Central Planning Analyst: Stores

**JOB PURPOSE**:
To **add value** to the Company by driving **store profitability** through the provision of exceptional standards of operational **store information and insights** to various teams.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**Implementing the New Store process**
- Implementing the New Store process
- Alignment with Properties
- Determine department contributions
- Set cover and density targets
- Weekly new branch plan report published
- Weekly new branch plan report communicated to relevant stakeholders
- Build and release new branch plans
- Re-routing of Stock
- Highlight risk and opportunity
- Track new store performance

**Conducting intensive analysis and interrogation of existing/new store performance**
- Merchandise Projects (e.g. Consolidation, Expansion)
- Nodal Analysis
- Hot Store Analysis
- Analysis per country
- Communication to relevant stakeholders
- Store profiling and Nodal Analyses
- Identify and report on risk and opportunity
- Provide analysis and inputs into project plans (e.g., A- grid expansion, Product Consolidation etc.) and give support to assist decision making

**Reporting**
- Proactively reporting on exceptions, risks & opportunities identified in the analysis of existing/new store performance
- Providing the business with possible actions to minimize risk and maximize opportunity
- Publishing monthly management packs with relevant data

**Merchandise Insights**

Conduct merchandise insights and provide reporting using the basket analysis tool and in response to queries from any area of the business based on an ad-hoc basis

**EXPERIENCE REQUIRED**:
**Essential**:

- A minimum of 2-3 years Store Planning or similar experience within a clothing retail environment
- A minimum of 2-3 years experience in analysing information
- Working experience in the latest Microsoft packages (Word, PowerPoint & Advanced Excel)

**Preferred**:

- Previous exposure to business intelligence and basket analysis tools
- Previous exposure to and understanding of logistics and supply chain processes
- Previous work experience in Retail

**SKILLS REQUIRED**:

- Excellent numerical skills
- Analytical thinking & logical problem-solving skills
- Sound commercial mentality
- Interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Planning, organising & time management skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Resilient, have tenacity and maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure
- Methodical, detail-orientated and accurate
- Assertive
- Deadline-orientated
- Proactive and use one’s own initiative
- The ability to:

- create a shared vision and to positively influence others to make decisions
- communicate effectively at all levels
- be self-motivated/driven, take responsibility and have a sense of pride in one’s work
- work independently, as well as be a team player
- remain focused and flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude

**QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED**:
**Essential**:

- A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
- B. Comm./ B. Science degree in Finance, Accounting, Mathematics, Statistics and/or Business Science **OR**:

- National Diploma majoring in Internal Auditing and/or Cost and Management Accounting **OR**:

- National Diploma in Financial Information Systems **OR**
- National Diploma/ degree in Business/Retail/Merchandise Management or Accounting/Finance

**KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED**:

- Knowledge of business intelligence tools
- Knowledge of the retail and merchandise planning processes and systems
- Knowledge of the SA retail clothing market, customers, and competitors

**Preferred**:

- Experience in conducting analysis using a basket analysis tool