Overview of the role:

The Assistant Planning Manager supports the Planning function in developing accurate financial, sales, and inventory plans across all channels and markets. This role assists in forecasting sales, margin, markdown, and inventory requirements, enabling strong business performance and efficient stock management. The Assistant Planning Manager partners closely with Merchandising, Allocation, Retail, and Supply Chain teams to ensure plans are aligned and executed accurately.

What you will do:-

Description of Accountability:

BUSINESS PLAN AND DELIVERY OF KEY KPI’s

• Responsible for Planning Annual Business Plan by Market and BU
• Deliver Weekly WSSI for C&H, Food and Total Business
• Execute Markdown Management

Sales & Financial Planning

• Support the development of seasonal and annual sales plans by market, store, category, and channel (Retail, E-Commerce, 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 vs. plan and highlight risks or opportunities

Business Unit Sales Planning

• Support Planning Manager in Business Unit sales planning by season, incorporating new product strategies, forward-looking initiatives, and potential sales gaps from previous year.
• Monitor performance against plan, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions to optimize seasonal results.

Markdown & Price Optimization

·         Support 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 & Analysis

·         Prepare 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 Collaboration

• Support Finance in validating forecasts and financial submissions.
• Work with Buying and Merchandising team on Weekly BU and Dept level planning.

System & Process Support

• Maintain accurate planning data and product hierarchies in Reporting systems.
• Develop templates, dashboards, and presentations for planning reviews.

Skills

Required Skills to be successful:

• Analytical thinking & attention to detail
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Data interpretation & problem-solving
• Collaboration & cross-functional alignment
• Proactive decision making
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Advanced Excel & reporting skills

What equips 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.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, proficient in Excel and reporting tools.
• Experience with planning systems (e.g., JDA, Power BI, Tableau, SAP, or similar).
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced retail environment