Director of Finance and Operations

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The University of Washington Press has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Finance and Operations. About this opportunity The University of Washington Press is the oldest and largest publisher of scholarly and general-interest books in the Pacific Northwest. We publish compelling and transformative work with regional, national, and global impact. We are committed to the idea of scholarship as a public good and work collaboratively with our authors to produce books that meet the highest editorial and design standards. We value and promote equity, justice, and inclusion in all our work. The press is continuing to expand its dynamic and award-winning publishing program and, with this growth, is eager to bring in new ideas, new enthusiasm, and the opportunity to work collaboratively with a terrific team of publishing professionals. Based in Seattle, the press is part of a vibrant book culture, with independent bookstores, museums, libraries, and book supporters throughout the city and region. The Director of Finance and Operations (DFO) directs and manages the financial and business operations of the UW Press. Primary duties include developing and maintaining internal accounting and financial reporting functions, producing annual and monthly financial statements, developing the annual budget, and performing financial and sales analysis. The DFO also shares responsibility for managing the relationship with the press's outsourced fulfillment and distribution providers, including Hopkins Fulfillment Services, the University of Toronto Press, and Liverpool Distribution Services. This position supervises a Business Manager and UW student employees. The DFO and business/accounting office staff are responsible for the timely and accurate processing of all financial transactions and for working closely with several University of Washington departments, including the Office of Finance, Planning, and Budgeting, UW Central Shared Environment, Procurement, Facilities, Human Resources, and IT. A member of the press's management team, the DFO assists the director and departmental managers with strategic planning and business development by analyzing major financial and business trends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business or Accounting or related
4-5 years of experience in budgeting, accounting, financial management, and financial planning, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.
Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Proven ability to develop and establish positive and productive business relationships and work collaboratively with colleagues and all external partners, vendors, and customers.
Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and effectively both in writing and verbally; sensitivity to language relating to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and ability/disability.
Proficiency with databases, accounting software, spreadsheets, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Experience with Workday Financial and Quickbooks accounting.
Accounting experience in a publishing environment.

Responsibilities

Accounting management. Prepares, reviews, and approves press invoices, purchasing, reimbursements, and journal entries. Prepares, reviews, corrects, and reconciles press royalties, and monies owed to authors and distribution partners. In conjunction with Rights Manager, tracks accounts for, and applies all subsidiary rights income. Reconciles Workday Financial system with internal Quickbooks accounting system. Oversees Accounts Receivable and cash application in multiple systems. Reconciles Accounts Payable, including miscellaneous payments, supplier invoices, and press Procards (credit cards).
Order fulfillment, distribution, inventory management. With Sales and Marketing Director, manages relationship with outsourced fulfillment and distribution providers, Hopkins Fulfillment Services, the University of Toronto Press, and Liverpool Distribution Services. Collaboratively manages inventory, monitoring stock levels and creating reprint proposals; analyzes obsolete inventory for candidates to remainder or pulp; implements press write-down policy and recommends special cases for write-down. Tracks and reconciles inventory value.
Financial management. Develops the annual forecast and operating budget in conjunction with press director and other press managers; collaboratively develops departmental budgets. Prepares and communicates monthly budget reports and financial statements. Monitors and analyzes financial performance of the press against budget plan. Provides recommendations for revising budgets as needed. Provides financial analysis and advice on projects at critical points and prepares final financial title budgets for books ready for press. Provides other financial and operational analyses to press director and management team, as needed.
Accounting/business office management. Supervises, trains, and evaluates accounting/business staff and student employees. Identifies and prioritizes assignments to ensure deadlines are met and reviews work for accuracy and compliance with press and university requirements. Areas of financial responsibility for the accounting/business office include: sales accounting, accounts receivable, royalties, inventory management, accounts payable, payroll, purchasing, contract administration, office records retention and archiving, facilities, IT, and local HR functions.
Strategic management and business development. Partners with press director on financial, operational, and strategic issues; provides advice based on financial analysis and projections. Participates in strategic planning and goal setting as a member of the press's management team. Provides recommendations for enhancing financial performance and developing new business opportunities.
Grants, title subsidies, gifts, and endowments Provides budget information and financial reporting for major grants; tracks private gifts and ensures that all subvention funds are allocated and released appropriately. Together with the Press Director and Grants and Digital Projects Manager, determines quarterly recognition of title subsidy income and follows through with booking that income along with endowment income.
Manages press e-book and aggregator relationships. Negotiates contracts and reviews revenue reports for processing by HFS and ensures that income is booked correctly.
Reporting Prepares various quarterly and annual reports for the Association of University Presses (AUPresses). Coordinates quarterly and end-of-fiscal-year reporting for UW Press and provides regular reports to UW Office of Finance, Planning, and Budgeting.