Specialist, Merchandise Planning and Reporting

Guitar Center Stores, Inc.; Westlake Village (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Guitar Center Stores, Inc. in Westlake Village, CA, as a professional driving analytical support for Vendor Relations, Merchandising, and Planning. This hybrid role focuses on budget and forecasting cycles, reporting, and automation utilizing Microsoft tools.

The ideal candidate will possess a Bachelor’s Degree or relevant experience, with proficiency in Excel and Access, strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills. The salary ranges from $65,000 to $85,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in Planning, Merchandising, or an analytical field.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Access, including data modeling.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide analytical support for Vendor Relations, Merchandising, and Planning.
• Track performance and develop reporting dashboards.
• Collaborate with BI teams to develop supporting reports.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or 4 years of relevant experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Business Intelligence tools (MicroStrategy, Tableau)

Job description

Important:

This role is based at our Westlake Village, CA corporate offices and follows a hybrid schedule (2-3 days onsite per week).

About the Role

We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytically driven professional to support our Vendor Relations, Merchandising, and Planning functions. In this role, you will provide essential analytical support, track performance, troubleshoot issues, develop and maintain reporting, and assist with systems and data-related needs.

What You’ll Do

Planning & Forecasting Support

• Support Merchandise Planning through annual budget and monthly forecast cycles by communicating timelines, validating results, and maintaining applications/databases for data archiving.

• Assist with day-to-day merchandising and planning tasks, helping track objectives and improve operational transparency.

Reporting & Analytics

• Consolidate multiple teams’ reports into executive‑ready dashboards supporting key processes such as Joint Business Planning, Vendor Funding, Annual Budgeting, Advertising Tracking, In‑Stock and Fill Rate performance, and Forecast Accuracy.

• Conduct data analysis to ensure accuracy, investigate anomalies, and implement corrections as needed.

• Leverage technical skills to transform large datasets using Microsoft Office tools into clear, intuitive reports that inform business decisions.

• Track and report on marketing initiatives, including store activations, inventory levels, and sales performance.

Technical Tools & Automation

• Build and automate Excel and Access reports using macros, VBA, and SQL scripts to improve efficiency and data handling.

• Collaborate with Data and Business Intelligence (BI) teams to gather requirements and develop dashboards or reports that support budgeting, forecasting, and wider merchandising processes.

Systems, Processes & Support

• Lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for system updates, troubleshooting issues, verifying bug fixes, and validating data changes or enhancements.

• Log and elevate technical issues by documenting steps taken and including screenshots of errors or unexpected results.

• Support vendor funding by entering deal details, communicating term changes, and ensuring funding transactions are accurately accrued and deducted.

• Document business processes with clear, step‑by‑step guidance to expand and maintain resource libraries.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s Degree (or 4 years of relevant experience), preferably in Business.
• 4 years of experience in Planning, Merchandising, or related analytical field.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Access, including modeling and building complex reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with excellent organizational and time‑management abilities.
• Foundational understanding of Business Intelligence tools (MicroStrategy, Tableau), data mining, advanced Excel formulas, pivot tables, and querying external databases.

Pay Rate

$65,000 - $85,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, education, and other factors. Pay ranges are provided in accordance with state laws and may differ by location.

About Guitar Center

At Guitar Center, we live and breathe creativity, collaboration, and the power of music. Our mission is to inspire and equip musicians and music lovers to find their sound and share it with the world. Whether in our stores, contact centers, distribution hubs, or corporate offices, our team is united in one goal: to fill the world with more music.

Join Us

• Become part of the world’s largest multichannel musical instrument retailer.

• Work within a collaborative, high‑impact finance organization that drives innovation and transformation.

• Grow your career in an environment that values creativity, integrity, and passion.

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on valid job‑related criteria and are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws.

If you require reasonable accommodation to apply for or perform this job, please contact [e-mail].