Senior Manager, Internal Audit

Job Summary

Barnes & Noble is a leading book retailer with a rich history spanning over 150 years. Under CEO James Daunt and private ownership by Elliott Advisors, the company operates approximately 700 bookstores nationwide, serves over 700 communities, and maintains a strong digital presence. With plans to open around 60 new stores in 2026, Barnes & Noble continues to grow and innovate in the retail space.

About the Role

You will lead the Internal Audit team, overseeing complex, high-risk audits across various domains including financial, operational, and compliance. This role involves managing audit teams, driving quality, and providing strategic direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning for assigned audits, including risk assessment, scoping, resource allocation, and timeline development.
• Translate the annual audit plan into detailed project plans with clear milestones, deliverables, and touchpoints.
• Identify and assess key risks and controls during planning phase to ensure audit procedures are appropriately focused.
• Coordinate with business process owners and IT to schedule audit activities with minimal operational disruption.
• Assist in refining the annual audit plan based on emerging risks and business developments.
• Manage concurrent audits, ensuring work is on time, within budget, and in accordance with IIA Standards and department methodology.
• Review workpapers, test documentation, and audit evidence; provide constructive and timely feedback.
• Identify root causes of control deficiencies and develop practical, risk-ranked findings and recommendations.
• Draft/edit audit reports, ensuring findings are clear, properly supported, and appropriately positioned for audience.
• Conduct/follow up on follow-up procedures verifying management action plans have been effectively implemented.
• Build/maintain effective relationships with cross-functional senior management across the organization.
• Lead opening/closing audit meetings, including presentations of findings and negotiations of management responses.
• Serve as an advisor to business unit leaders on internal control design, process improvement, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Escalate significant findings and emerging risks.
• Supervise team; providing day-to-day coaching and guidance.
• Conduct performance evaluations and contribute to compensation and promotion recommendations.
• Identify training needs and coordinate relevant professional development opportunities.
• Mentor junior staff on audit methodology, professional conduct, and career development.
• Support recruiting efforts by participating in interviews and onboarding.
• Oversee assigned segments of SOX 404 testing program, including walkthroughs, control testing, and documentation.
• Coordinate with external auditors during integrated audits and SOX reliance testing.
• Monitor regulatory changes relevant to retail operations and assess their implications for the audit plan.
• Support fraud risk assessment processes and 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, and store-level compliance.
• Direct audits of critical store processes, including opening and closing procedures, cash and deposit reconciliations, gift card administration, and returns processing.
• Partner cross-functionally with leadership to align audit insights with broader enterprise risk mitigation and operational improvement.
• Oversee audits of end-to-end inventory management processes, including receiving, cycle counts, physical inventories, shrink analysis, write-offs, and inventory accuracy controls.
• Evaluate controls over vendor invoicing, purchase order matching, merchandise receipt validation, and inventory reconciliation activities across retail stores and distribution centers.
• Assess the effectiveness of inventory valuation, pricing, markdown, obsolescence, and returns-related controls to support financial accuracy and operational integrity.
• Review supply chain and logistics controls related to inbound freight, third-party carrier management, and distribution center operations to identify operational and financial risks.
• Evaluate accuracy and completeness of lease accounting processes under ASC 842, including right-of-use (ROU) asset and lease liability calculations and related financial reporting controls.
• Assess the effectiveness of controls within lease administration lifecycle, including lease execution, renewals, amendments, and terminations, to ensure proper authorization, compliance, and reporting.
• Collaborate with leadership to identify and mitigate lease compliance and contractual risk exposure.

Qualifications

• 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.

Benefits

• Employee Discount
• EAP and Sick Pay
• 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.
• Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
• Healthcare Spending Account
• Disability Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Transit
• Tuition Reimbursement