DescriptionThe Account Planner has extensive experience developing, category sell-through and sell-in forecasts, negotiating stock & sales plans, delivering gross shipments, and managing inventory KPI's. This person manages retailer orders to ensure optimal ordering parameters & inventory in the trade to minimize returns and ensures the right level of WOS in the right SKUS. Works in partnership with Account Lead, that helps develop overall account strategy (e.g., Category Plan and Stock & Sales Plan) also works with retailer partner team to build retailer plans to support sales & inventory projections.
KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
PRE-SEASON PLANNING
- Annual Budgets/Sales Plans/Gross Shipments
- Provide input to Head of Account & Sales Planning as needed for LRP and budgeting process
Seasonal Category Planning
- Prepare and align on upcoming season account category plan that includes detailed plan for basic, launch and holiday business by applying detailed knowledge of account's business and customer, brand strategy for category/SKU analytics
- Provide feedback to Marketing on MFP/Brand Category Strategy
- Attends seasonal planning meeting with retailer to support Account Lead in discussions on account category strategy
- Help inform Account Lead strategy on optimal SKU assortment, focusing on differentiating assortment only in those areas of highest opportunity
- Develop SKU & volume forecasts for seasonal new launches
- Develop SKU & volume forecasts for incremental programs for gondola and other store displays (endcaps, etc.)
- Develop SKU & volume forecast for new door expanded distribution
Seasonal Stock & Sales Plan Development
- Proactively develops seasonal Brand Stock & Sales plan that supports category and inventory targets, including returns
- Negotiates Stock & Sales Plan with retailer seasonally as part of planning and then conducts monthly negotiations in-season
Short DescriptionIN-SEASON MANAGEMENT
Monthly Stock & Sales Plan Management and LE Reporting
- Manage in-season monthly brand stock and sales plans by reviewing previous month actuals, re-projecting plan, and conducting analyses on inventory/sales to drive insights
- Build weekly ship plans for account based on monthly Stock & Sales plan and refresh weekly/monthly
- Discuss re-projected sales and receipt plan with retailer
- Monitor and report on gross shipments to plan to Head of Account & Sales Planning and Account Lead, identifying any risks and opportunities; calls out gaps to seasonal plan and proposes initiatives to close the gaps/further drive sales
- Develop monthly Latest Estimate
Order Processing
- Conduct bi-weekly call with retailer to understand OTB and any constraints
- Monitors orders passed by the retailer; supporting launch and basic to hit retail sales plans by category
- Reviews counter service levels, OOS and fill rates and use as input to order changes
- Ensure that orders reflect correct SKU assortment for accounts / doors
- Update the weekly shipment forecast
- Join appropriate field calls to stay current and anticipate ordering needs based on field activities
Inventory Management
- Manage inventory levels including phase-ins, phase-outs, discos, returns (customer and RTVs), DIFs, testers, inventory adjustments and markdowns, with particular focus on proactively minimizing returns and DIFs
- Recommend/validate opening order for new retailers/stores
Administrative Activities
- Conducts some relevant administrative tasks (e.g., filling out retailer required information for new products)
- Partners with Account Services to ensure that PO Logs and OOS Reports address the highest need areas for the retailer and field; works with Account Services to devise solutions when issues occur
- Set up New Account Openings and closings
Core Competencies:
- Strong financial and analytical acumen; ability to advocate for and develop planning best practices and strong, mutually beneficial collaboration with retailers
- Highly organized and structured
- Planning/Organizing and Dependability - Is highly organized; prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently
- Able to coordinate across roles and functions effectively
- Self-starter. Ability to work independently
- Experience with data manipulation and Excel formulas (Date functions, V-lookup, Pivot Tables, etc.)
- Flexible mindset, with the ability to shift focus, multi-task, and prioritize requirements
QualificationsQUALIFICATIONS
• College degree required
• 5-6 years of experience with 3-5 years specifically in financial planning or working with stock & sales plans
• Strong math and analytical skills
• Strong ability to structure, analyze and manipulate large amount of data in excel quickly (e.g., pivot tables, vlookup, data cleaning, etc.)
• Ability to review and analyze Stock & Sales Plan; knowledge of inventory models and KPIs (turn, WOS) and retail supply chain
• Strong financial and analytical acumen; ability to advocate for and develop planning best practices and strong, mutually beneficial collaboration with retailers
• Strong business savvy and knowledge; ability to use analytics to convince others of financially sound options for the Account that will maximize sales and minimize returns
• Highly organized and structured
