John Mares

Manager of Finance and Reporting | BGC Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

About

With recent experience as a Production Accountant at FIlm and TV, I contributed to cost accounting and analysis for production houses including Warner Bros, Spinmaster, and many other major film and TV production Studios. My expertise includes EP, Cast and Crew and ADP Payroll, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting, which support production teams in managing budgets and expenses effectively. Over the years, I have developed a strong foundation in payroll systems, cost reporting, and vendor liaison, complemented by certifications in Production Accounting 101 and 201. I bring attention to detail, organizational skills, and a commitment to accurate financial oversight in the entertainment industry. I have experience in building AI infrastructure to automate many accounting processes using apps like Zapier and Make to make workflow easy to save time and make processes more efficient.

Experience

  • Production Controller at The Temple Movie Inc.
    Dec 2025 - Apr 2026 · 5 mos

    • Led full-cycle accounting operations for a multi-million-dollar film production from prep through wrap. • Managed budgeting, cash flow forecasting, cost reporting, accruals, and financial compliance. • Supervised accounting staff and coordinated reporting with producers, studios, lenders, and auditors. • Oversaw payroll, union remittances, tax credit reporting, and financial controls.

  • Production Accountant at Spin Master
    Oct 2024 - Feb 2025 · 5 mos

    Productuon Cost Accounting and Analysis on the Unicorn Academy Series.

  • Staff and Payroll Accountant at Mohari Hospitality
    Jun 2024 - Oct 2024 · 5 mos

    Bi-Weekly Payroll, Account Reconciliations, Daily Labour Forecasts.

  • Production Accountant at BDB PRODUCTION
    Sep 2023 - Dec 2023 · 4 mos

    Cashet Setup, Suncor Fuel Card Setup, Bank Reconciliation, Journal Entries, Managing Team, AP and Payroll Overview, Cost Reports, Budget Analysis, Weekly and Monthly Reports, Vendor Liaison, Data Entry

  • Payroll Accountant at Cold Harbor Inc (Severance Season 2)
    Jun 2023 - Aug 2023 · 3 mos

    Weekly Payroll Cycle for Union and Non Union Crew.