Director of Accounting and Financial Operations

Ave Maria Press offers a mission-driven, collaborative onsite environment in Notre Dame, Indiana, with a balanced workday and comprehensive benefits. In this leadership role, you will direct accounting and financial operations, safeguard financial integrity, and provide strategic oversight across multi-channel publishing activities.

Benefits

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Why join Ave Maria Press

Joining Ave Maria Press means contributing to a faith-driven mission within a supportive, collaborative team. Expect a workplace that values stewardship, professional development, and a culture anchored in integrity and service, all supported by a comprehensive benefits package.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, royalty payments, and the month-end and year-end close processes.
• Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting in line with GAAP and nonprofit standards, with oversight of audits and Form 990 filings.
• Maintain robust internal controls, financial policies, and regulatory compliance across the organization.
• Direct sales tax compliance and strategy, monitor nexus, manage collection and remittance, and implement efficient systems.
• Act as a strategic financial partner to executive leadership, delivering insights to support planning and decision-making.
• Lead development of the annual budget and ongoing forecasts, including scenario planning aligned with publishing schedules and operational priorities.
• Track financial performance and deliver clear reporting, variance analysis, and KPI dashboards for leadership and the board.
• Oversee cash flow, liquidity, and working capital management, including banking relationships and evaluating financial tools and partners.
• Manage accounting for publishing operations, including inventory, cost of goods sold, print production, and product returns.
• Ensure accurate accounting for multi-channel revenue streams such as direct-to-consumer ecommerce, Amazon, and other platforms and distribution partners.
• Own the royalty accounting function at the departmental level, ensuring precise calculation, accrual, reporting, and payments with strong controls.
• Align sales data, inventory, and financial reporting to provide visibility into title-level performance, margins, and profitability.
• Lead the annual physical inventory process, coordinating cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure accurate counts and timely reconciliation.
• Oversee the administration and optimization of ERP and accounting systems to support financial reporting, inventory management, and order-to-cash processes.
• Drive enhancements to financial systems, workflows, and reporting capabilities, leveraging automation and AI where appropriate.
• Collaborate with IT and senior leadership to ensure systems meet operational needs and support growth.
• Serve as the financial partner to leaders across sales, editorial, production, marketing, and distribution, ensuring alignment between finances and operations.
• Provide financial guidance on new initiatives, product launches, and strategic decisions.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the accounting team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and stewardship.
• Guide the team through modernization and change initiatives, including system implementations and process improvements.
• Establish clear processes, roles, and expectations to support operational efficiency and transparency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience with leadership responsibilities and oversight of full-cycle accounting operations.
• Experience in a product-based or publishing-focused environment is strongly preferred, with familiarity in inventory accounting, COGS, and returns.
• Proven track record managing multi-channel revenue, including direct-to-consumer ecommerce, third-party platforms (eg, Amazon), and wholesale/distribution models.
• Understanding of sales tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions, nexus considerations, and experience with sales tax automation solutions.
• Experience overseeing or collaborating on royalty accounting or similar contract-based revenue sharing models is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to lead financial systems optimization, integrations, or implementations with a focus on reporting accuracy and efficiency.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards, including audits and 990 reporting.
• Experience with cash flow management, forecasting, and banking relationships.
• Proven leadership and people-management skills with a track record of developing teams.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to translate financial data for non-financial stakeholders.

Position details

This is a full-time salaried role based onsite in Notre Dame, Indiana. Expect a 37.5 hour workweek, typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Some travel is required, including occasional weekends.

Location

Notre Dame, Indiana (onsite)

How to apply

To apply, submit your resume and a cover letter to Lisa Hanback at [email protected].

Work authorization

You must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Ave Maria Press does not sponsor employment visas at this time.