Manager, Operations & Retail Finance

This is a hybrid role based in Los Angeles, CA or Costa Mesa, CA We are a lean, nimble, and highly adaptive team that works seamlessly and transparently with our Brands in order for them to take the spotlight. We focus our efforts and talents to drive best practices, capture new opportunities, and accelerate performance across our portfolio of brands. Joining the a.k.a. Brands team means rolling up your sleeves, digging into challenges, creating and implementing new strategies, and not being limited to the confines of a job title or job description. About the Role a.k.a. Brands is a portfolio of next-generation fashion brands — Princess Polly, Culture Kings, Petal & Pup, and mnml — operating across the US, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. This is a portfolio-wide role, not a single-brand role. You will be the financial owner of the shared operating cost pools that sit behind every brand — freight, distribution centers and 3PLs, fulfillment, returns, store labor, and retail operating expenses — and the single finance counterpart to our centralized Operations team. These costs are driven by orders, units, parcels, freight mode, carrier rates, warehouse productivity, labor hours, and return rates, not by run-rate trends. You will build the driver-based models that connect those operating metrics to financial outcomes. You will also sit at the center of the portfolio's planning and reporting rhythm — consolidating brand forecasts, running the budget and forecast calendar, and supporting the Director of FP&A on management and Board reporting. The processes and models do not exist yet in their target state; you will build them. Responsibilities Operations Finance — 35% Own the budget, forecast, and long-range plan for freight and parcel, distribution centers and 3PLs, fulfillment, and returns across the portfolio Build driver-based models that decompose variance into volume, rate, mix, and productivity Serve as the primary finance partner to the centralized Operations team; build and track the financial case for carrier, 3PL, automation, and network decisions Establish cost-to-serve views by brand, channel, and geography — cost per order, per unit, per return Consolidation, Planning & Reporting — 35% Consolidate brand forecasts into the portfolio view and reconcile brand submissions to the consolidated outlook Organize and run the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecast cycles across all brands, including calendar, templates, and guidance Support the Director of FP&A on monthly and quarterly management reporting and Board materials Maintain planning standards, KPI definitions, and Planful templates so brand submissions are consistent and comparable Retail & Store Finance — 20% Own the centralized store-level retail forecast model and the automated store-labor reporting Forecast store labor and retail operating expenses, including new store openings and comparable store performance Build new store pro formas and assess payback, and review post-opening performance against underwriting Special Projects — 10% Support one-off strategic work, including assessment of new business opportunities, market or channel expansion, and diligence support Ad hoc analysis for the CFO and VP, Strategic Finance Education and Experience Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field 6–10 years of experience in FP&A, operations finance, or a comparable analytical finance role Experience preferably in consumer goods, retail, e-commerce, or another inventory-related industry Experience consolidating multi-entity or multi-brand forecasts and supporting management and Board reporting Demonstrated history of building long-term value within organizations, rather than frequently transitioning between roles and companies Knowledge & Skills Advanced Excel and financial modeling, with genuine fluency in driver-based modeling Practical experience using AI tools to automate recurring analysis, reporting, and reconciliation work, and to build repeatable finance workflows Proficiency with NetSuite, Planful, Tableau, or Power BI highly desired; SQL a plus Comfort working directly with operational data — order, shipment, warehouse, and labor data Excellent communication skills, with the credibility to challenge senior operations and brand leaders constructively High agency, adaptable, growth-oriented, and driven to continuously improve Hybrid Role (in office 3 days per week) Benefits of Working at a.k.a. Brands Competitive market-based compensation and financial incentives A full range of company-sponsored health and welfare benefits A sector leading 401(k) retirement program that matches 100% of your contributions up 5% of your pay Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 15% discount Learning, development, and stretch opportunities to help grow your career Equal Employment Opportunity Statement a.k.a. Brands is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and welcoming workplace. To facilitate this, we actively promote a culture of inclusivity internally and encourage both those with non-traditional backgrounds and candidates that identify as part of a traditionally marginalized community to apply for opportunities with us and our portfolio of brands. Additionally, we routinely review our hiring practices and recruiting sources to eliminate both potential and actual bias in the hiring process. If you need assistance or accommodation during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us at the accommodations address listed on our careers site. CCPA Notice at Collection for California Employees and Applicants — see link on the careers site. #J-18808-Ljbffr