Manager Financial Planning and Analysis

Ulta Beauty, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Paid time off

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Job summary

Ulta Beauty is seeking a Manager, Merchandise FP&A in Bolingbrook, IL to serve as a strategic finance partner to Merchandising, Planning, Strategy and Accounting leadership. You will lead category financial planning, forecasting, performance analysis, and translate results into actionable insights for profitability improvements.

You will also lead and develop a team of financial analysts, delivering executive reporting and driving forecast accuracy while influencing senior leadership decisions

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of progressive financial experience required.
• Strong FP&A skills including budgeting, forecasting, modeling and profitability analysis.
• Ability to translate financial data into clear business insights and recommendations.
• Experience presenting to senior leadership and influencing strategic decisions.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team of financial analysts.

Responsibilities

• Own category financial performance including monthly close, forecasting and budgeting for sales, margin and expenses.
• Partner with Merchandising and cross-functional leaders to guide financial decisions.
• Lead financial performance analysis identifying drivers, trends, risks and opportunities.
• Evaluate merchandising strategies, brand profitability and promotional activity for financial impact.
• Develop executive-level reporting and presentations with actionable insights.
• Drive forecast accuracy and financial accountability with robust modeling.
• Lead continuous improvement of financial processes, tools, and forecasting capabilities.
• Provide strategic ad hoc analysis to support evolving business priorities.
• Coach and develop a team of analysts, promoting collaboration and ownership.

Skills

FP&A

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modeling

Profitability analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business

Job description

Bolingbrook, Illinois

Finance & Accounting

Full Time

OVERVIEW

Experience something categorically different. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S., a thriving digital ecosystem and a growth trajectory that’s put Wall Street on notice; Ulta Beauty provides dynamic challenges for those who want to apply their financial acumen to ever-increasing levels of complexity. Professional ownership. Diverse and ever-evolving projects. Greater levels of impact. The ability to influence decisions and organizational direction. It’s all part of the daily experience of our Finance & Accounting associates.

Assuming you want a collaborative environment where continual learning, career self-determination and trust are prioritized, where an engaged leadership provides deep levels of support and guidance, Ulta Beauty is uniquely positioned to deliver greater levels of career satisfaction. Are you up for the challenge?

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE

The Manager, Merchandise FP&A serves as a strategic finance partner to Merchandising, Planning, Strategy, and Accounting leadership, driving financial performance and supporting profitable business decisions. This role is responsible for leading category financial planning, forecasting, and performance analysis; translating financial results into actionable insights; and influencing strategies that improve profitability. The Manager will also lead and develop a team of financial analysts, fostering analytical excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY

• Own category financial performance, leading monthly close, forecasting, and annual budgeting processes across sales, margin, vendor funding, and associated expenses to ensure financial accuracy, accountability, and alignment with business objectives.
• Serve as a strategic finance partner to Merchandising and cross-functional leaders, providing financial guidance, challenging assumptions, and influencing decisions that drive profitable growth.
• Lead financial performance analysis, identifying key business drivers, emerging trends, forecast variances, risks, and opportunities while translating findings into actionable recommendations.
• Evaluate merchandising strategies and investments, including brand profitability, new brand launches, promotional activity, and strategic initiatives, to inform decisions and optimize financial returns.
• Develop and deliver executive-level reporting and presentations that clearly communicate financial results, key performance indicators, business insights, and recommended actions to senior leadership.
• Drive forecast accuracy and financial accountability through proactive engagement with business partners, robust financial modeling, and a clear understanding of underlying business assumptions and performance drivers.
• Lead continuous improvement of financial processes, analytical tools, reporting, and forecasting capabilities to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making.
• Provide strategic and ad hoc financial analysis to support evolving business priorities, solve complex problems, and identify opportunities to improve financial performance.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of financial analysts, establishing clear priorities, strengthening analytical capabilities, and fostering a culture of collaboration, ownership, and high performance.

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive financial experience, preferably within retail, consumer products, or a similarly complex business environment.
• Strong financial planning and analysis experience, including budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, profitability analysis, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial information into clear business insights, actionable recommendations, and compelling executive-level presentations.
• Strong business acumen and critical thinking skills, with the ability to challenge assumptions, anticipate risks, and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Proven ability to influence business decisions and build effective partnerships across functions and levels of leadership.

This role is a hybrid role and requires working from the Bolingbrook office 6 days per month.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The pay range for this position is $102,900.00 - $135,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs.

Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

ABOUT

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

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