What are the responsibilities and job description for the Brand Finance Manager position at Blue Buffalo?
GENERAL DESCRIPTION – PURPOSE OF ROLE:
We are looking for a highly motivated Finance Manager to lead Brand Finance efforts. Join one of the most exciting and fastest growing companies in the Pet Industry to Co-pilot our marketing organization. This role is critical to drive financial execution Brand business reviews, post launch analytics, and shape cross functional assumptions required to build project P&Ls and capital justifications. This position requires proven project management skills ranging from needs assessment through to the design, implementation, and execution of newly established business and financial processes. This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial-minded person who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to influence how pertinent data is captured, presented, and modeled to drive strategic business decisions.
Organizationally, this position supports the Director of Brand Finance in all aspects of financial analysis and process development for our Brand, Product Development, and channel marketing groups.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Co-Pilot Product Development team with a self-guided, proactive, project management focus on all financial aspects of new product development. Help ensure that new product launches have a robust and attainable path to success by challenging assumptions, utilizing creative problem solving, and driving the team to meet deadlines.
- Co-Pilot Brand organization on all aspects of Brand P&Ls and levers needed to drive superior business performance. Leverage vast experience in finance across core disciplines including Supply chain, sales, and marketing to maintain a strategic focus utilizing key trends in the market place to help deliver against short- and long-term business objectives. Drive results through insights gathered on the category, consumer, customer, and competition to help deliver solid Brand Plans.
- Track and prepare monthly Marketing spend budget (SG&A) for various cost center owners, coordinate with the FP&A group on Budget Planning and drive monthly variance analysis, leverage pre and post analysis on ROI of marketing investments. Highlight drivers and work with marketing on strategies to increase marketing spend effectiveness.
- Develop best in class financial reporting and variance analysis that articulates key drivers, identify areas of risk, and provide recommendations for risk mitigation and portfolio optimization.
- Prepare and coordinate the timely delivery of required financial information for business reviews and period end closing.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AS REQUESTED:
- Delivering against ad hoc requests and projects from a variety of cross-functional business partners, including senior leadership.
- Managing work load and deliverables against timelines and meeting expectations in a detail-oriented, performance driven business environment.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Advanced Excel data modeling skills, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Broad knowledge of consumer products, product mix impacts, supply chain, logistics, and key retail sales metrics including velocity modeling and new product launch forecasting.
- Basic knowledge of Accounting and Volume, Rate, and Mix Analytics.
- Must be able to work in an environment with free-roaming companion pets.
PREFERRED SKILLS, COMPETENCIES AND EXPERIENCE:
- 10 - 12 years’ of Finance experience with emphasis in the Consumer Packaged Goods Industry
- Finance Background with increasing levels of responsibility including but not limited to Brand, Innovation and Renovation, Supply Chain, and Sales Finance.
- Self-motivated with great communication skills with ability to influence peers and the C-Suite
- Leadership qualities demonstrating a strong ability to inspire and motivate others.
- Experience with SAP
- Pet Parent Preferred
