Merchandise Planning & Commercial Analyst

Financial Staffing Solutions; England; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Financial Staffing Solutions is seeking a Merchandise Planning & Inventory Analyst to join a fast-growing multi-channel consumer business. The role sits at the intersection of Finance and Merchandising, focusing on stock planning, merchandising and commercial analysis to ensure the right products are available across wholesale, DTC and ecommerce channels.

The successful candidate will leverage AI and modern tools to improve reporting, stock turn and decision-making, while collaborating with

Qualifications

• Experience in merchandise planning or inventory management.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Self-motivated with ability to drive impact.
• Advanced Excel and strong analytical skills.
• Translate data into actionable commercial insights.
• Curious about AI and technology in daily activities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Retail, wholesale or ecommerce experience is advantageous.
• Experience with SAP ERP.

Responsibilities

• Manage stock availability across channels.
• Coordinate with sourcing, ops and sales to place inventory.
• Monitor stock movements and replenishment needs.
• Produce reporting on best sellers and aged stock.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock turn.
• Support seasonal exits and promotions.
• Ensure product data is accurate across systems.
• Build dashboards and automate reporting.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

AI-enabled analytics

Retail/ecommerce analytics

Tools

SAP

Job description

The Merchandise Planning & Commercial Analyst is a broad, high-impact role sitting at the intersection of Finance and Merchandising within a fast-growing, multi-channel consumer business.

This is a broad, high-impact role focused on stock planning, merchandising and commercial analysis. The role plays a key part in ensuring the right products are available in the right place at the right time, while providing insight that supports profitable growth across wholesale, DTC and ecommerce channels

The business is actively embracing AI and modern tools and is seeking someone who shares that mindset and enjoys finding smarter, more efficient ways of working. Operating in a fast-moving and growing environment, there is significant opportunity to improve processes, enhance reporting and shape how stock planning and commercial analysis evolve.This is a newly created position to support continued growth and offers the successful candidate the opportunity to make a real impact and develop the importance of the function over time.

Merchandise Planning & Inventory Responsibilities

• Manage stock availability across channels, including hold orders, ringfenced stock and virtual warehouses.
• Work closely with sourcing, operations and sales teams to ensure inventory is in the right place at the right time.
• Monitor and report on stock movements, availability and replenishment requirements.
• Produce regular reporting on best sellers, aged stock and slow-moving inventory.
• Identify opportunities to improve stock turn and optimise inventory levels.
• Support seasonal exit strategies and promotional activity for end-of-line products.
• Ensure products are accurately maintained across integration partners and master data systems.
• Provide visibility of stock availability across departments and support cross-functional planning.

Commercial Analysis & Trading Support

• Analyse trading performance across wholesale, DTC and ecommerce channels.
• Produce timely reporting with clear commercial insight and actionable recommendations.
• Monitor product and category performance, identifying trends and opportunities.
• Support pricing decisions, margin analysis and promotional effectiveness.
• Build and maintain analytical models and dashboards to support decision-making.
• Drive process improvements and reporting automation.
• Utilise AI and modern tools to enhance analysis and streamline workflows.

About the Candidate

• Previous experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, commercial analysis or a similar analytical role.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where priorities can evolve quickly.
• Self-motivated and capable of making a tangible impact within a growing business.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capability.
• Able to translate data into meaningful commercial insight and recommendations.
• Naturally curious, with a proactive approach to identifying better ways of working.
• Enthusiastic about incorporating AI and technology into day-to-day activities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Retail, wholesale or ecommerce experience would be advantageous.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP

Logical, organised and detail-oriented with a strong commercial mindset.