Planning Analyst
Planning Analyst
Clicks Group Limited
/
Permanent
/
Permanent
/
Cape Town, Western Cape
Listing reference: 020742 Listing status: Online Apply by: 24 July 2025
Position summary
Industry: FMCG & Supply Management Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain Location: Cape Town Contract: Permanent Remuneration: market related EE position: Yes
About our company
Clicks Group
Introduction
Clicks is on the hunt for a Planning Analyst that forms part of the Category Planning team. The purpose is to translate the business financial plans into category specific sales, margin and inventory budgets and to support the category teams to achieve the customer and product vision through viable business category plans.
Job description
Job Objectives
In collaboration with the Category Buyer, build a strategic plan for Category incorporating an understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share
To develop the annual merchandise financial plan by department for sales, stocks, margins, GP and markdowns taking into account key and relevant financial metrics and inputs
To partner and support relevant key stakeholders on the development of pre-season sales, markdown, margin, receipt and inventory targets aligned to the strategic business goals whilst ensuring assortments that balance range and space requirements for all stores
To develop and monitor projections, inventory flow, and seasonal sell-off plans as well as validate monthly forecast for open-to-buy management
To analyze and reflect current trends in performance of strategy based on actual sales performance; revise in-season plans for sales and profitability
To prepare and continuously monitor financial budgets and forecasts for the departments by store / channel by product lifecycle and to re-forecast the merchandise financial plans in line with current performance (monthly and weekly), new initiatives or significant deviations, at the appropriate level & review with relevant key stakeholders in order to maximize sales, margin and inventory productivity
To provide other analysis related to driving business goals (e.g. range hindsight, price curves, cross-selling, etc.)
To prepare buy plans for key events e.g.: Christmas, Easter etc.
Adapt new planning processes and systems (Enterprise, Assortment Planning) and consistently utilize new methodology to achieve “best in practice” discipline
Support the analysis on slow or poor performing products to optimize the OTB and category Stock Turn
To contribute analysis in the S&OP meeting on the impact of forecast changes to budget plans
Minimum requirements
Job Related Knowledge Essential
Deep understanding of the consistent management and planning of the supplier base performance metrics, promotional planning cycle, product lifecycle, supply chain optimization for their products, business analysis and reporting
Understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share
Financial planning models and methodologies
FMCG, Supply Chain and Logistics
Job Related Skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups
Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business decisions
Forecasting financial trends up to 3 years
Ability to forecast consumer trends and buying habits 9 – 24 months in the future
Presentation skills with focus being on oral and written communication skills
Proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point
Complex Problem solving
Report Writing
Retail mathematical calculations (e.g. variance to last year, percent of total, turn, Open-to-Buy and sales per square foot)
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Job Experience Essential
Ideal min 5-7 years of experience in: retail merchandise planning, demand forecasting; inventory management, allocation or replenishment; financial planning or financial analysis experience
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; strong aptitude with numbers; retail math skills, understanding of forecasting methodology
Ability to make decisions with limited information but also able to synthesize large quantities of data to drive business decisions
Desirable
Previous experience in enterprise planning or similar planning systems advantageous
Experience in retail replenishment and allocation; retail sales, category planning or merchandising experience desirable
Education
B Comm Finance or relevant B Comm Degree
Competencies
Leading and Deciding
Interaction and Presenting
Analysing and Interpreting
Planning and Organising
Delivering results and meeting customer's expectations
Adapting and Coping
Listing reference: 020742 Listing status: Online Apply by: 24 July 2025
Position summary
Industry: FMCG & Supply Management Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain Location: Cape Town Contract: Permanent Remuneration: market related EE position: Yes
About our company
Clicks Group
Introduction
Clicks is on the hunt for a Planning Analyst that forms part of the Category Planning team. The purpose is to translate the business financial plans into category specific sales, margin and inventory budgets and to support the category teams to achieve the customer and product vision through viable business category plans.
Job description
Job Objectives
In collaboration with the Category Buyer, build a strategic plan for Category incorporating an understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share
To develop the annual merchandise financial plan by department for sales, stocks, margins, GP and markdowns taking into account key and relevant financial metrics and inputs
To partner and support relevant key stakeholders on the development of pre-season sales, markdown, margin, receipt and inventory targets aligned to the strategic business goals whilst ensuring assortments that balance range and space requirements for all stores
To develop and monitor projections, inventory flow, and seasonal sell-off plans as well as validate monthly forecast for open-to-buy management
To analyze and reflect current trends in performance of strategy based on actual sales performance; revise in-season plans for sales and profitability
To prepare and continuously monitor financial budgets and forecasts for the departments by store / channel by product lifecycle and to re-forecast the merchandise financial plans in line with current performance (monthly and weekly), new initiatives or significant deviations, at the appropriate level & review with relevant key stakeholders in order to maximize sales, margin and inventory productivity
To provide other analysis related to driving business goals (e.g. range hindsight, price curves, cross-selling, etc.)
To prepare buy plans for key events e.g.: Christmas, Easter etc.
Adapt new planning processes and systems (Enterprise, Assortment Planning) and consistently utilize new methodology to achieve “best in practice” discipline
Support the analysis on slow or poor performing products to optimize the OTB and category Stock Turn
To contribute analysis in the S&OP meeting on the impact of forecast changes to budget plans
Minimum requirements
Job Related Knowledge Essential
Deep understanding of the consistent management and planning of the supplier base performance metrics, promotional planning cycle, product lifecycle, supply chain optimization for their products, business analysis and reporting
Understanding of customer needs and wants, trends, competitive environment and market share
Financial planning models and methodologies
FMCG, Supply Chain and Logistics
Job Related Skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, to build relationships and drive consensus and collaboration across functional groups
Business math acumen and analysis to comprehend financial information and reporting to make business decisions
Forecasting financial trends up to 3 years
Ability to forecast consumer trends and buying habits 9 – 24 months in the future
Presentation skills with focus being on oral and written communication skills
Proficiency on MS Office Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point
Complex Problem solving
Report Writing
Retail mathematical calculations (e.g. variance to last year, percent of total, turn, Open-to-Buy and sales per square foot)
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Job Experience Essential
Ideal min 5-7 years of experience in: retail merchandise planning, demand forecasting; inventory management, allocation or replenishment; financial planning or financial analysis experience
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills; strong aptitude with numbers; retail math skills, understanding of forecasting methodology
Ability to make decisions with limited information but also able to synthesize large quantities of data to drive business decisions
Desirable
Previous experience in enterprise planning or similar planning systems advantageous
Experience in retail replenishment and allocation; retail sales, category planning or merchandising experience desirable
Education
B Comm Finance or relevant B Comm Degree
Competencies
Leading and Deciding
Interaction and Presenting
Analysing and Interpreting
Planning and Organising
Delivering results and meeting customer's expectations
Adapting and Coping
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