Behind The Budget Line – Gerry Tyrrell

Article By Immy Mohr

Career Journey

I’ve only recently jumped the fence into Film and TV.  Prior to that, I spent over 25 years in industries where precision, speed, and stakeholder trust were probably every bit as critical as they are on a production.

I began in Treasury, managing daily positions for currency and interbank dealers. It was a very early lesson in the true cost of cash and the sensitivities of cashflow!

I left to pursue my ACCA qualification, studying at night while managing financial accounting for Whirlpool’s Nordic operations.  This role taught me how to partner across diverse European teams and currencies.

From there I moved into high-value medical equipment. It was hands-on: I built budgets and costing models to support complex manufacturing operations.  To put it in perspective, in my first healthcare role we produced critical-care ventilators with an annual production cost of USD $ 200m.  Two of devices ended up on the set of E.R. !

Working in medical technology, you’re helping to create products that save lives – but it also means navigating strict regulatory and commercial environments.  I later supported a company that designed and manufactured retinal imaging devices before deciding to leave the sector in 2021.   I’d achieved a lot and it felt like the right time.  

It was an opportunity to ask: “What would I do, and what can I bring?” I’d always had an interest in stagecraft, so I explored options in screen.  The NFTS Diploma in Production Accounting provided the bridge, which I completed in early 2023.  After some ad hoc budget work, I landed my first screen industry job with Mammoth Screen on their shoot for Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy.

I really enjoy it. There are so many parallels with my previous roles, especially in how you engage with production teams, non-finance departments and stakeholders to get the best outcome for the production and the production company behind it.

Most Memorable Production

The first job with Mammoth Screen really stuck with me. Great team, strong art department, and being a ’50s period piece, the set decoration and costume were brilliant.

It proved my transferrable skills worked in a fast-paced environment. Sometimes it’s just about being transparent – even a one-liner to an email: “Here’s the risk, here’s the mitigation.”  That kind of communication keeps everyone aligned and informed.

Accounts are the first line of defence for areas with huge consequences at Company level – from Money Laundering and GDPR to the incoming Failure to Prevent Fraud offence (from 1st Sept). Large companies and their subsidiaries all fall within scope, so Accounts need the space to support this as well as the production.

Mammoth Screen’s accounting manual and delegated authority worked well. It gave flexibility at production level, and was actively supported at head-office.  That really resonated with me: you tailor your controls to the size of the team. If there are only got three or four in accounts, you can’t run an exhaustive control framework, but you can still protect stakeholders and maintain compliance.

What I Love About the Role

I get to engage, learn and contribute at all levels of the production.  My first port of call is usually the co-ordinators – they’re on board early, they spend money early, and they need support.  Once you engage, there’s less chance of them going off-piste.  It’s a bit like the factory floor:  people will come to you if they have an issue or spot a risk. Sometimes it’s as simple as a WhatsApp check-in, sometimes it’s a more strategic conversation tied to the schedule and budget.  Those approaches help build trust and keep the production moving.

Digital Transformation

At different points in my career, I’ve worked with two exceptional manufacturing directors who championed Lean principles.   It was striking to see how they empowered these complex organisations to flex and absorb change at short notice – without extra headcount or capacity.

I brought that mindset into finance:  mapping processes, removing waste steps, and focusing my team on value-adding activity.  In production finance, I apply the same approach: set workflows up correctly from the start, make them scalable, and ensure each touchpoint counts. 

Whether in a factory or a production, the aim is the same – remove bottlenecks, free people to apply themselves effectively, and keep things moving at pace.  Always reflect and adapt:  Ask colleagues outside Accounts how the process is working – they’re your most important customers.

I’m a champion for Digital Transformation.  Finance isn’t naturally directly value-adding, so you have to find ways to make it so, whether that’s through insight or partnering with other departments. Going digital frees capacity.

On Mint (House Productions/Fearless Minds), I used the DPO and PSL integration and coached people to raise POs with consistent language. That text flowed through PO, invoice validation, matching, and into PSL. So, when someone searched the ledger or DPO, the same reference was there from start to finish. It was only entered once – no rekeying, no duplication. 

I’d explored OCR technology outside screen, where our AP team handled 45,000 invoices annually. Back then the licence cost far outweighed the benefit. This time, the tech was accessible and it made a real difference. It gave the team space to focus on value-adding work and deliver a clean handover.

