Director, Assistant Controller

Education - It's in Our DNA

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, BNED is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director, Assistant Controller to lead accounting operations, partner with cross-functional teams, and ensure the integrity of financial reporting. This role provides both operational and strategic leadership for the General Accounting team, overseeing the monthly close, corporate consolidations, and internal reporting with a focus on accuracy, standardization, compliance, and continuous improvement.

The Director, Assistant Controller partners closely with the VP, Controller to drive complex accounting, reporting, and internal control initiatives, manage the indirect tax function, and lead strategic finance projects and system enhancements. Through these efforts, the role delivers insights, drives efficiency, and supports enterprise-wide decision-making that aligns with BNED’s financial and organizational goals.

• Oversee the monthly close process and analyze financial results, supervising the General Accounting Manager to ensure GAAP-compliant financial statements, timely reconciliations, and providing insightful commentary on actual vs. budget variances.

• Drive continuous improvement in accounting processes, systems, and workflows, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness across the General Accounting function and broader finance organization.

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and impairment review processes, including capital expenditures, direct and overhead expenses, and ad hoc store valuations.

• Manage the indirect tax function and support compliance and control initiatives, ensuring regulatory adherence, reviewing accruals and reconciliations, supporting SOX and audit activities, and strengthening the overall control environment.

• Provide strategic accounting support and cross-functional collaboration, partnering with Finance, IT, Operations, and other stakeholders to address inquiries, support initiatives, and drive enterprise-wide projects.

• Monitor and report on key financial metrics and performance indicators, identifying trends, opportunities, and risks to support executive decision-making.

• Lead ERP and financial systems strategy, including implementations, enhancements, and optimizations to support business growth and operational efficiency.

• Develop, coach, and mentor accounting staff, fostering a high-performing, adaptable team culture, and identifying high-potential talent for succession planning.

• Additional responsibilities as required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting preferred;
  CPA required
  .
• 12+ years of progressive accounting experience, including public accounting, with at least 7+ years of leadership experience managing high-volume general accounting teams. Retail or manufacturing industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of US GAAP, SOX compliance, and experience with ASC 842 (Leases).
• Hands-on experience with People Soft and Oracle preferred; advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.); aptitude for financial systems management and process standardization.
• oral and written communication skills; ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple projects simultaneously; proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performing environment, with flexibility and adaptability to evolving business needs.

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.

We believe your success is our success, and…