Brian Beckmann
Operational and Financial Executive
+1 818-726-1916
Email:
Address:
Los Angeles, CA
Phone:
Hello, and welcome. I'm Brian Beckmann.
With two decades of multifaceted executive finance experience, Brian Beckmann has established himself as a leader across a range of industries. His expertise spans start-ups, established companies, small businesses, and publicly traded enterprises. Beckmann has a diverse background in industries such as advanced technology and entertainment media. Notably, he is also a producer, with a portfolio that includes acclaimed films like DOG EAT DOG, starring Nicolas Cage and Willem Dafoe, and Paul Schrader’s Oscar-nominated FIRST REFORMED, featuring Amanda Seyfried and Ethan Hawke. Other credits include the critically praised ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA starring Daniel Radcliffe; the fantasy-adventure film THE PORTABLE DOOR starring Christophe Waltz and Sam Neill produced with the Henson Company; the thriller POKER FACE, staring and directed by Russell Crowe; and the highly acclaimed OH, CANADA written and directed by Paul Schrader and starring Richard Gere, Uma Thurman; and Jacob Elordi.
Beckmann's well-rounded experience has honed his skills in strategic business planning, establishing operational and financial controls, transaction structuring, systems integration, business affairs, and producing.
In his current role at Arclight Films, Beckmann oversees all legal, financial, and accounting functions, including production operations and the management of a library comprising over 250 feature films. During his tenure, he has spearheaded the financing of more than $325 million in productions and facilitated numerous acquisitions.
Prior to joining Arclight Films, Beckmann managed financial operations for the media division of GenesisIntermedia, a publicly traded NASDAQ company. There, he played a pivotal role in securing two rounds of Series A public funding and orchestrating three equity spinoffs. He also served as a financial leader at Brand Sense Partners, overseeing the financial activities of a company managing over 200 partnerships for Fortune 500 clients and generating approximately $1.5 billion in retail sales across the consumer products, media, technology, celebrity, and fashion industries.
Beckmann’s strengths lie in his combination of hands-on expertise in accounting, finance, and operations with his strategic acumen in areas such as corporate strategy, financing, production, and growth. He has a proven track record of enhancing profits and increasing company value by building and strengthening corporate infrastructure.
Educationally, Beckmann’s foundation includes a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance, Real Estate, and Law from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. He also earned an MBA in Finance from the University of La Verne and pursued legal studies at Southwestern University of Los Angeles. Additionally, his early background in mechanical engineering underscores his analytical and technical capabilities.
A native of Los Angeles, Beckmann resides in the city with his wife and daughter.
SOCIAL MEDIA & MORE
2009-CURRENT
ARCLIGHT FILMS INTERNATIONAL
CFO / COO
Responsible for overseeing all financial and operational functions, including Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payable, Royalty-based Accounting and Auditing, General Ledger, Payroll, Cash Management, Information Technology, and Banking & Legal relationships for this international film production and sales agency with a library of over 250 titles and worldwide box office gross exceeding $500M. Titles include the Oscar-winning CRASH, LORD OF WAR, THE BANK JOB, HOTEL MUMBAI, THE PORTABLE DOOR, OH, CANADA, and the Oscar-nominated FIRST REFORMED, starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried.
Contributions Include:
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Oversaw all financial and operational aspects of the company, managing average gross revenues exceeding $30M annually and overseeing $250M in film productions and development.
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Led financial planning and analysis, including preparation of Financial Statements, Cost Reports, and monthly budget vs. actual variance analysis to optimize cash flow and profitability.
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Managed operations and accounting for multiple international entities and production companies.
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Developed and implemented a corporate strategy that returned the company to profitability within 12 months, erased negative equity within 24 months, and delivered record profits within 36 months.
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Spearheaded collection efforts, resulting in a 13% increase in net working capital.
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Streamlined operations, reducing workforce by 30%, cutting salary costs by 49%, and saving $600K annually in overhead expenses.
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Reorganized the company’s debt structure and negotiated a revolving line of credit to facilitate rapid growth and capitalize on acquisitions.
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Successfully closed over 25 movies with combined budgets exceeding $325M.
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Developed finance plans for numerous films utilizing, equity investments, government subsidies, pre-sales, and other debt facilities.
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Reconciled financials and tax returns for multiple organizations across three countries.
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Negotiated agreements with producers, writers, directors, and talent.
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Directed all business affairs and outside counsel for corporate and production legal matters.
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Negotiated a $50M finance facility for bridge lending with a long-term convertibility option to mezzanine financing.
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Co-architect of the Simmons/Hamilton production company with rock legend Gene Simmons.
2007-2009
BRAND SENSE PARTNERS
CONTROLLER
Responsible for daily operations of finance, IT, and human resources at this strategic new business development agency managing over 200 partnerships for Fortune 500 clients, generating approximately $1.5 billion in retail sales across consumer products, media, technology, celebrity, and fashion industries.
Contributions Include:
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Developed and implemented systems that drove 20% revenue growth during an economically challenging market.
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Improved operational efficiencies, enabling financial/administrative resources to handle a 135% increase in client partnerships.
