Director – Financial Planning & Analysis

Summary

*Hybrid position if located in St. Louis, MO. Fully remote if not located in St. Louis, MO*

Advantage Solutions is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

The Director leads financial planning and analysis for Advantage's corporate functions, including HR, Legal, and Finance, and owns the consolidated financial view of all Corporate functions. This leader manages a team that delivers consolidated results and insights to senior finance leadership, and is accountable for building an AI-enabled FP&A function: automating routine production so the team's time goes to analysis, insight, and recommendations.

What success looks like: within 12 months, the team's monthly reporting cycle is materially faster and a meaningful share of recurring commentary and consolidation is automated.

Responsibilities

• Process development and team collaboration:
  • Partner with operational Financial Planning & Analysis leads to design and implement standardized processes for forecasting, reporting, and variance analysis across the division
  • Establish best practices for financial management, including consistent use of planning tools, reporting templates, and performance metrics
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing and alignment across Financial Planning & Analysis leads to ensure cohesive financial support for business units
  • Consult with IT and key stakeholders to ensure future designs of data and operational systems meet the reporting needs of the finance team
  • Manage direct reports to drive processes and work within team
• Financial reporting, communication, and consolidation:
  • Design, build, test, and deliver recurring and ad hoc financial reports, dashboards, and data visualizations using business intelligence tools
  • Consolidate monthly financial results, including key metrics, variance analysis, and executive summaries
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages for enterprise leadership, including KPIs, financial statements, and trend analysis
  • Ensure reporting accuracy and consistency across business units, aligning with internal policies and external standards
  • Develop and deliver clear, compelling financial presentations and messaging for senior leadership, board meetings, and cross-functional stakeholders
  • Translate complex financial data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations using presentations, executive summaries, and visual storytelling
  • Support internal communications by crafting financial narratives that highlight performance drivers, risks, and required actions
• Forecasting and planning:
  • Lead the annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
  • Analyze and consolidate financials to track performance, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations
  • Develop financial models to evaluate business scenarios, investment opportunities, and cost optimization strategies
• Finance AI:
  • Own the AI and automation roadmap for corporate financial planning and analysis and consolidated reporting, setting targets for processes automated and analyst hours redeployed to higher-value work
  • Redesign recurring workflows (data consolidation, variance commentary, flash reporting, forecast refreshes, executive summaries) so AI handles first-draft production and the team owns validation, judgment, and recommendations
  • Establish standards for reviewing and validating AI-generated output, including controls, documentation, and data security appropriate for a public company
  • Coach and equip the team to use AI tools effectively (e.g., generative AI and AI features in planning and business intelligence platforms); raise the AI proficiency of the whole function and identify team members who can lead adoption
  • Evaluate and pilot new AI capabilities in planning, business intelligence, and productivity platforms, and partner with Technology to scale what works

Qualifications

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree (MBA or CPA preferred, or equivalent demonstrated capability)
• Experience Requirements: 8-10 years experience in relevant field
• Travel requirement: No travel requirements

Supervisor Responsibility

Direct Reports: Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports: May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic financial planning: Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and aligning financial plans with business goals
• Reporting and visualization: Skilled in creating executive dashboards and translating data into clear, actionable insights
• Systems and tools: Proficiency in business intelligence tools, SQL, Excel, and enterprise performance management platforms
• Cross-functional collaboration: Ability to align diverse teams around standardized processes and shared financial objectives

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Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Responsibilities

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Responsibilities

• Process development and team collaboration:
  • Partner with operational Financial Planning & Analysis leads to design and implement standardized processes for forecasting, reporting, and variance analysis across the division
  • Establish best practices for financial management, including consistent use of planning tools, reporting templates, and performance metrics
  • Facilitate knowledge sharing and alignment across Financial Planning & Analysis leads to ensure cohesive financial support for business units
  • Consult with IT and key stakeholders to ensure future designs of data and operational systems meet the reporting needs of the finance team
  • Manage direct reports to drive processes and work within team
• Financial reporting, communication, and consolidation:
  • Design, build, test, and deliver recurring and ad hoc financial reports, dashboards, and data visualizations using business intelligence tools
  • Consolidate monthly financial results, including key metrics, variance analysis, and executive summaries
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting packages for enterprise leadership, including KPIs, financial statements, and trend analysis
  • Ensure reporting accuracy and consistency across business units, aligning with internal policies and external standards
  • Develop and deliver clear, compelling financial presentations and messaging for senior leadership, board meetings, and cross-functional stakeholders
  • Translate complex financial data into actionable insights and strategic recommendations using presentations, executive summaries, and visual storytelling
  • Support internal communications by crafting financial narratives that highlight performance drivers, risks, and required actions
• Forecasting and planning:
  • Lead the annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes, ensuring alignment with strategic goals
  • Analyze and consolidate financials to track performance, identify trends, and provide actionable recommendations
  • Develop financial models to evaluate business scenarios, investment opportunities, and cost optimization strategies
• Finance AI:
  • Own the AI and automation roadmap for corporate financial planning and analysis and consolidated reporting, setting targets for processes automated and analyst hours redeployed to higher-value work
  • Redesign recurring workflows (data consolidation, variance commentary, flash reporting, forecast refreshes, executive summaries) so AI handles first-draft production and the team owns validation, judgment, and recommendations
  • Establish standards for reviewing and validating AI-generated output, including controls, documentation, and data security appropriate for a public company
  • Coach and equip the team to use AI tools effectively (e.g., generative AI and AI features in planning and business intelligence platforms); raise the AI proficiency of the whole function and identify team members who can lead adoption
  • Evaluate and pilot new AI capabilities in planning, business intelligence, and productivity platforms, and partner with Technology to scale what works

Qualifications

• Education Requirements: Bachelor's degree (MBA or CPA preferred, or equivalent demonstrated capability)
• Experience Requirements: 8-10 years experience in relevant field
• Travel requirement: No travel requirements

Supervisor Responsibility

Direct Reports: Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports: May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic financial planning: Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and aligning financial plans with business goals
• Reporting and visualization: Skilled in creating executive dashboards and translating data into clear, actionable insights
• Systems and tools: Proficiency in business intelligence tools, SQL, Excel, and enterprise performance management platforms
• Cross-functional collaboration: Ability to align diverse teams around standardized processes and shared financial objectives

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements: Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.

Important Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified. The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.

Compensation: 134000 to 174200 (USD)