Manager, General Accounting

Manager, General Accounting

At Barnes & Noble Education ("BNED") we are dedicated to making tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world by servicing all who work in education. As a leading solutions provider for the education industry, we are committed to driving affordability, accessibility, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide by ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Together, our teams work to elevate lives through education.

To support this mission, we are seeking a Manager, General Accounting to join our team! This role is responsible for leading the general accounting function and ensuring the accuracy, integrity and timeliness of financial reporting. This role oversees the monthly close process, supervises accounting staff, and maintains strong internal controls in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements. The Manager partners with leadership teams to support business objectives, resolve accounting issues, and drive continuous improvement in accounting processes and reporting.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Lead and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting staff by assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and supporting ongoing professional development.
• Review and approve journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial analyses prepared by staff to ensure accuracy and compliance with company policies and applicable accounting standards.
• Provide accounting and operational support to business owners and cross-functional partners.
• Review monthly and quarterly P&L analyses and account reconciliations prepared by staff, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, appropriate variance documentation, and distribution to Home Office and Field Management.
• Assist in the preparation of budgets and forecasts, providing insight and commentary on financial results and key variances.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, ensuring compliance with SOX requirements and company accounting policies.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly financial reporting packages for leadership.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and automation within the accounting function, while ensuring appropriate internal controls remain in place. Identify and implement opportunities for reporting automation.
• Partner with subsidiaries to ensure intercompany transactions and balances are properly reconciled and eliminated.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; CPA preferred
• 5–7 years of general ledger accounting or audit experience; public accounting experience preferred
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word; experience with financial reporting software a plus
• Experience with general ledger reconciliations, variance analysis, financial analysis, and financial reporting
• Experience with budgeting and forecasting processes
• Knowledge of internal controls and SOX compliance requirements
• Supervisory or team leadership experience preferred, with the ability to mentor and develop staff
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and mathematical skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Please Note: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance three (3) days per week at our Florham Park, NJ headquarters. Applicants must be within a commutable distance, as relocation assistance will not be provided.

How We Elevate Our Employees

We believe your success is our success, so our benefits package is designed specifically to support you in every aspect of your life. At BNED, we offer a variety of programs and resources to support the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our employees by offering a competitive total rewards package for full-time employees, which includes medical, dental, and vision plans, 401k with an annual discretionary match, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits.