Merchandise Planning & Commercial Analyst

Financial Staffing Solutions; Slough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Financial Staffing Solutions is seeking a Merchandise Planning & Inventory Analyst in the UK. This broad, high-impact role sits at the intersection of Finance and Merchandising within a fast-growing, multi-channel consumer business.

The role focuses on stock planning, merchandising and commercial analysis to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place. The team is embracing AI and modern tools, and the role offers the opportunity to improve processes, reporting and how

Qualifications

• Experience in merchandise planning, inventory management or similar analytical roles.
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where priorities change.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capability.
• Ability to translate data into actionable commercial insights.

Responsibilities

• Manage stock availability across channels, including hold orders and virtual warehouses.
• Collaborate with sourcing, operations and sales to place inventory correctly.
• Monitor stock movements and replenishment requirements.
• Produce reports on best sellers, aged stock and slow-moving inventory.
• Identify opportunities to optimise stock turn and inventory levels.
• Support seasonal exit strategies and promotional activity for end-of-line products.
• Maintain product data across integration partners and master data systems.
• Provide visibility of stock across departments to support cross-functional planning.
• Analyse trading performance across wholesale, DTC and ecommerce.
• Produce timely reporting with actionable recommendations.
• Monitor product and category performance and identify trends.
• Support pricing decisions, margin analysis and promo effectiveness.
• Build and maintain analytical models and dashboards.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

AI awareness

Tools

ERP 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.