Forecast Analyst III

Default Brand; Arkansas; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Default Brand is seeking a Forecast Analyst III in Arkansas to develop, maintain, and improve demand plans and forecasts for assigned customer accounts. You will analyze sales, inventory, and market trends to identify opportunities and risks.

You will support the annual sales budget, partner with customers and cross-functional teams, and provide insights to improve forecast accuracy and business performance. This role demands strong analytical skills and effective communication of complex data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, or related field.
• Minimum 4+ years in forecasting or demand planning.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Experience with S&OP processes and inventory planning.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains sales forecasts for assigned customer accounts.
• Analyzes historical POS trends to project future sales.
• Supports annual sales budget and aligns forecasts with inventory plans.
• Communicates forecast changes and business drivers to stakeholders.

Skills

Forecasting

Demand planning

S&OP

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/ Economics/ Supply Chain

Tools

Excel

ERP/Analytics tools

Job description

The Forecast Analyst III is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving accurate demand plans and forecasts for assigned customer accounts. This role analyzes customer sales, inventory, and market trends to identify opportunities and risks, supports the annual sales budget, and partners with customers and cross-functional teams to align forecasts, inventory strategies, and business plans. The Forecast Analyst III serves as a subject matter resource and provides insights and recommendations to improve forecast accuracy and business performance.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Forecast Management

• Updates and maintains data, assumptions, and formulas used in forecast review files.
• Develops and maintains sales forecasts for assigned customer accounts.
• Analyzes historical POS trends and customer data to project future sales.
• Maintains and evaluates seasonal profiles to support forecast accuracy.
• Develops and maintains customer inventory plans.
• Evaluates inventory levels and recommends appropriate build or burn strategies.
• Incorporates customer promotions, events, and other business factors into forecasts.
• Partners with customers to develop and align forecasts.
• Compares customer forecasts with ATC forecasts and analyzes variances.
• Communicates forecast changes and the business drivers impacting those changes.
• Reviews orders against ATC forecasts and POS trends to identify variances and potential risks.
• Evaluates outliers and adjusts forecasts or collaborates with customers to determine appropriate actions.
• Reviews order cancellations and makes appropriate forecast adjustments.

Budget Management

• Develops and maintains sales projections for the assigned account territory.
• Develops and maintains monthly plans at the warehouse, customer, and SKU levels.
• Maintains and analyzes year-over-year budget files.
• Documents assumptions, discussions, and changes identified during budget meetings.
• Incorporates approved changes into budget plans and forecasts.
• Identifies, analyzes, and presents budget variances to management.

Rollout Management

• Enters forecasts for non-replenished items and replenishment programs.
• Partners with customers and internal teams to develop and align rollout plans.
• Establishes initial order and inventory strategies to support new program launches.
• Aligns expected sales rates with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Provides feedback to the National Account Manager (NAM) and rollout team when actual plans differ from expectations.
• Adjusts forecasts based on changes to orders, timing, or product availability.
• Validates order changes with customers and incorporates updates into the forecast.
• Maintains tracking of active and completed rollouts, including planned ship dates.
• Partners with NAMs and customers to address rollouts that have not yet received orders.
• Partners with customers to establish remaining inventory requirements and last order dates.
• Determines residual inventory requirements based on customer collaboration plans.
• Partners with Operations and the NAM to develop strategies for managing residual inventory, including inventory cancellation or sell-off opportunities.
• Maintains discontinued inventory tracking for dropped programs.
• Identifies and presents potential liabilities to the Account Manager and partners on resolution strategies.

Inventory Management

• Updates and analyzes internal inventory reporting to identify trends and potential risks.
• Compares weekly ATC forecasts against inventory levels to identify potential shortages.
• Identifies inventory concerns and collaborates with Operations to develop solutions.
• Communicates inventory risks and potential customer impacts when issues cannot be resolved internally.
• Analyzes customer inventory trends and recommends actions to improve business performance.

New Program Management

• Develops and maintains new program projection files.
• Documents assumptions and key inputs supporting new program projections.
• Prepares initial analyses of the potential impact of program changes.
• Analyzes historical items, programs, and case studies to inform projections and recommendations.
• Leads cross-functional collaboration with the Sales team on new program planning.
• Incorporates approved program changes into the forecast.

Customer Relationships

• Responds to customer requests and provides timely analysis and information.
• Develops analysis and reports to support the needs of the assigned territory.
• Coordinates account call schedules and ensures appropriate stakeholders are engaged.
• Provides external inventory reporting to customers.
• Develops meeting agendas and identifies topics requiring discussion.
• Prepares analysis and supporting materials to facilitate customer discussions.
• Leads customer account calls and facilitates discussion of forecasts, inventory, and business performance.
• Provides recaps and communicates key actions and decisions to the Account Manager and other team members.

Team Meeting

• Provides updates on discontinued item tracking and potential liabilities.
• Analyzes month-to-date orders against forecast and communicates significant variances and trends.
• Reviews active and completed rollouts, confirms order alignment, and identifies outstanding actions.

Team & Process Support

• Provides forecasting and analytical support to NAMs in an S&OP capacity.
• Supports onboarding and training of new team members.
• Analyzes forecast accuracy results and develops recommendations to improve performance.
• Serves as a subject matter resource for colleagues and supports the development of less experienced team members.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4+ years of experience in forecasting, demand planning, or a related supply chain function.
• Demonstrated knowledge of forecasting principles, supply chain processes, and inventory planning.
• Ability to lead forecasting activities and facilitate collaboration across customers and internal teams.
• Advanced analytical and statistical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate analysis and recommendations to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated organizational and priority planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Consumer Goods industry experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Ability to withstand prolonged periods sitting at a desk.
• Frequent use of upper extremities to perform keyboard functions and work on a computer.
• Ability to occasionally stand/walk.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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