Other departments have embraced tech to move faster, but finance can lag behind, often running workflows originally designed for paper.  Digital transformation is a real opportunity.

Tools of the Trade

My favourite tool is probably Excel.  I’ve done a lot of forensic work where linked systems were not present, often establishing insight for the first time before building repeatable reporting.

I’ve learned to be cautious about overengineering.  If you build something too complex, you become the sole point of support, and that’s a risk both for you and the production company. When spreadsheets replace what should be repeatable system processes – especially with macros or VBA – it’s a sign the core reporting systems need to improve.

Advice for Newcomers

You’ll feel loyal to the person who brought you in, and that’s natural, but don’t be afraid to move on. New teams, processes, budgets and availability of cash will stretch you, help you grow, and push you out of your comfort zone. Pick up new skills and ways of working, and carry the ones that fit with you.  Engage early, be approachable and available – it makes everything smoother.  That advice is not unique to screen – it applies everywhere.

Quick Fire Round:

Go to office snack?

Our craft team from Department Q made amazing millionaire shortbread, but off the shelf it’s a bourbon cream.

Excel or Google Sheets?

Excel.

Your dream production to work on?

In high school I dreamed of working for Jim Henson, so if another Muppets film came along, I’d jump at it. The Muppet Movie was the first film I ever saw on the big screen, and the “Turn Left at the Fork in the Road” gag has stuck with me since.

Sargent Disc at Cannes 2025

The team was excited to be back in France last week for the opening weekend of the 78th Festival de Cannes. Sargent-Disc got involved in several great events that brought international delegates together.

At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, several British productions have garnered significant attention, showcasing the UK’s diverse cinematic talent.

Harry Lighton’s Pillion, a BFI backed production, received the festivals longest standing ovation, averaging 7.3 minutes, making it one of the most warmly received films of the festival. Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section, the film is nominated for both the Caméra d’Or and Queer Palm. Akinola Davis Jr’s My Fathers Shadow, also showcased Un Certain Regard and nominated for the Caméra d’Or, is being celebrated for its intimate storytelling and cultural significance as the first Nigerian film to be selected for Cannes’ Official Selection. My Fathers Shadow is also backed by the BFI and was developed by BBC Film.

The Caméra d’Or, which recognises the best first feature film, will be awarded on Saturday, May 24.

The Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Sargent-Disc International Producers Reception, held at the Members Club, Plage du Festival on Saturday 17th May! It’s was a landmark year as it is also the 10th anniversary of DPO (Digital Purchase Order) and the launch of APA. Read more about the exciting new feature here.

 It was amazing to catch up with familiar faces and meet some new ones too, all over a fun evening of drinks, chats, and great company! Huge thanks to everyone who came along, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did (and that your shoes survived the sand)!

Special thanks to our partners of the reception the British Film Commission, Canadian Media Producers Association, Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films Independent Film and Television Alliance, Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television, Production Guild of Great Britain, Screen Australia, Screen Producers Ireland and New Zealand Film Commission for their support with the event.

If you missed any contact information or would just like to reach out to us please email marketing@sargent-disc.com

Women in Film and Television Brunch

We were proud to once again sponsor the annual Women in Film and Television (WFTV) brunch, hosted aboard the very stylish Coutts boat on Sunday 18th May. It was a brilliant chance for women, whether seasoned pros or just starting out, to connect, share insights, and chat about the ever-evolving world of film and TV (with a pretty great view, too!)

Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals

This year, Cast & Crew and Sargent Disc proudly sponsored the 2nd annual Speed Dating for Entertainment Industry Professionals, brilliantly organised by the fabulous Vinca Jarrett. Filled with rapid-fire questions and professional sparks, it was a lively, energising event brimming with fun, connection, and creative chemistry.

UK Launch of AP Automation

On November 20th, we were thrilled to host the UK launch of AP Automation—a ground breaking new feature in DPO that transforms how productions manage their accounts payable processes. The event began with an engaging showcase of the feature, followed by a audience Q&A session. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and contributed insightful questions to the discussion.

After the presentation, attendees had the chance to network over some canapés and drinks, while also exploring the new system hands-on. Laptops were set up around the room, allowing participants to experience AP Automation first hand and discover how it simplifies and streamlines AP workflows.

