As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.
Established in 1920, the University of Washington Press (UW Press) supports the university's research, education, and outreach missions by publishing important new work for an international community of scholars, students, and intellectually curious readers. As one of the largest book publishers in the Pacific Northwest, the press also offers a broad range of trade books for general readers, often developed in partnership with museums, cultural organizations, and local indigenous communities.
The press is currently expanding its 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.
UW Press has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Finance and Operations.
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 provider, Hopkins Fulfillment Services (HFS). This position supervises a Business Manager, a part-time Contracts and Rights 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 Planning and Budgeting, Procurement, Facilities, Human Resources, and IT support. 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.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Accounting management.
•Prepares, reviews, and approves press invoices, purchasing, reimbursements, and journal entries. •Prepares, reviews, corrects, and reconciles press royalties, rights and permissions, and monies owed to authors and distribution partners. •Provides monthly sales and inventory reports to distribution partners. •Prepares reports from sales channels such as Amazon, Google, etc. for forwarding to HFS; enters all cash received in press internal accounting system. •Oversees reconciliation of press accounting system with university financial system and provides accrual-to-cash conversion upon request. •Serves as backup for reconciling press Procards.
Order fulfillment, distribution, inventory management.
•With the Marketing and Sales Director, manages relationship with outsourced fulfillment and distribution provider, Hopkins Fulfillment Services, including liaison with Allbooks, HFS’s title management system. •Monitors sales, shipping and receiving, reporting, and manages relationships with UW Press distribution clients. •Manages inventory, updating expected receipt dates with HFS on behalf of the press; monitors stock levels and creates reprint proposals; analyzes obsolete inventory for candidates to remainder or pulp; implements press writedown policy and recommends special cases for writedown.
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 proposals 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 title subsidies and private gifts and ensures that all subvention funds are allocated appropriately. •Together with the 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, sets up and audits distribution of assets, forwards revenue reports for processing by HFS and booking income.
Reporting •Prepares various quarterly and annual reports as required for the Association of American University Presses. •Coordinates end-of-fiscal-year reporting for UW Press.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
•Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or related field. •4-5 years of experience in budgeting, accounting, financial management, and financial planning, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
•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 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.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE
•Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Certified Public Accountant (CPA). •Accounting experience in a publishing environment. •Experience with QuickBooks and Filemaker (Allbooks) a plus.
Application Process: The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest public institutions in the west coast and one of the preeminent research universities in the world. The University of Washington is a multi-campus university comprised of three different campuses: Seattle, Tacoma, and Bothell. The Seattle campus is made up of sixteen schools and colleges that serve students ranging from an undergraduate level to a doctoral level. The university is home to world-class libraries, arts, music, drama, and sports, as well as the highest quality medical care in Washington State and a world-class academic medical center. The teaching and research of the University’s many professional schools provide undergraduate and graduate students the education necessary toward achieving an excellence that will serve the state, the region, and the nation. As part of a large and diverse community, the University of Washington serves more students than any other institution in the Northwest.
