JANE CORDEN – 2025 NSW/ACT CINEMA PIONEER OF THE YEAR
For nearly four decades, Jane Corden has been a driving force behind the evolution of production accounting. From hands-on support to the development of industry-standard digital systems used around the world, her leadership, innovation, and mentorship have shaped how productions run and how production accountants thrive.
It all began with what was meant to be a gap year spent in Australia after earning an Accounting and Business Law degree from the University of Stirling in Scotland.
The plan was for Jane to take time off before starting a chartered accountancy program in London. Instead, she fell in love with Australia and spent three years working as an account manager in the corporate world. Then, she took an accountant role at Moneypenny, supporting the Channel 9 mini-series A Fortunate Life – fitting title for what would become a defining chapter in her own life and career.
She quickly rose from assistant to production accountant at Moneypenny, supporting projects across Australia and abroad. This experience fuelled her longstanding passion for travel and solidified her newfound passion for supporting filmmakers. Most importantly, she excelled at it.
When Moneypenny founder Penny Carl stepped away from the company in 1988, Jane was named as her successor, and her work shaping Moneypenny’s future began. Computers were just starting to arrive on accountants’ desks, and it was time to adapt or get left behind. Jane partnered with programmers to design digital tools tailored to the unpredictable and fast-moving world of production accounting. The systems she helped design evolved to become one of the industry’s earliest digital, paperless, remote-ready accounting platforms.
In 2004, Jane and her family headed to South Africa to fulfil a consultancy with the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) developing the structure for a new incentive scheme. During the two years living in South Africa Jane established Moneypenny who are still servicing the local industry but now under Black Economic Empowered (BEE) ownership. Six years later, she headed to the UK, expanding Moneypenny’s reach to new global markets.
Every step of the way, Jane guided filmmakers through periods of profound industry change. She charted a path through the introduction of new co-production treaties and distribution models and was always prepped and ready. She explained how to optimize producer and location offsets, helped producers pivot when GST and superannuation reshaped budgets, offered guidance on what to do next when 10BA came to an end, and streamlined the process of switching to digitized film finance workflows.
Beyond her day-to-day duties, Jane dedicated herself to securing a strong future for her industry colleagues and peers. Under her leadership, the Moneypenny team worked with AFTRS, state agencies, and completion guarantors to foster the next generation of world-class production accountants.
In 2022, Entertainment Partners acquired Moneypenny, opening new opportunities to support filmmakers across continents. Now, Jane spends her days connecting indie and studio filmmakers to her global network of production accounting experts with deep local knowledge.
Jane’s true passion has always been honoring people. Known for her unwavering belief that production accounting is a career worth celebrating, she regularly invites newcomers to explore the industry. She’s a strong advocate that, though production accounting may not always be the most glamorous role in film, it’s always among the most essential.
Throughout her career, Jane has generously mentored hundreds of top-tier accountants. Her tenure taught her that technical training is important, but sharp judgment, real-time adaptability, and on-set instincts are the standout traits that separate good accountants from great ones. She pushes her mentees to hone those skills.
Jane is also well-known for her advocacy for women in the screen industry and is deeply involved in initiatives like Dame Changer. She’s dedicated to making sure diverse voices are heard – not just on screen, but behind the scenes in finance, operations, and management.
Jane is widely respected for honouring Moneypenny’s legacy while inspiring a new era of industry leadership, and this award is a fitting tribute to her impact. Not surprisingly, she told us that she’d like to dedicate it to all production accountants – past, present, and future.
From the Channel 9 mini-series that started it all, to groundbreaking systems and international expansions that reshaped how productions manage their finances, her legacy is etched into the backbone of Australian filmmaking. Congratulations, Jane – and thank you.
