenSkills High-end Television Fund made up of contributions from high-end TV productions made in the UK.
Session 1: Tuesday 17 November 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (In person)
Introduction to Crew Payroll
- Determining crew employment and tax status
- Identifying which documents and checks are needed for different crew members
- Preparing a payroll schedule and identifing key deadlines to manage with the production team
- Calculating holiday pay and identifying when statutory payments (SSP, SMP/SPP) apply
Session 2: Tuesday 24 November 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Online)
Manual Payroll Calculations
- Verifying that rates on deal memos and contracts are correct, based on the agreement
- Matching deal memos to the production budget
- Identifying rates and additional payments due from deal memos, contracts and timesheets
- Manually calculating gross payments in line with the HETV agreement
Session 3: Tuesday 1 December 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Online)
Processing, Records and Offboarding
- Identifying potential software systems you could use on a production
- Preparing a payroll spreadsheet for submission to the payroll company
- Ensuring crew invoices are valid, accurate and have the required information
- Filing paperwork in a way that’s easy for auditors to review
- Creating payroll trackers including a crew bible and allowance trackers
- Completing offboarding checks before final payments
Session 4: Tuesday 8 December 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Online)
Core Payroll Processes & Supporting Artist Payroll
- Auditing payroll reports
- Reconciling payroll invoices and control accounts
- Preparing and enter payroll journals
- Identifying payments relevant to supporting artist chits
Session 5: Tuesday 15 December 2026 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Online)
Cast and Stunts Payroll
- Reviewing cast and stunts contracts to identify payments due
- Preparing cast payment schedules
- Calculating FEU tax and Equity Pension contributions
- Completing a schedule of residuals
Session 6: Wednesday 13 January 2027 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm (In Person)
Communication and Management skills
- Navigating cross-departmental expectations
- Enforcing payroll deadlines effectively
- Managing sensitive financial conversations
- De-escalating conflict and handle pushback
- Maintaining compliance and confidentiality protocols
Session 7: Tuesday 19 January 2027 - 6:30pm - 8:30pm (Online)
The final session will be a full overview of everything covered in the course, allowing time to go back to any areas that participants still need some clarification on with a Q&A session to wrap everything up.
This fully-funded course has been developed specifically for Assistant Accountants that are looking step up into a Payroll Accountant position High-end TV.
Applicants must have an Film / HETV production background and be Scotland-based.
If you have any questions, access needs or require support to complete the application, please contact scotland@nfts.co.uk
Apply via the ScreenSkills website by 9 November 2026.