Director, Technical Accounting & External Reporting

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. • Florham Park, NJ

1d • $170,000 - $180,000

About The Position

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 our mission, we are seeking a Director of Technical Accounting & External Reporting to join our team. In this role, you will lead the preparation, review, and timely filing of all SEC reports, including the annual Form 10-K and quarterly Form 10-Q, ensuring compliance with U.S. GAAP, SOX, and other regulatory requirements. You will oversee complex technical accounting matters, drive accounting policy development, and manage the company’s external audit process. The Director will collaborate closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams across Finance, Legal, and business operations to interpret evolving accounting standards, provide expert guidance on complex transactions, and maintain the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of financial disclosures. This position requires deep technical expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to translate complex accounting issues into clear, actionable insights that support informed business decisions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related business field required; CPA required.
• 10–12+ years of progressive accounting and financial reporting experience, including public accounting (Big 4 preferred) and corporate finance in a publicly traded company; retail industry experience is a plus.
• Expert knowledge of U.S. GAAP, SEC reporting requirements, and complex accounting areas, including revenue recognition (ASC 606), lease accounting (ASC 842), debt, and stock-based compensation.
• Strong understanding of SOX compliance, internal controls over financial reporting, and financial reporting software such as Workiva or Active Disclosure.
• Proven leadership skills, including team development, mentoring, and building high-performing accounting teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information to executives, the Board of Directors, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment across Finance, Legal, Tax, and business operations.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.
• retail industry experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• SEC & Statutory Filings: Oversee the preparation, review, and timely filing of all periodic SEC reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and Proxy) and statutory filings, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with SEC regulations and disclosure requirements.
• Technical Accounting: Serve as the subject matter expert on complex accounting matters, including revenue recognition (ASC 606), leases (ASC 842), stock-based compensation, and other emerging accounting standards. Lead technical accounting research, develop accounting position papers, and provide guidance on significant or non-routine transactions.
• Financial Statement Preparation: Direct the preparation and review of consolidated financial statements, footnotes, and Management’s Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), ensuring transparency, clarity, and adherence to U.S. GAAP and SEC requirements.
• Compliance, Controls & Risk Management: Maintain and enhance internal controls over financial reporting, including SOX compliance. Identify, assess, and mitigate financial reporting risks, and partner with internal audit and management to remediate control gaps.
• External Audit Management: Lead the coordination and management of the external audit and quarterly review processes, serving as the primary liaison with external auditors to facilitate timely completion of audit procedures.
• Strategic Advisory: Provide actionable accounting and reporting guidance to the CFO and executive leadership on business initiatives, complex transactions, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic decisions.
• Investor & Board Support: Partner with Finance and Investor Relations teams to prepare financial information and disclosures for external stakeholders, including analysts, investors, and the Board of Directors.
• Accounting Policy & Governance: Develop, document, and maintain company-wide accounting policies and procedures. Provide guidance on the accounting treatment of new initiatives, contracts, and complex corporate transactions.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Coordinate with cross-functional teams including Legal, Tax, HR, and business operations to ensure accurate, consistent, and compliant financial reporting.
• Process & System Improvement: Drive continuous improvement of financial reporting processes, procedures, and systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. Lead ERP and reporting system initiatives as needed.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Benefits

• 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 match, life insurance, commuter benefits, paid time off with paid holidays, and a broad range of other benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director