Finance Manager - Cost Optimization

This position is based at our headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. Our corporate office is a space where you can collaborate and do your best work. Take a walk, grab a bite (or a cup of coffee), work out or get a check-up – we invest in you so you can find your inspiration.

This position plays a key role in supporting the company’s efforts to manage product costs, protect margin, and identify cost reduction opportunities across the business. This position partners closely with Merchandising, Finance, Sourcing, and other cross‑functional teams to evaluate supplier cost changes, analyze cost drivers, develop fact‑based recommendations, and support supplier negotiation strategies. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of retail merchandising and financial principles, with demonstrated expertise in data analysis and financial modeling.

This role requires the ability to translate large and complex data sets into actionable business insights and clearly communicate those insights to both financial and non‑financial partners. While prior experience with supplier negotiations, commodity markets, tariffs, and international trade is beneficial, these capabilities can be developed within the role. A strong foundation in retail merchandising, analytical problem solving, financial modeling, and cross‑functional partnership is critical.

• Develops detailed financial analyses and cost models to evaluate supplier cost change requests, commodity impacts, tariffs, and other cost drivers; identifies opportunities to reduce costs, improve margins, and mitigate financial risk.
• Partners with Merchandising teams to assess supplier cost proposals, provide data‑driven recommendations, and support fact‑based negotiation strategies that balance product cost, pricing, margin, inventory, and profitability objectives.
• Analyzes supplier cost requests and supporting documentation by evaluating underlying cost drivers, benchmarking market conditions, and identifying opportunities to challenge, mitigate, delay, or offset proposed increases.
• Monitors commodity markets, tariffs, freight, labor costs, economic indicators, and other external factors that impact product costs; develops insights and mitigation strategies to address emerging risks and opportunities.
• Supports cost reduction and supplier negotiation initiatives by conducting financial analysis, validating savings opportunities, developing negotiation materials, and measuring realized financial benefits.
• Facilitates forecasting, planning, and reporting activities related to product costs, supplier cost changes, savings initiatives, and overall cost management performance.
• Communicates financial and market intelligence to business partners and leadership by preparing analyses, presentations, and recommendations that translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.
• Maintains reporting and tracking of supplier cost actions, negotiation outcomes, cost reduction initiatives, savings realization, and key performance metrics.
• Collaborates cross‑functionally with Merchandising, Finance, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Pricing, and other partners to evaluate cost opportunities, improve profitability, and support strategic business objectives.
• Completes work assignments by leveraging financial, analytical, and market expertise; identifying process improvement opportunities; enhancing reporting capabilities; and supporting the adoption of cost management tools and best practices.
• Balances multiple projects and priorities in a fast‑paced retail environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and customer‑focused partnership.

• Experience…