Merchandise Financial Manager Senior - Kensington at Pick n Pay Stores Limited

• Lead the team of Merchandise Financial Managers in compiling, tracking and advising on the financial KPIs of the Commercial division. To deliver on identified ad-hoc projects and reports.

Minimum requirements

• Relevant Financial Degree/Diploma
• 5 years finance experience in Merchandise planning, preferably within retailor FMCG environment

Competencies

• Strong understanding of Merchandise strategy processes
• In-depth knowledge of Merchandise planning processes and systems  
• Good communication skills across levels
• Good presentation skills
• Ability to collaborate with cross functional teams with diverse skills and knowledge
• Ability to develop a strategy and execution plan
• Ability to articulate business needs across business units in order to deliver plans
• Deadline oriented
• Good numerical skills
• Analytical

Key responsibilities

• Support and guide the Merchandise Financial Managers on the financial analysis of their respective categories.
• Coordinate and track certain buyers’ initiatives that affect the performance of the division – for example Budgets, negotiation packs etc.
• Coordinate the analysis requests from the Divisional Heads.
• Ensure accurate and timeous reporting to the business.
• Track the development and execution of category-specific growth strategies that meet or exceed company and department expectations.
• Make specific recommendations for developing strategic initiatives based on analytical findings.
• Rely on analytical findings to make recommendations for identifying merchandising opportunities.
• Proactively evaluate merchandising plans throughout implementation to determine fit with organizational goals; modifies plans as needed to maximize goal attainment.
• Develop and implement reports that help improve performance, quality, work efficiency and/or reduce costs for category team(s); identifies cross-functional process improvements impacting category team(s); recommends improvements to Merchandising leadership.
• Prepare post trading history pack to support drafting of various divisional strategies.
• Provide expert input into budget forecast for specified period and present to Divisional Heads to ensure budget reflects divisional strategy and targets.  Monitor, review and amend budget in discussion with Divisional Heads down to a category level in order to track category KPI’s within the Merchandise Division.
• Conduct financial reviews of pilots and new initiatives and provide the Divisional Heads with comprehensive financial data to inform decisions made.
• Understand key data and information sources, and the strengths and challenges inherent in each source, selecting those most appropriate for given analyses and business purposes.
• Plan and use a systematic and thorough approach to analyzing information/data in order to explore specific issues and draw accurate and useful conclusion.
• Design and execute analytical methods and tools to assess the impact of business strategies and tactics; guides others in performing appropriate analyses to address issues.
• Communicate the results of complex analyses to diverse audiences and develops methods to ensure understanding of trends and business impact.
• Translate available information, data and findings into specific, actionable recommendations that add value to business planning.
• Understand negotiating position, key drivers, and desired outcomes; develops and presents factual, rational, and compelling arguments to build support and gain commitment from other parties; understands when to engage in counter-negotiations to reach win-win outcomes.
• Manage and resolve disagreements using diplomacy and ensuring a mutually satisfactory solution is reached; mitigates disagreements by proactively anticipating objections and adjusting negotiating approach to minimize resistance
• Adhere to and coach others in understanding company policies, procedures, values, and governing laws of retailer-supplier relationships, including managing risk through due diligence; escalates complex legal and/or regulatory issues, and seeks guidance from appropriate resources as necessary
• Compile financial input for negotiation packs, participate in negotiation workshops and verify trading terms.