We speak with Steven Sills about the Entertainment Accountant of the Year Award Winner, presented at the June 2020 CalCPA Entertainment Industry Conference, the profession and its role in the entertainment industry.

1. Q&A With Steven Sills
2020 Entertainment Accountant of the Year Award Winner
Steven Sills, CPA, CFE, CFF, is partner of royalty licensing and forensics
at Green Hasson Janks and has over 40 years of entertainment accounting
experience. His specialty involves audits of production and distribution of
motion pictures and television programs on behalf of third-party profit
participants.
As a consultant, he has given expert testimony in entertainment litigation,
been a contract negotiator for profit and royalty participants and
participated in settlement negotiations of audit claims.
Sills is an attorney, CPA, Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Financial
Forensic, and has been a featured speaker at CalCPA and New York State
Society of CPAs, as well as UCLA and USC film schools.
We recently spoke with Sills about the Entertainment Accountant of the
Year Award Winner, presented at the June 2020 CalCPA Entertainment
Industry Conference, the profession and its role in the entertainment
industry.
As part of the Entertainment Accountant of the Year Award, CalCPA
donates $1,000 to a charity of the winner’s choice. You selected the
Thailand Laos Cambodia Brotherhood. How long have you been
involved with the organization and what made you decide on this
one?
I have been involved with this organization for over 10 years. I spent a
year stationed in Thailand in 1968-69 and have visited the country
frequently since my tour of duty. I wanted to support Thai schoolchildren
who were impacted by our presence in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam
War.
You’re also involved in other nonprofits. Why is it important to you to
support your community and how did that desire begin?

2. I’ve always felt it is important to give back to the community. My
involvement usually stems from the impact an organization has on family
and friends, such as cancer research, the motion picture home and other
charitable organizations.
You’ve held various roles and have seen business management from
different perspectives. How has business in general—and accounting
in particular—changed over the years? Have there been any
constants?
My area of expertise is profit participation audits rather than business
management. I actually work with business managers on behalf on their
clients. During my 38 years performing these audits, the contracts have
become much more complicated and the industry has vertically integrated,
raising issues of self-dealing.
What’s the most challenging part of working with entertainment,
sports and business leaders? On the flip side, what part of the job do
you enjoy the most? Any red carpet invites?
I am a big fan of motion pictures and television. I enjoy being associated
with the films and programs we audit and I greatly admire our talent clients
for the work they perform.
What advice do you have for CPAs starting their careers?
Find a specialization in which you are interested and work hard to learn as
much as you can about your chosen field.