Retail Planning & Analytics - Manager

Job Purpose and Summary

The Manager, Retail Planning & Analytics independently owns complex, high‑impact analytical and operational work streams supporting front‑store merchandising categories. This role is responsible for vendor funding management and financial planning, including execution of vendor funding agreements, forecasting, billing accuracy, and variance management. It serves as a trusted advisor to Category Managers and leadership, delivering accurate, compliant, executive‑ready insights that inform business decisions, identify risks and opportunities, and improve financial outcomes.

This individual‑contributor role exercises manager‑level judgment, autonomy, and influence, leading work across analysts, coordinating deliverables, and supporting talent development while elevating analytical quality, governance, and process improvement, ensuring adherence to financial controls and enterprise standards.

• Financial Planning & Analytics
  • Lead category‑level funding forecasting and P&L support, including funding rate analysis, scenario modeling, and risk assessment.
  • Own development of forecast assumptions and methodologies, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment across stakeholders.
  • Deliver variance analysis and performance insights, identifying key drivers of results, risks, and opportunities.
  • Develop annual funding plans and budgets in partnership with Category Management and Finance.
  • Analyze funding performance, rate changes, vendor gaps, and repayment activity to inform forecast updates and business decisions.
  • Coordinate BU forecast submissions across categories, integrating inputs across analysts into a consolidated outlook.
• Vendor Funding Operations & Execution
  • Own execution of vendor funding agreements, ensuring accurate setup, documentation, and alignment to contractual terms.
  • Ensure timely and accurate billing in partnership with cross‑functional teams.
  • Investigate and resolve discrepancies across agreements, billing activity, and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and completeness of funding activity.
  • Ensure funding activity is compliant with financial controls, audit requirements, and enterprise standards.
  • Coordinate directly with suppliers to support funding execution, resolving disputes, validating deal terms, and ensuring required documentation and approvals.
• Business Partnership & Executive Communication
  • Serve as a key financial partner to Category Managers, providing insights that influence strategy, funding decisions, and category performance.
  • Build strong, trusted relationships across Merchandising, Finance, leadership, and suppliers.
  • Lead analytical support for funding reviews and forecast discussions, delivering insights that inform leadership decisions.
  • Translate complex analysis into clear, executive‑ready narratives with actionable recommendations.
  • Anticipate business needs and proactively deliver insights to guide decision‑making.
• Governance, Compliance & Team Leadership
  • Ensure SOX‑compliant documentation, controls, and audit readiness related to vendor funding agreements and billing activity.
  • Act as an escalation point for complex operational or compliance‑related issues.
  • Provide guidance, coaching, and informal oversight to analysts, helping coordinate work, prioritize deliverables, and maintain high standards of accuracy and execution.
  • Identify and implement improvements to processes, tools, and methodologies that enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business Analytics, Economics, Mathematics, or related field (Required)
• Master’s Degree (MBA, Finance, Analytics, or related discipline) (Preferred)

• 5+ years of experience in retail analytics, finance, FP&A, merchandising, or related field (Required)
• Experience supporting complex retail or financial portfolios (Preferred)

• Demonstrated ability to independently own complex financial and operational work streams.
• Strong understanding of retail merchandising financials, vendor funding, and category P&Ls.
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate data…