Senior Finance Manager, Global Merchandising [AQ-11014]

Aquent is partnering with a prominent global retailer in the beauty sector, a company renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences worldwide. This organization is a leader in its field, constantly pushing boundaries to shape the future of the beauty industry. We are seeking a highly analytical and strategic finance professional for a pivotal role that will directly influence global financial operations. This position offers a unique opportunity to drive significant impact by shaping financial strategy, optimizing resource allocation, and providing critical insights to senior leadership across global merchandising initiatives. You will play a crucial role in enhancing financial visibility, strengthening controls, and optimizing funding, directly contributing to the strategic decision-making and operational excellence of a fast-paced global retail environment. If you thrive in a dynamic, cross-functional setting and are passionate about blending financial acumen with strategic business partnership, this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

Global Budget Planning & Financial Management

• Lead financial planning, tracking, and reporting for global merchandising brand incubation budgets and global merchandising operating expenses.
• Track spend across countries and regions, partnering closely with regional stakeholders to review actuals, resolve issues, and align on forecast assumptions.
• Manage comprehensive forecasting cycles, including annual budgets, bi-annual forecasts, monthly forecasts, and year-end financial landing processes.
• Deliver executive-ready reporting, dashboards, and financial updates for senior leadership, ensuring strong executive visibility through clear, strategic financial storytelling.
• Support invoicing, accruals, funding alignment, and budget tracking activities across global merchandising initiatives.

Financial Reporting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Prepare and distribute monthly reporting packages, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis for global merchandising leadership.
• Analyze financial trends, risks, and opportunities, providing actionable recommendations to business stakeholders. Proactively identify financial risks, opportunities, and funding needs.
• Support multi-currency planning and reporting, including foreign exchange conversions and comparable year-over-year analysis.
• Conduct ad hoc financial analysis, scenario modeling, and business performance evaluations to support strategic decision-making.
• Translate complex financial data into concise business insights and executive-level storytelling.

Cross-Functional Business Partnership

• Partner closely with Finance, Merchandising, Marketing, and regional/global business teams to support strategic financial decision-making.
• Build strong relationships across cross-functional teams to align financial priorities, forecasts, and operational goals.
• Maintain a strong understanding of global merchandising strategies, initiatives, and calendar milestones to proactively anticipate funding and reporting needs.
• Influence stakeholders and drive alignment across highly matrixed global organizations, fostering strong cross-functional relationships and business partnership.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Evaluate and optimize existing financial processes, reporting tools, and workflows.
• Implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, transparency, controls, and reporting accuracy. This includes driving improved operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and process controls.
• Drive automation, standardization, and documentation initiatives that reduce manual effort and improve scalability.
• Support continuous improvement efforts across financial planning and operational reporting processes, leading to scalable reporting and planning processes that improve speed, transparency, and decision-making.

Qualifications

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• 5–10+ years of progressive FP&A, Finance, or Strategic Finance experience.
• Proven ownership of end-to-end budget management, including forecasting, variance analysis, and financial close activities.
• Strong experience supporting executive-level reporting and business partnership initiatives.
• Experience managing multi-currency reporting and foreign exchange (FX) analysis.
• Advanced Excel expertise, including pivots, formulas, and financial modeling.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
• Comfortable working across global time zones and supporting international business partners.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• MBA strongly preferred.
• Experience in retail, merchandising, consumer products, or a global enterprise environment.
• Experience with financial planning and reporting tools.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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