Job Description

Position Overview

The Senior Business Planner serves as a strategic partner responsible for driving financial planning and performance for a key account or category. This role ensures alignment of financial objectives by collaborating closely with Sales, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, and retail partners. The position involves leading reporting, forecasting, and analysis of sales, margins, and inventory, while mentoring junior team members.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Goal Alignment

• Develop and present comprehensive financial plans covering sales, margin, inventory, and gross-to-net, ensuring alignment with cross-functional leadership.
• Lead pre-season planning for replenishment, key items, and assortment strategies in partnership with Merchandising and Sales.
• Act as the primary planning expert for assigned accounts, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.

Financial Analysis & Performance Management

• Conduct weekly analysis of selling reports to identify trends and variances; recommend pricing, open-to-buy, and inventory flow adjustments.
• Perform advanced business analysis to uncover growth opportunities and optimize profitability.
• Design inventory sell-off strategies to maximize internal sales and minimize margin erosion.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Deliver quarterly business reviews with actionable insights on category performance and forward-looking strategies.
• Mentor junior planners on best practices in financial modeling and retail planning.
• Collaborate with Demand Planning and Sales to refine forecasts and assortment recommendations.

Systems & Reporting

• Manage ad hoc analyses to support executive decision-making.
• Drive improvements in planning systems and reporting tools.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in merchandise or financial planning within retail or a highly analytical business role.
• Advanced proficiency in retail math, open-to-buy management, and Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, complex formulas).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for influencing decisions internally and externally.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing financial plans for major retail accounts (department stores or large e-commerce).
• Expertise in advanced planning systems (e.g., Anaplan, Business Objects).
• Familiarity with gross-to-net planning and prior mentorship experience.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a proactive, adaptable mindset.
• Highly organized and resourceful, with strong interpersonal skills for building effective partnerships.

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