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Streamlined the quarterly reporting process, reducing quarter-end closing time from 45 to 15 days.
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Implemented short- and long-term cash flow forecasting models.
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Designed and implemented time allocation and tracking systems, providing monthly P&L reports for all active projects.
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Enhanced collection processes using both internal and external resources.
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Developed a tracking and reconciliation system for reimbursable expenses, providing real-time budget status.
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Led a successful IT infrastructure upgrade on time and within budget, improving system reliability and flexibility.
2005-2007
RELIANCE FINANCE COMPANY
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Directed all aspects of financial management and operations for this direct lending institution, specializing in financing elective medical procedures nationwide with an $18M portfolio.
Contributions Include:
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Increased profits by 59.4%, with a 50.2% increase in revenues.
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Negotiated a $20M warehouse line of credit, enabling operational expansion and tripling the company’s growth rate.
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Provided strategic and operational oversight during a period of rapid growth (126% growth from 2005 to 2007).
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Developed systems and improved efficiencies, enabling the portfolio to grow by 129%, with a focus on upgrading enterprise software, collections, training, and underwriting.
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Redesigned the collections department, reducing delinquency by 36% within 12 months.
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Reduced gross defaults by 71%, from 2.43% in 2004 to .68% in 2007.
1999-2002
GENESISINTERMEDIA.COM INC.
Directed financial systems, reporting, financial controls, and strategic planning for this publicly traded Internet/Media startup with over $40M in gross revenues, named one of WallStreet.com’s “40 Fastest Growing Companies” of 2000.
Contributions Include:
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Initiated monthly budget vs. actual variance analysis and recommended corrective actions to senior management.
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Secured $10M debt financing for a startup subsidiary, based on a comprehensive 5-year revenue forecast.
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Identified and developed new business review strategies that resulted in the equity spinoff of Centerlinq.com, Dynamedia, and CarRentalDirect.com.
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Implemented statistics-based management and Six Sigma principles to improve operational efficiency in a rapidly growing environment.
CONTROLER
1988-1999
ADB INDUSTRIES
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Directed all phases of financial management, as well as, participated in management of operations and manufacturing for this privately held aerospace company, manufacturing high-tech assemblies for commercial, military, and aerospace applications.
Contributions Include:
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Modernized production facilities, increasing factory capacity by 40% and implementing automated production lines, propelling the company's sales by 11%, and profits by 18% per annum, with equity jumping 119%.
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Redesigned financing arrangements to create a more flexible and efficient banking relationship.
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Reduced monthly financial statement preparation time by 50% and cut input labor costs by 25%.
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Developed an automated cost collection system, increasing accuracy by 17% and enabling better asset utilization monitoring.
BOARD MEMEBERSHIP
2021-CURRENT
International Film & Television Alliance (IFTA)
Board Member (Executive Committee & Finance Committee
IFTA is the global trade association for independent film and television production, finance, distribution, and sales companies. The organization represents the independent sector before governments and international bodies, offering key services to independent companies worldwide. IFTA is also the producer of the American Film Market (AFM), the only independently produced international sales market, where hundreds of finance, production, sales, and distribution companies, along with thousands of professionals, gather annually for discovery, deal-making, networking, and world-class conferences.
Contributions Include:
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Provided strategic direction and input on budgets, monitored financial performance, and ensured fiscal responsibility.
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Collaborated with management to develop short- and medium-term strategies to navigate the pandemic and address the SAG/WGA strikes.
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Worked closely with board members and management to implement significant changes, restoring long-term profitability.
EDUCATION
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B.S., Business Administration, concentration in Finance, Real Estate, & Law
University of LaVerne, LaVerne
M.B.A., concentration in Finance
Southwestern University of Law, Los Angeles
J.D. candidate, (currently on sabbatical)
SKILLS
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Financial Statement Preparation
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Financial Analysis and Modeling
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Financial Planning
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Financial Controls
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Forecasting and Forecasting
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Cash Flow Forecasting/Optimization
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Debt Facilities and Restructuring
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Equity Investments
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Collection Processes
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Banking Relationships
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Policy Development
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Operational Efficiency
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Strategic Growth
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Team Leadership
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Entrepreneurial Spirit
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Problem Solving
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Legal/Business Affairs Management
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Legal and Business Negotiations
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Strategic Planning
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Government Subsidies
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Six Sigma Principles
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Manufacturing Operations
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Enterprise Software
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IT Management
EXPERTISE
Financial Strategy and Corporate Management
Expertise in directing comprehensive financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and securing financing for projects exceeding $150 million. Skilled in transaction structuring, implementing financial controls, and integrating systems to drive profitability and ensure organizational compliance.
Strategic Business Leadership and Operational Excellence
Proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, optimizing business operations, and building scalable corporate infrastructure. Adept at developing and executing strategic plans that enhance growth, improve efficiency, and increase company value across diverse industries.
Entrepreneurial Vision and Team Leadership
Recognized for fostering innovation, identifying growth opportunities, and driving organizational success in dynamic environments. A natural leader with a talent for building and mentoring high-performing teams, cultivating collaboration, and inspiring a shared vision to achieve strategic objectives.