Stephen P. Taylor.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: Balancesheet - Brief Article

Whether puttering (in his garden), putting (on his backyard green) or pontificating (to students) to set the record straight on the unique aspects of Hollywood/film industry accounting, Stephen Taylor exudes a joie de vive, even though he hails from jolly old England. He's worked for 27 years in the accounting side of the glamorous film/entertainment industry -- in the U.K., Amsterdam, New York City and settling finally in Tinsel Town itself, Hollywood.

Name: Steve

Title: Senior VP Finance

Company: Paramount Pictures International

Born: Birmingham, England, April 9, 1946

Spouse: Denise -- for 31 years.

Children: Stuart, 26; Michael, 23 (both of whom have accounting degrees, and are working as accountants outside the U.S.)

Education Summary: King Edwards Five Ways Grammar School (a traditional all-boys English school); Aston University, Birmingham, England, where he prepared for the examinations of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), becoming a member in 1969. He now holds the title FCCA, Fellow of the Association of Certified Accountants.

Career Summary: "After working in the U.K. for seven years, I moved to Amsterdam in 1975 to join Paramount Pictures as Controller. In 1980, I was made an offer I couldn't refuse -- to move to the New York City office and become VP/Controller. In 1986, the CEO's office moved from New York to Hollywood, and in 1988, I followed, with the finance function, becoming Senior VP Finance, my current position. I report to the CFO of Paramount -- which comprises movie and TV production and worldwide distribution; cinemas; music publishing; theme parks; merchandising and licensing; and book publishing."

FEI Chapter: Los Angeles, since 1988. Leisure: "Golf ( played for many years), gardening (just never enough time for puttering in my English garden); guest lecturing to students at universities and graduate schools about entertainment industry accounting and careers in accounting."

Time Management: "Marry a charming, understanding, supportive and low maintenance wife! We all spend too much time in the office, and working. It's inevitable...