Senior Financial Analyst-Merchandise Finance Planning & Analysis

Position Overview :   Works with the department Manager and Director in assisting with the financial planning, forecasting, analysis and financial control assessment activities as they relate to the Merchant/purchasing organization.  This includes assisting with certain aspects of the seasonal and one-year merchant financial plans along with weekly financial forecasting of sales and margin activities to include IMU, price changes, promotional spending and associated vendor coverage and inventory analysis and forecasts.  Serves as the primary financial resource to a Divisional Vice President within the Merchant Organization and their buying team.  Communicates and partners with the respective Divisional Vice President, Director of Merchandise Planning and Allocation and the Director of Merchandise Analysis to provide financial results and identify significant variances and trends and works to coordinates action plans accordingly. Reviews and advises on recurring merchant divisional based management reports and analyses the financial results of the merchant division(s).



Knowledge and Experience:

?  Bachelor?s degree in finance or accounting. MBA preferred

?  5+ years of related forecasting and analysis experience; retail business analysis or product line analysis experience a plus

?  Solid understanding of retail buying, merchandising and retail inventory basic are required.

?  Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills

?  Ability to communicate and negotiate with all levels of the organization

?  Superior analytical skills

?  Ability to plan and coordinate multiple projects with varying deadlines

?  Strong knowledge of application software and databases (including but not limited to: spreadsheet, database, and graphics).  Experience with Microsoft Access is required.

?  Ability to work change direction and multi task.

 

Principle Accountabilities:

 

?  Financial analysis activities involving detailed forecasting and analysis of all major margin activities for assigned division or worlds for update into the company financial reporting process. 

?  Participation in the seasonal and annual merchant planning process to include specific margin accounts and the development and support of required tools.

?  Produce required executive level reports utilizing operating performance measures and metrics to analyze business performance as it relates to world/divisional results, promotional spending, overall department/divisional net margins, vendor performance, inventory levels, etc.

?  Forecast, track and provide analysis for merchant allowance collections. Evaluate vendor allowance deals, participate and/or support vendor negotiations as needed.

?  Forecast margin on sales (IMU) and other margin transactions and research variances.

?  Forecast, track and provide analysis on merchant coupon/tpr spend.

?  Identify variances from budget to actual and other key business trends, benchmarks and statistics as it relates to Department/Divisional Sales, Initial Markup and other components of Product Margin; as well as overall World/Divisional profitability.

?  Attend key merchant meetings. Partner with Buyers and V.P.?s to develop Action Plans aimed at achieving financial targets. Continually provide financial insights/analysis that will drive actions that improve financial performance

?  Partner with Accounts Payable, Internal Audit and other control related areas of the organization to assess financial risks associated with the merchant organization and perform duties that will drive resolution to vendor debit balances, vendor disputes and better cash flow controls.

?  Proficiency and analysis using merchant financial planning and business forecasting models. Assist in the development of new Merchant planning tools as part of the Merchandise Transformation effort.

?  Remain current with technology to ensure that the data and reports are being compiled in the most efficient and cost effective manner.

 

Nature and Scope

 

The position reports to the Director of f Merchandise Analysis for two major merchandising divisions.  It has an indirect reporting relationship with the respective Managers within the team.

 

The incumbent is responsible for the working with the planning team to produce unified financial plans and business forecasting models from a divisional-based perspective as it relates to components of Merchandise Margin.

 

Serve as primary financial resources in developing divisional-based financial analyses, special vendor deal analyses, and vendor based financial performance and overall P&L management by the buyers and V.P?s.

 

This position has contact with other departments as well as the management and executive team within the merchant organization.  The incumbent must work well with all levels of management as he/she will need their assistance/input for the successful rollout of new programs.

 

The position provides supervisory support and the incumbent is responsible for the guidance and development of staff level associates.  The incumbent is to insure that the appropriate responsibilities are delegated to his/her staff and that the tasks are completed in an efficient manner maximizing the use of automation.

 

Particularly during the peak selling season, this position is under pressure due to quick turnaround of reports and a need to have a good understanding of trends that the business is facing during this critical period.  The incumbent must be a quick study and handle random events.

 

MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE RETAIL SECTOR.

 

To apply for this position, please email cover letter & resume to