Director-Planning Systems-SAP BPC/IBP/Enterprise Demand & Merchandise - USEReady

Candidates local to New York, NY 10118 (Hybrid Tue, Wed & Thu onsite) /able to commute/ relocate on own expenses with required skills need to apply

Client update (12/3) : The experience does not only need to be SAP BPC & IBP. It could be enterprise level financial planning, demand, supply planning systems

Role Overview:

The Director of Planning is responsible for overseeing financial planning and consolidation processes as well as expanding demand and merchandise planning capabilities across the organization. This role will integrate the use of SAP BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation) and SAP IBP (Integrated Business Planning), ensuring efficient financial reporting, demand forecasting, and merchandise planning. The position will lead a team and drive strategic planning initiatives across finance, supply chain, and merchandising to ensure alignment with the company’s overall objectives.

This leader will collaborate closely with senior leadership, manage cross-functional teams, and play a critical role in deploying and maintaining cutting-edge planning systems, while ensuring data integrity, compliance, and alignment with best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Planning:

• Lead the organization’s financial, demand, and merchandise planning processes with a focus on driving integrated planning solutions across all business functions.
• Develop, manage, and continuously enhance the SAP BPC system for financial consolidation and SAP IBP for demand and supply chain planning.
• Drive long-term planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including finance, supply chain, and merchandising, to drive effective planning and decision-making.

SAP Systems Management and Optimization:

• Own the administration of both SAP BPC and SAP IBP systems, ensuring the integrity, security, and compliance of all financial data and planning activities.
• Lead the configuration, testing, and deployment of system changes and enhancements across BPC and IBP to support evolving business needs.
• Oversee SOX compliance for all system-related processes, ensuring adherence to regulatory and internal audit standards.
• Ensure seamless integration of SAP IBP with demand planning, S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning), and merchandise planning processes.

Demand and Merchandise Planning:

• Develop and implement demand planning models using SAP IBP, ensuring accurate forecasting and inventory planning.
• Work with merchandising teams to enhance merchandise planning processes, focusing on product assortment, inventory levels, and sales strategies.
• Lead the S&OP process to ensure alignment between demand forecasts, supply chain capabilities, and financial planning.

Cross-functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with Directors of Finance, Senior Managers, and key stakeholders to gather requirements, design solutions, and deploy system enhancements.
• Work closely with IT, merchandising, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure cohesive planning across departments and systems.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership to guide decision-making processes, improve operational efficiencies, and enhance overall business performance.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and mentor a team of finance, planning, and IT professionals, ensuring continued development of technical skills and business acumen.
• Provide training to end users on both SAP BPC and SAP IBP, including creating custom reports and leveraging advanced planning functionalities.

Essential Skills and Competencies:

• Proven expertise in SAP BPC for financial consolidation and SAP IBP for demand and supply chain planning.
• Strong background in demand planning, S&OP, and merchandise planning.
• Ability to design and implement complex reporting and planning solutions, including custom formulas, intercompany eliminations, and inventory calculations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage large-scale planning processes.
• Experience in ensuring SOX compliance for financial and planning systems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organizational change.

Education and Experience:

• BS in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience, including BPC 11 and SAP IBP experience.
• Proven track record in financial consolidation, demand planning, and merchandise planning using SAP or similar systems (SAC, Hyperion).
• Experience leading system implementations, process improvement initiatives, and cross-functional planning projects.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills with a deep understanding of financial modeling and planning.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong leadership and team management abilities.