Merchandise Financial Planner in City of Westminster

Responsible for leading BRIS merchandise planning and in-season trading. Fully owns the MFP, WSSI & OTB processes to drive profitable growth across territories, channels and product categories.

Acting as a key commercial counterpart to Management, AP and Finance, the role provides clear, action-focused insight on performance, risks and opportunities. The role requires accountability for accurate forecasting, supporting strategic decision-making and ensuring that trading actions are timely, commercially sound and aligned to wider business objectives.

The role requires a strong understanding of promotional mechanics and commercial levers, enabling fast, commercially sound decisions that optimise sales, stock position and margin performance across markets. This role reports to the Head of Merchandising.

Responsibility for the Cluster MFP & OTB, driving out key findings based on performance by territory, channel and product category as well as Management directives. Reviewing consistently in line with trading performance, driving and justifying any proposed reforecasts with Management.

Fully reflects the implications of all KPIs and demonstrates full consideration for changing trading factors (pay weeks, promotions, bank holidays, variances to peak trading times vs LY, seasonality). Thoroughly review WSSI across all KPI's prior to submitting to management to ensure that all necessary actions have been factored in to the reforecast. Provide concise, clear and structured summaries on OTB reviews to management within the agreed deadlines. Ensures that all agreed actions are captured and effectively feed back to management team upon completion of these actions.

Effectively communicate all aspects of trade to Management in a clear and concise manner highlighting key headlines, actions, timeline and outcomes across channels and markets. Demonstrates a strong and consistent collaborative approach with AP.

Consistently and proactively challenges and adapts forecast where appropriate, communicating clearly with Management to highlight the opportunities and risks with timeline/outcome. Consistently provides clear and concise updates to Management, highlighting any stock concerns with actions taken or proposed. Drives market analysis that is action focused, reviewing strategy and collaborating with AP to ensure an optimal range for territory growth.

Drives a more strategic approach to the decision-making process, consistently thinking about the bigger picture and implications of actions on wider business. Takes responsibility for accurate and efficient reporting.

Demonstrate strong understanding of promotional mechanics and the effective use of commercial levers to drive sales performance, manage stock levels and protect margin across channels and markets. Apply insight-led decision making to determine the optimal timing, depth and mechanics of promotions inline with financial plans and trading conditions.

Proactively identify risks and opportunities arising from promotional activity, clearly communicating actions, timelines and expected outcomes to stakeholders. Continuously review promotional performance versus expectations, capturing key learnings to inform future planning and improve ways of working.

Supports HoM with financial and qualitative merchandise plans by channel, driving a collaborative relationship with AP to create a strong and deliverable strategy. Clearly communicates key lessons and growth pillars, demonstrating ownership of identified opportunity/risk by channel and market.

Translate global merchandising strategies to local seasonal financial objectives. Identify local areas of potential and unexplored opportunities to maximise sales, make stock turn efficient and enhance positive margin trends. Shows resilience to strategy changes, developing new analysis and ways of working while supporting the wider team when required.

Demonstrates forward thinking in challenging strategy and processes in support of the wider business. Shows proactive approach to new ways of working, independently considering the wider implications and delivery. Weekly review to monitor merchandise OTB plan vs last estimate financial expectations. Key stakeholder in communicating key dates of promotional plans to Global MFP teams. Collaborate with local finance in the budget setting and reviewing to secure Merchandising's bottom up forecast is considered in the final budget targets.

You're seen as the figure head of your role, respected in the Cluster and Global functions for your work, attitude & commitment.

5 years+ experience in Merchandising and/or Merchandising planning in a multi/omni channel company. Delivery focused with excellent attention to detail and strong drive to resolve issues. Experience and passion for the cluster retail market and a deep understanding of the seasonality and the customer.

Strong communication skills with business stakeholders; Strong team working and collaboration skills. Respects individual's views and positively contributes to a learning environment in which individuals are supported and encouraged to excel. Behaves consistently and with integrity at all times, realising everyone's potential to get the best possible result and live the values.