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About the Role

The Account Planner develops forecasts, negotiates stock and sales plans, manages inventory KPIs, and ensures optimal ordering parameters to minimize returns and maintain appropriate stock levels. This role partners with the Account Lead to develop account strategies and works with retailer teams to build plans supporting sales and inventory projections.

Responsibilities

• Provide input to Head of Account & Sales Planning for LRP and budgeting process.
• Prepare and align on upcoming season account category plan, including basic, launch, and holiday business.
• Provide feedback to Marketing on MFP/Brand Category Strategy.
• Attend seasonal planning meetings with retailers to support Account Lead.
• Inform Account Lead strategy on optimal SKU assortment.
• Develop SKU & volume forecasts for seasonal new launches, incremental programs, and new door expanded distribution.
• Proactively develop seasonal Brand Stock & Sales plan supporting category and inventory targets, including returns.
• Negotiate Stock & Sales Plan with retailers seasonally and monthly.
• Manage in-season monthly brand stock and sales plans by reviewing actuals, re-projecting, and analyzing inventory/sales.
• Build weekly ship plans for accounts based on monthly Stock & Sales plan.
• Discuss re-projected sales and receipt plans with retailers.
• Monitor and report on gross shipments to plan, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Develop monthly Latest Estimate.
• Conduct bi-weekly calls with retailers to understand OTB and constraints.
• Monitor orders passed by retailers to hit retail sales plans by category.
• Review counter service levels, OOS, and fill rates for order changes.
• Ensure orders reflect correct SKU assortment for accounts/doors.
• Update the weekly shipment forecast.
• Join field calls to stay current and anticipate ordering needs.
• Manage inventory levels including phase-ins, phase-outs, discos, returns, DIFs, testers, inventory adjustments, and markdowns.
• Minimize returns and DIFs proactively.
• Recommend/validate opening order for new retailers/stores.
• Conduct administrative tasks, such as filling out retailer required information for new products.
• Partner with Account Services to ensure PO Logs and OOS Reports address retailer and field needs.
• Devise solutions with Account Services when issues occur.
• Set up new account openings and closings.

Requirements

• Extensive experience developing category sell-through and sell-in forecasts.
• Experience negotiating stock & sales plans.
• Experience delivering gross shipments.
• Experience managing inventory KPIs.
• Ability to manage retailer orders for optimal ordering parameters and inventory.
• Ability to minimize returns and ensure correct WOS for SKUs.
• Ability to develop overall account strategy.
• Ability to build retailer plans to support sales & inventory projections.
• Ability to coordinate across roles and functions effectively.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience with data manipulation and Excel formulas (Date functions, V-lookup, Pivot Tables, etc.).
• Flexible mindset with ability to shift focus, multi-task, and prioritize.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen.
• Ability to advocate for and develop planning best practices.
• Ability to foster strong, mutually beneficial collaboration with retailers.
• Highly organized and structured.
• Ability to plan and organize work activities efficiently.
• Strong math and analytical skills.
• Ability to structure, analyze, and manipulate large amounts of data in Excel quickly.
• Ability to review and analyze Stock & Sales Plans.
• Knowledge of inventory models and KPIs (turn, WOS).
• Knowledge of retail supply chain.
• Strong business savvy and knowledge.
• Ability to use analytics to convince others of financially sound options for the Account that will maximize sales and minimize returns.

Skills

• Forecasting
• Negotiation
• Inventory Management
• Data Analysis
• Excel (Date functions, V-lookup, Pivot Tables)
• Financial Planning
• Stock & Sales Planning
• Retail Math
• Business Acumen

Experience Level

• 5-6 years of experience
• 3-5 years specifically in financial planning or working with stock & sales plans

Education Level

• College degree required