CIMA can truly lead to exciting and unexpected financial roles, as Richard Eadie of Paramount proves. In this interview and video, he tells Insight’s Will Bond how he rubs shoulders with big screen stars.
As director of film planning for Paramount Pictures International, Richard Eadie is in a financial role with extraordinary perks. ‘I was in Red Square looking out with the Kremlin as a background, Linkin Park playing and I’m within a few feet of Michael Bay and the cast and crew (of 'Transformers 3') and I thought: ‘Happy days – it’s not a bad week in the finance career!’’
His work in the film industry, first with Lionsgate and now with Paramount Pictures International, enjoys a touch more glamour than most financial roles but also unique challenges. ‘I look after the costs of business, the money we spend across 50-odd territories in both marketing – telling people that the film is coming out – and in operations, physically getting the film out to the public.
‘It’s an interesting and exciting industry to work in. I get quite a lot of privileges of going to things like film premieres and liaising with some very clever and creative people. It has its challenges and can be very time pressured at times, but overall it’s a very enjoyable experience.’
Career ladder
Richard’s finance career began with Danone UK, the world’s largest dairy producer. ‘I started off as a business planning analyst for them covering sales and marketing supply chain, really cutting my teeth in what it was to be finance person, supporting the areas of the business.’
A stint with Apple Europe broadened his horizons, giving him experience working in multiple markets. ‘It was quite an interesting role and gave me a bit more breadth in terms of international experience and working with many territories. I supported the sales team there in a time when Apple was in extreme growth, so it was a quite a fast paced role.’
After looking at various qualifications, it was CIMA’s relevance to changing business landscapes that helped him choose his path. ‘CIMA was the most commercial qualification to take and it also seemed to be adapting most with the changing face of industry, both for FMCG where I’ve worked and also with the technology and media side.
‘It was always a qualification looking to innovate and change and grow with the demands of business today.'
Trained for success
As the effects of a continuing financial crisis echo, Richard feels his CIMA skills have been crucial to his success. ‘Businesses are naturally becoming nervous about investing lots of money in product launches, film launches. So the skills I’ve learnt with CIMA for understanding risk, measuring and negating risk have been really useful in my role here at Paramount.'
In an industry as fast moving as film, he also finds his CPD has been a great asset. ‘The film industry is constantly evolving … people are still trying to work out the best medium for people seeing films and downloading entertainment.
‘CPD is essential because of the changing demand on your skill set, so continuously improving and growing in that respect is very important, I think.’
Spoilt for choice
Richard also believes CIMA opens up options for you outside of finance. ‘CIMA is a great qualification to give you a broad understanding of business, not just of financial acumen.
‘It sets you up for not just a financial career, but also a career moving outside of finance, transitioning into the commercial realm and into procurement and stuff like that. So it gives you a really solid fundamental business base.’
Video
Hear more from Richard below.
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