Financial Planning & Analysis - FP&A, Manager

Overview

Essense of Australia is an international bridal wholesaler with key offices based in Lenexa, Kansas, Perth, Australia, and Zug, Switzerland. Our organization also operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand. We have been a global leader in bridal fashion for over 20 years and our designs are currently sold in nearly 1,000 stores worldwide. With innovative designs and a strong customer service approach, Essense of Australia is a dynamic company that rewards excellence, drive, and collaboration. 

The Role

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Manager to join our team.  The  FP&A Manager is a self-starter who understands the dynamics of the business, identifies opportunities, and presents clear findings and recommendations to senior leaders. You’ll create dynamic, transparent analysis that’s easy to share across the organization and build trust with partners at every level.  The  FP&A Manager will report to the Director, FP&A.

Innovation & AI

 Artificial intelligence is a growing part of how this role works. You’ll use AI and other emerging technologies to analyze data faster, automate repetitive work, and continually streamline how Finance operates, freeing up time for the strategic analysis and partnership that make the biggest impact. We are looking for someone who is excited to explore new tools, test what works, and help the team raise the bar.

Tools You’ll Use

 You’ll work in Excel, Qlik, NetSuite, NetSuite Planning & Budgeting (NSPB), and AI-enabled tools. Experience with NetSuite, NSPB, and Qlik is preferred, and experience with other BI platforms is welcome. If you are sharp, adaptable, and quick to learn new systems, we’ll help you get up to speed.

This is a hybrid role based at our Lenexa, KS headquarters, with in-office days Tuesday through Thursday and remote work on Mondays and Fridays. 

Responsibilities

What We Expect:

• Develop, implement, and maintain financial models, reporting, and ad-hoc analysis that support timely business decisions.
• Analyze operating expenses, the relationship of expenses to sales, sales and gross margin by country and label, components of cost of goods sold, and the financial impact of proposed business initiatives.
• Present findings and recommended areas of improvement to management.
• Build a comprehensive understanding of the organization so every analysis reflects the cross-functional factors that drive results.
• Create custom financial reporting and Qlik dashboards that put the right information in front of decision-makers.
• Use Excel and knowledge of our accounting systems to aggregate, interpret, and summarize data, including action-oriented summaries and ROI analysis.
• Design flexible, dynamic analysis with variables that can be adjusted quickly for “what-if” scenarios and sensitivity testing.
• Streamline recurring reporting through automation to reduce manual effort and deliver insights faster.
• Partner with the Director, FP&A and fellow FP&A team members to manage assigned components of the budget and forecast, including the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and bank covenants.
• Evaluate opportunities, risks, and the ROI and efficiency of project spend, with a strong understanding of sales, expenses, and inventory.
• Support the rolling forecast with accurate forecasts that account for all elements of the business, and continuously improve budgeting and forecasting workflows through automation.
• Identify, test, and implement new technologies and AI-enabled workflows that streamline processes and strengthen the FP&A function.
• Share learnings with the team and help build repeatable, scalable ways of working.
• Support special projects and contribute to a collaborative team culture.

Qualifications

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting required; MBA or related advanced degree is a plus.
• 7+ years preferred of experience in financial analysis, budgeting, or planning, with hands-on experience in annual planning and forecasting, budget management, financial reporting, and BI data analysis tools.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to recognize and analyze changes in business impact and proven problem-solving skills.
• Expert-level Excel skills and strong working knowledge of other Microsoft Office tools.
• ERP experience and an understanding of relational databases, plus the ability to learn new systems quickly; NetSuite and NetSuite Planning & Budgeting experience preferred.
• Qlik experience is preferred; experience with other BI platforms is also valued.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to executives.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for AI and emerging technologies, with the judgment to apply them responsibly and validate their output; hands-on experience using AI tools or automation to improve finance and analytics workflows is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities to meet deadlines.
• Self-directed, with a track record of managing work independently and handling confidential financial information with discretion and integrity.
• Leadership ability and a willingness to lead and manage others as the role evolves.
• A passion for building strong departmental processes and procedures that support scalability as the company grows.
• Multi-entity or international finance experience, and a background in retail, wholesale, or consumer products, are preferred.

What We Offer

We look forward to welcoming the successful candidate to our fast-growing global team! In return for your skills, we offer you the opportunity to join an international industry leader and be part of a creative and collaborative culture that empowers its people, promotes teamwork and embraces sustainability. We recognise and reward excellence, innovation, and loyalty. Our goal is to offer an inspirational and modern workplace that allows for talented individuals to thrive. As such, we provide competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, with significant opportunity for exceptional team members to grow with us as we continue to expand. 

If you have the skills and drive to help us further our growth, please go to https://www.essensedesigns.com/careers/ and follow the prompts to submit a cover letter, resume, and online application.