Merchandise Planner - FMCG or Retail

Sandi Crowther Recruitment; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company supplying stationery and gifting products is seeking an analytical thinker with a Commerce Degree in Finance or Business and at least 5 years of experience in merchandise planning or financial analysis. The role involves key responsibilities in planning, analysis, and inventory management across multiple product categories to ensure profitability and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in merchandise planning, inventory, or retail financial analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with planning software required.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage sales, margin, and inventory plans by category.
• Lead open-to-buy planning and oversee allocation and replenishment strategies.
• Use data to build accurate sales and inventory forecasts and create dashboards.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Strategic Thinking

Communication

Presentation Skills

Organization

Education

Tertiary qualification in Commerce, Finance, or Business

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Tableau

Syspro

Job description

Excellent opportunity exists with national suppliers of stationery and gifting products to major retail chains for an analytical thinker with a Commerce Degree in Finance or Business and at least 5 years experience in merchandise planning, inventory management, or financial analysis within a retail environment.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a high-performing, growth-driven business. You’ll play a key role in planning, analysis, and inventory strategy across multiple product categories, ensuring profitability and efficiency across all retail channels.

What You’ll Do :

Planning and Analysis

• Develop and manage detailed sales, margin, and inventory plans by category and season
• Monitor performance, identify trends, and conduct deep-dive analyses on product, promotion, and seasonal performance
• Deliver regular business reviews to senior leadership, highlighting risks and opportunities

Inventory Management

• Lead open-to-buy planning to balance stock levels and avoid over- / under-stocking
• Oversee allocation, replenishment, and liquidation strategies
• Collaborate with buying teams on initial assortments and seasonal strategies

Forecasting and Reporting

• Use data and trends to build accurate sales and inventory forecasts
• Create dashboards and reports to track KPIs and business health
• Leverage planning tools (Syspro knowledge a plus) to streamline forecasting

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance to align on strategy, stock, and promotions
• Influence assortment decisions and vendor partnerships with data-backed insights

Requirements :

• A tertiary qualification in Commerce, Finance, Business, or similar
• Minimum 5 years' experience in merchandise planning, inventory, or retail financial analysis
• Advanced Excel skills and familiarity with planning software
• BI tool experience such as Power BI, Tableau is strongly preferred
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to a fast-paced environment

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