Barnes & Noble is the leading book retailer in the United States, with roots dating back to 1873 and a long history of growth through innovation and expansion. Today, under CEO James Daunt and private ownership by Elliott Advisors, Barnes & Noble operates approximately 700 bookstores nationwide, serves over 700 communities across all 50 states, and maintains a robust digital presence through BN.com, NOOK® eBooks and audiobooks, and educational resources such as SparkNotes. The company also includes complementary retail brands such as Paper Source, Books Inc., Tattered Cover, and B. Dalton, further strengthening its market reach. Following a period of revitalization, Barnes & Noble is experiencing strong momentum, with plans to open approximately 60 new stores in 2026, underscoring renewed confidence in physical retail and local bookselling. Combining expansive store networks, curated selections, enhanced in-store experiences, and growing omnichannel capabilities, Barnes & Noble remains the #1 bookseller in the U.S. and a trusted, evolving partner within the publishing and retail ecosystem.
You’ll be a key member of the Internal Audit leadership team, responsible for managing end-to-end execution of complex, high-risk audits across B&N's financial, operational, & compliance domains. This role supervises a team of audit managers and auditors, drives quality & consistency of audit work, serving as a subject matter expert & trusted business advisor. You’ll play a critical role in shaping the department's methodologies, tools, & talent pipeline.
Ideally, individual in this position is commutable to either our Westbury, NY or Union Square, NY office.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead planning for assigned audits, including risk assessment, scoping, resource allocation, & timeline development.
- Translate the annual audit plan into detailed project plans with clear milestones, deliverables, & touchpoints.
- Identify & assess key risks & controls during planning phase to ensure audit procedures are appropriately focused.
- Coordinate with business process owners & IT to schedule audit activities with minimal operational disruption.
- Assist in refining annual audit plan based on emerging risks & business developments.
- Manage concurrent audits, ensuring work is on time, within budget, & in accordance with IIA Standards & department methodology.
- Review workpapers, test documentation, & audit evidence; provide constructive & timely feedback.
- Identify root causes of control deficiencies & develop practical, risk-ranked findings & recommendations.
- Draft/edit audit reports, ensuring findings are clear, properly supported, & appropriately positioned for audience.
- Conduct/oversee follow-up procedures verifying management action plans have been effectively implemented.
- Build/maintain effective relationships with cross-functional sr. management across.
- Lead opening/closing audit meetings, including presentation of findings & negotiation of management responses.
- Serve as an advisor to business unit leaders on internal control design, process improvement, & risk mitigation strategies.
- Escalate significant findings & emerging risks.
- Supervise team; providing day-to-day coaching & guidance.
- Conduct performance evaluations & contribute to compensation & promotion recommendations.
- Identify training needs & coordinate relevant professional development opportunities.
- Mentor junior staff on audit methodology, professional conduct, & career development.
- Support recruiting efforts by participating in interviews & onboarding.
- Oversee assigned segments of SOX 404 testing program, including walkthroughs, control testing, & documentation.
- Coordinate with external auditors during integrated audits & SOX reliance testing.
- Monitor regulatory changes relevant to retail operations & assess implications for the audit plan.
- Support fraud risk assessment processes & participate in investigations as directed.
- Lead strategic audit coverage of B&N’s retail store network, with oversight of key operational risk areas including cash handling, loss prevention, inventory shrink, & store-level compliance.
- Direct audits of critical store processes, including opening & closing procedures, cash and deposit reconciliations, gift card administration, & returns processing.
- Partner cross-functionally with leadership to align audit insights with broader enterprise risk mitigation & operational improvement.
- Oversee audits of end-to-end inventory management processes, including receiving, cycle counts, physical inventories, shrink analysis, write-offs, & inventory accuracy controls.
- Evaluate controls over vendor invoicing, purchase order matching, merchandise receipt validation, & inventory reconciliation activities across retail stores & distribution centers.
- Assess the effectiveness of inventory valuation, pricing, markdown, obsolescence, & returns-related controls to support financial accuracy & operational integrity.
- Review supply chain and logistics controls related to inbound freight, third-party carrier management, & distribution center operations to identify operational & financial risks.
- Evaluate accuracy & completeness of lease accounting processes under ASC 842, including right-of-use (ROU) asset & lease liability calculations & related financial reporting controls.
- Assess effectiveness of controls within lease administration lifecycle, including lease execution, renewals, amendments, and terminations, to ensure proper authorization, compliance, & reporting .
- Collaborate with leadership to identify & mitigate lease compliance & contractual risk exposure.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master's degree a plus.
- 8+ years of internal or external audit experience, with 3+ years managing audit teams or projects.
- CPA or CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) required.
- Strong working knowledge of COSO, IIA Standards, SOX, and risk-based audit methodologies.
- Demonstrated experience leading audits in a retail, consumer goods, or multi-site environment.
- Working familiarity with key retail technology platforms (ERP, POS, inventory management systems) sufficient to assess business process risks.
- Big Four or public accounting experience (i.e., audit/advisory experience with progressive leadership responsibility.
- Proficiency with data analytics tools and audit management software.
- Excellent communication skills - written and verbal - with experience presenting to senior management.
Preferred
- Familiarity with inventory management, supply chain, and retail leasing processes.
- Experience with GRC platforms (AuditBoard, ServiceNow, or equivalent).
Key Competencies
- Project & Time Management
- Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving
- Leadership & Coaching
- Business Acumen
- Communication & Presentation
- Attention to Detail
- Collaborative Influence
Benefits for those who are scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week include Employee Discount, EAP and Sick Pay. For those scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 benefits include Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, Transit and 401(k) with Company Match. For those scheduled to work 30 hours or more benefits include Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay and Paid Time Off including paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Company Paid Holidays, 401(k) with Company Match, Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and Tuition Reimbursement. All benefits provided are in accordance with the terms of the current plan and may be subject to future change. Benefits may vary depending on location/state regulations. More information can be received by the recruiter or Human Resources.
An employee in this position can expect an annual salary between $145,000 - $165,000 depending on experience, seniority, geographic locations, and other factors permitted by law
