Merchandise Financial Planning - SME

Role Summary:

Merchandise Financial Planning subject matter expert for merchandise financial planning across multiple categories or a full division. They set planning strategy, own the financial outcomes, and are the go-to person on planning methods, systems, and best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead strategic financial planning – Build and own long-range, annual, and seasonal plans for sales, gross margin, inventory turn, and receipts across divisions. Turn company strategy into financial targets the business can act on.

2. Act as planning SME – Define and standardize planning methods, calendars, and governance. Serve as the expert resource for planning questions across merchandising, finance, and supply chain.

3. Drive inventory and OTB strategy – Oversee open-to-buy at the division level. Set inventory investment and flow strategies that improve turn, reduce aged inventory, and support key selling periods.

4. Own forecasting accuracy and in-season decisions – Lead weekly and monthly reforecasting. Build scenario and risk models, and give senior leadership clear recommendations on chase, cut, and promotional decisions.

5. Advise leadership – Present business reviews, plan proposals, and performance insights. Influence category strategy, pricing, and assortment investment with data-backed recommendations.

6. Champion planning systems and analytics – Lead requirements, implementation, and improvement of planning tools such as Toolio, Invent.ai, Anaplan, Oracle RPAS/RDF, Blue Yonder, or o9. Use AI-driven forecasting and inventory optimization to improve accuracy.