Overview Of The Role

The Assistant Planning Manager for M&S plays a pivotal role in supporting the planning function, focusing on developing precise financial, sales, and inventory plans across various markets and channels. This position is crucial for forecasting sales, margins, markdowns, and inventory needs to ensure robust business performance and efficient stock management. Collaborating closely with teams such as Merchandising, Allocation, Retail, and Supply Chain, the Assistant Planning Manager ensures alignment and accurate execution of plans.

What You Will Do

Business Plan and KPI DeliveryResponsible for planning the annual business plan by market and business unit.

Deliver weekly WSSI for Clothing, Home and Total Business.

Execute markdown management.

Deliver sales, cash margin, markdown cost, and closing stock as per the business plan.

Sales & Financial PlanningSupport the development of seasonal and annual sales plans by market, store, category, and channel including Retail, E-Commerce, and Omnichannel.

Assist in building weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales forecasts, incorporating past performance, trends, and business drivers.

Prepare financial projections for gross profit, gross margin, markdown, and inventory.

Track performance versus plan and highlight risks or opportunities.

Business Unit Sales PlanningSupport Planning Manager in business unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies, forward-looking initiatives, and potential sales gaps from the previous year.

Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions to optimize seasonal results.

Markdown & Price OptimizationSupport markdown planning, price phasing, and promotional analysis.

Track sell-through and aging stock to recommend timely markdown actions.

Partner with Merchandising to ensure markdown strategy protects margin while achieving sell-through targets.

Reporting & AnalysisPrepare weekly and monthly business performance reports including sales, margin, stock, and KPIs.

Analyze product, category, and store performance to support strategic decisions.

Identify business risks and provide insight-driven recommendations.

Cross-Functional CollaborationSupport Finance in validating forecasts and financial submissions.

Work with Buying and Merchandising team on weekly business unit and department-level planning.

System & Process SupportMaintain accurate planning data and product hierarchies in reporting systems.

Develop templates, dashboards, and presentations for planning reviews. Required Skills To Be Successful:

Analytical thinking and attention to detail.

Strong financial and commercial acumen.

Advanced Excel and reporting skills.

Collaboration and cross-functional alignment.

What Qualifies You For The Role

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Retail Management, or related field.3-5 years of experience in merchandise planning, financial planning, or retail analysis, preferably in fashion or multi-category retail.

Proficient in Excel and reporting tools, with strong analytical and numerical skills.

Experience with planning systems such as JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar.

Strong communication and presentation skills and the ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment.