Stephen P. Taylor. (Balancesheet).

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, unfortunately [due to] the demands. So, to have a perfectly balanced life is almost impossible. We all need our escapes and pursuits."

Stress Management: "Always address issues and problems as they arise. Engage in regular physical activity such as golf and exercise."

Favorite book: "Mrs. Beaton's Cook Book -- a gift from my wife -- which contains the recipe for my favorite Christmas Cake, which my mother baked, and now my wife bakes."

Best Job: "Controller, Paramount Pictures. My boss was 3,000 miles away, which gave me the opportunity to make my own decisions and learn from my mistakes."

Worst Job: "Selling suits in a men's tailor store while working my way through college. It required convincing customers that they looked smart when, very often, they looked like a poorly dressed sack of potatoes."

Favorite Deal: "The attempted purchase of a French entertainment company and being accused of 'American Cultural Imperialism.' I am British! The company was [eventually] sold to an Italian [company]!"

Other Comments: "Do not allow others to bully you into an opinion that is different from the one you believe in. Maintain your professional standards at all times."

On your staff: "Treat them as you would like to be treated; have an open and continuing dialogue with them about their strengths and weaknesses; do not overlook performance issues -- ignoring them sends the wrong message. You are only as good as the staff that works for you, so hire the best you can get.

Also, keep an open mind -- there is always something new to learn."

E-mail: [e-mail]