So, what is AP Automation? The innovative new DPO feature is designed to significantly reduce the time and effort that currently goes into traditional AP processes. By automatically suggesting best match purchase orders for invoices sent directly to DPO, users can shift their focus to higher-value activities, while DPO handles the tedious work—such as data entry, document collation, and approval routing.

With PO and AP approvals integrated into DPO, as well as seamless integration into PSL+, productions can benefit from a one-stop-shop approval workflow. This streamlined process not only enhances efficiency but also improves visibility, enabling departments to track the real-time status of invoices and purchase orders with ease. The result? Faster, more transparent approvals that keep your production running smoothly.

If you’d like to see AP Automation in action or learn more about its integration with PSL+, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at sales@sargent-disc.com to schedule a demo or for more information.

Supporting production accountants since 1986

At Sargent-Disc we understand the production process and the pressure on production accountants to deliver accurate results, on time, every time. For over 35 years, Sargent-Disc has been proud to support their efforts as they work hard to bring us the best in global film and television. 

Today, as part of Cast & Crew, we deliver a full range of integrated production payroll and accounting solutions including CrewStart, Digital Purchase Order and PSL+ to productions at the forefront of the entertainment industry. These solutions save time when breaking out timecards, sending and approving contracts, onboarding cast and crew, approving expenditure, and cost reporting efficiently and securely.

Alongside this we are committed to investing in and supporting the film and television community at home and abroad. We are a member of the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT), a major patron of the Royal Television Society (RTS), a business partner of the Production Guild of Great Britain (PGGB), and work with them to inform and educate their members.

This year also marks the 10th year of Sargent-Disc being a proud sponsor of two Production Management Diploma at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).  The John Sargent Scholarship was also setup to support production accounting new entrants. Working with the film school is just one of the ways we strive to support emerging filmmakers.

Looking to the future, together with Cast & Crew, we value the importance of continuing to develop our offering and believe that technologies will increasingly allow us to make intelligent solutions that can take even more of the stress out of production accounting.

Contact the team to discuss how our solutions can streamline your production workflows.

Sargent-Disc’s Digital Payroll Workflow

Our Digital Production Office® end-to-end digital payroll workflow has been designed to allow safe and efficient remote working for production and accounts teams. It includes CrewStart™ start forms, contracts and timesheets, secure payroll messaging and reporting, and online payslips accessible by employees. .

Due to the pandemic increasing the need to minimise paper usage, we are asking all of our clients to use CrewStart™, our digital onboarding platform. Integrated with Sargent-Disc’s payroll, CrewStart™ improves accuracy and streamlines the payroll process, allowing digital approval and signing of contracts and other start paperwork. Other features include hot costing and electronic timesheets that save you time and provide real time visibility of labour costs.

Onboarding

With CrewStart™, onboarding crew has never been easier. Use existing production start paperwork and contracts to streamline the process, from initial invitation and completion through to final approval and signing. Crew need only complete their data once; it can then be re-used when completing another start form.

Hot costing

CrewStart™ allows you to easily track the time and attendance of crew and ensure they’re paid accurately. Hot costs can be tracked in real time giving accounts teams an accurate view of labour spend, even when operating under complex union rules such as the Pact/Bectu Feature Film Agreement.

Timesheets

At the end of each week, CrewStart™ can batch generate timesheets and send them digitally for completion and signing via an approval chain specific to each department. From the moment a batch is created, your payroll worksheet is available, saving days of work previously spent breaking out timecards manually.

Payroll and Auto Enrolment

Integration with Sargent-Disc’s payroll systems ensures an accuratey and efficient payroll process. All crew payroll data and reports are instantly available via the web and the iOS and Android Payroll applications.

Payslips and Notices

With a single login, your crew can view their payroll record online or via the Payslip app. Payslips, Auto Enrolment and other notices are published securely each time a payment is made and a full payment history is available for each crew member and artist to run on demand.

Production workflows

CrewStart™ has a range of templates that can be adapted to meet your requirements. to easily circulate any other documents or data to different departments for approval.

With our end-to-end digital workflow you can onboard and pay crew safely, securely, efficiently and sustainably. For further information or an online demo of CrewStart™, contact marketing@sargent-disc.com.

DPO Invoice Approval now available

Developed in response to COVID-19 limiting the ability to distribute physical documentation, we’re delighted to launch the new Invoice Approval feature for Sargent-Disc’s Digital Purchase Order (DPO) web application.

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