Senior Sales Analyst

Pacific Southwest Container, LLC; Modesto (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialized manufacturing firm seeks a Senior Sales Analyst to drive margin and pricing performance. The role involves deep analysis of factors affecting contribution margins, conducting investigations for underperformance, and providing data-driven insights for strategic recommendations. Candidates should have extensive experience in financial analysis and a degree in a relevant field. Strong analytical and communication skills are crucial for success.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of experience in financial analysis, pricing analytics, or accounting.
• At least 1 year of experience in manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Monitor customer and product contribution margins, analyzing discrepancies.
• Conduct variance analyses to determine root causes of margin erosion.
• Perform in-depth investigations when margins underperform expectations.
• Research factors influencing margin, including pricing agreements and production processes.
• Partner with Sales on margin improvement strategies.
• Support price increase strategies and customer negotiations.
• Develop and maintain sales forecasts using historical data and market intelligence.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure accurate data capture.

Skills

Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills

Contribution margin analysis

Variance analysis

Pricing strategy

Strong communication skills

Financial modeling skills

Excel/BI tools proficiency

Detail-oriented mindset

Collaborative skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field

Master’s degree, CPA, CFA, or MBA

Job description

Senior Sales Analyst - Pacific Southwest Container, LLC

Position Summary

Senior Sales Analyst will be the company’s subject-matter expert on margin and pricing performance. This highly analytical role will dig deep into complex factors influencing contribution margin, conduct post‑mortem analyses when margins underperform, and provide actionable insights to strengthen customer and product profitability. Working closely with Sales, Finance, and Operations, this role will ensure leadership has a clear understanding of why margins deviate from expectations—and where opportunities exist to improve.

Key Responsibilities

• Margin & Pricing Analysis
  • Monitor customer and product contribution margins, analyzing gaps against forecasts and targets.
  • Conduct variance analyses to determine root causes of margin erosion, including materials, production, freight, and pricing decisions.
• Post‑Mortem Reviews
  • Perform in-depth investigations when margins underperform expectations.
  • Research all contributing factors—customer pricing agreements, manufacturing processes, order patterns, and raw material usage.
  • Deliver insights to leadership explaining what happened and why.
• Strategic Recommendations
  • Partner with Sales to recommend margin improvement strategies at the customer and product level.
  • Support price increase strategies, contract renewals, and customer negotiations with data‑driven insights.
  • Identify trends and systemic issues impacting overall profitability.
• Sales Forecasting and Demand Planning Projects
  • Develop, update, and maintain short‑ and long‑term sales forecasts using historical data, statistical models, and market intelligence.
  • Collaborate with Sales teams to incorporate business intelligence into forecasts.
  • Regularly review forecasts and adjust based on actuals and changing customer demands.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with Finance, Operations, and Sales to align on key assumptions and ensure accurate data capture.
  • Build models that quantify the financial impact of pricing and margin improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field required.
  • Master’s degree, CPA, CFA, or MBA preferred.
• Experience
  • 5–8+ years of experience in financial analysis, pricing analytics, or accounting.
  • At least 1 year of experience in manufacturing.
• Skills & Competencies
  • Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations.
  • Strong background in contribution margin analysis, variance analysis, and pricing strategy.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills.
  • Excellent financial modeling and Excel/BI tool skills.
  • Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
  • High business acumen with a detail‑oriented and investigative mindset.
  • Collaborates with stakeholders cross‑functionally on analysis and initiatives.