Senior Finance Manager, Global Merchandising

Overview

Placement Type:

Temporary

Salary:

$61.33-62.50 Hourly

Start Date:

ASAP

You must be living in SF Bay Area upon applying for roles. All other candidates will be disqualified.

Our beauty client is seeking a highly analytical and strategic Senior Finance Manager / FP&A Lead to support Global Merchandising Finance operations across budget planning, forecasting, reporting, and business partnership initiatives within a fast-paced global retail environment.

This role is ideal for a finance professional who thrives in highly visible, cross-functional environments and enjoys blending financial strategy, operational execution, forecasting, and executive storytelling to drive business performance and organizational decision-making.

The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in ambiguity while partnering across regional and global teams to improve financial visibility, strengthen controls, optimize funding, and drive process improvements across complex global merchandising operations.

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, regions, and brands while partnering closely with regional stakeholders to review actuals, resolve issues, and align on forecast assumptions
• Manage 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
• 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 while providing actionable recommendations to business stakeholders
• Support multi-currency planning and reporting, including FX 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 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

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Evaluate and optimize existing financial processes, reporting tools, and workflows
• Implement process improvements that improve efficiency, transparency, controls, and reporting accuracy
• Drive automation, standardization, and documentation initiatives that reduce manual effort and improve scalability
• Support continuous improvement efforts across financial planning and operational reporting processes

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or related field required
• MBA strongly preferred
• 5-10+ years of progressive FP&A, Finance, or Strategic Finance experience
• Retail, merchandising, consumer products, or global enterprise experience strongly preferred
• 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 FX analysis
• Advanced Excel expertise including pivots, formulas, and financial modeling
• Experience with Smartsheet, SharePoint, and Copilot preferred
• 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

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and timely budget planning, forecasting, and financial reporting
• Strong executive visibility through clear, strategic financial storytelling
• Improved operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, and process controls
• Strong cross-functional relationships and business partnership across global teams
• Proactive identification of financial risks, opportunities, and funding needs
• Scalable reporting and planning processes that improve speed, transparency, and decision-making

Why This Role Stands Out

• High-visibility global finance role supporting merchandising and brand incubation initiatives
• Opportunity to influence strategic financial decisions across a global retail organization
• Strong exposure to executive leadership and international stakeholders
• Blend of strategic finance, operational FP&A, forecasting, and business partnership
• Fast-paced, collaborative environment with significant ownership and impact

**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.
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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