Hybrid Staff Accountant: GAAP Close & Process Automation

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.; Florham Park (NJ); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401k with annual discretionary match

Life insurance

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. is seeking a Staff Accountant to support accurate financial reporting through preparation, analysis, and reconciliation of general ledger accounts.

You will participate in month-, quarter-, and year-end closes and partner with internal teams to resolve discrepancies and improve processes. The role emphasizes journal entries, reconciliations, and collaboration across departments, with a hybrid in-office requirement at Florham Park, NJ.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.
• 2–3 years of general ledger accounting or public accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, variance analysis, internal controls, and accounting policies within a financial reporting environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and related functions; experience with ERP systems preferred, with PeopleSoft experience a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high degree of attention to detail, sound professional judgment, and a commitment to financial accuracy and integrity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate accounting issues, explain variances, and collaborate effectively across teams and functions.
• Ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple deliverables in a deadline-driven, fast-paced close environment.
• Demonstrated curiosity and willingness to learn and leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, problem-solving, and efficiency in day-to-day work.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and record monthly journal entries, including supporting schedules and documentation, in accordance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Prepare and maintain reconciliations for multiple high-activity cash accounts, payroll-related liabilities, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, debt, and other assigned general ledger accounts using Cadency and other applicable systems.
• Participate in monthly, quarterly, and year-end close activities to support timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Assist with the preparation and analysis of internal financial statements and related reporting deliverables.
• Serve as a liaison with Inventory Control and Store Operations to support the accurate maintenance of closed-store information, including required updates within PeopleSoft and Intrepid.
• Identify and support process improvement and automation initiatives to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of accounting and reporting processes.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI and other technology-enabled tools to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of accounting processes, analysis, and reporting.
• Participate in the testing, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of PeopleSoft, Intrepid, and other systems and applications utilized by the General Accounting team.
• Support adherence to internal controls, accounting policies, and documentation requirements through accurate and timely accounting practices.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to research and resolve accounting discrepancies and identify opportunities to prevent recurring issues.
• Additional responsibilities as required.

Skills

General ledger accounting

Variance analysis

Internal controls

Advanced Excel

PeopleSoft

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Intrepid

Cadency

ERP systems

Job description

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. is seeking a Staff Accountant to support accurate financial reporting through preparation, analysis, and reconciliation of general ledger accounts.

You will participate in month-, quarter-, and year-end closes and partner with internal teams to resolve discrepancies and improve processes. The role emphasizes journal entries, reconciliations, and collaboration across departments, with a hybrid in-office requirement at Florham Park, NJ.