Business Partner, Planning and Financial Analysis

About ALDO Group

The ALDO Group is an international enterprise that has been creating and marketing fashion footwear and accessories for over 50 years. With nearly 1,500 stores in over 100 countries, the organization stands out thanks to its two signature brands, ALDO and Boutique Spring, as well as being the primary partner of Sperry in North America. The company is also a well-known wholesaler and supplier within the industry, specializing in the design, supply, and distribution of shoes, handbags, and accessories. Its diverse portfolio includes major brands such as ROXY, Brooks Brothers, Ted Baker, Hunter, and G.H.BASS. The ALDO Group is headquartered in Montreal and also has international offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.aldogroup.com.

Enjoy recognition of value, flexible work options, on-site complementary benefits, generous discounts, and the pride of being part of a brand that places people, the planet, and its partners at the heart of everything.

The finance business partner plays a key strategic role within the organization by creating an essential link between operations and financial performance. This is a finance professional who collaborates daily with operational team members to establish financial objectives (budget, forecasts, etc.), provide visibility on performance relative to these objectives, and perform analyses that support business decisions. This person understands business drivers, financial systems, and processes, and knows how to effectively collaborate with all levels of employees in the company, from T1 to junior analysts.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic

• Participate in the development, improvement, and implementation of initiatives related to financial systems or processes by providing added-value contributions to FP&A and ensuring that changes are integrated into ongoing activities;
• Promote and initiate continuous improvements to optimize organizational processes and generate better business results;
• Identify and track key financial indicators to evaluate performance, identify trends, and perform comparative analyses of key activities;
• Work closely with financial managers and business leaders to identify and develop annual targets that reflect the company's strategic orientation;
• Create financial reports that provide value and insights into deviations from budget or forecasts using the SAP-BPC application;
• Identify and evaluate the potential financial impacts or risks associated with new ideas;
• Support financial managers in other activities related to special assignments.

Operational

• Coordinate all aspects of budgeting and forecasting processes for the sectors under his/her responsibility, including schedules, revisions, targets, system uploads, profit and loss statements, and variance analyses for direct and indirect expenses as well as capital investments;
• Coordinate the production of reports and the analysis of financial and non-financial performance indicators;
• Support teammates during month-end processes to analyze account variances, confirm reconciliation status with accounting, and ensure timely completion of required journal entries;
• Support various compensation analyses for business units;
• Initiate and perform monthly business reviews on cumulative and current month results to provide visibility to teams, facilitate financial projections, and provide added-value financial expertise;
• Ensure responsibility for direct and indirect expenses;
• Validate prices and costs between different pricing models to maintain profitability throughout the month;
• Hold weekly sales reviews with management to ensure that monthly targets are on track;
• Review and highlight customer discounts and credit notes on a monthly basis;
• Perform financial simulations, including projects, stock agreements, customer account projections, and ad-hoc requests;
• Assist in the creation of presentations for senior management;
• Identify, evaluate, and manage risks within his/her area of expertise to support the achievement of ALDO's financial objectives;
• Promote and support a risk awareness culture by advocating for best practices in risk management.

Leadership

• Identify, pursue, and share with teammates technical, professional, and interpersonal training programs for personal development;
• Ensure alignment between business teams and Finance teams through regular and clear communication;
• Complete the establishment of objectives and self-assessment;
• Coordinate efforts to keep his/her job description up-to-date;
• Participate in periodic meetings to discuss business opportunities and priorities, and ensure alignment;
• With the support of the immediate supervisor, be responsible for his/her personal development and career planning.

Education

• University degree in finance, business administration, and/or professional title (CPA, CFA, MBA, etc.)

Experience

• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in business. Strong sense of business and good knowledge of financial accounting as well as financial planning and analysis.

Personal Requirements

• Demonstrated leadership skills: ability to build relationships and mobilize colleagues, enrich work exchanges, encourage open and transparent communication, and act as a change driver with creativity and innovation;
• Strong communication skills: ability to simplify complex concepts and present them to business leaders and other groups in the company; demonstrated experience in presenting and popularizing complex issues;
• Understanding of performance variance analyses, accounting principles, and aspects related to financial information;
• Knowledge of SAP BPC, SAP Financials, SAP EPM, and AO; proficiency in querying SAP by transaction code, if necessary, or obtaining multi-source BI data for analysis;
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint;
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• A Welcoming Work Environment

We strongly believe that the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and identities is an essential asset for the ALDO Group. We encourage applications from all walks of life and are committed to providing a safe, respectful, and equitable work environment where every individual can reach their full potential and make their mark.

*Note: The use of the masculine in this document is solely to lighten the text and applies without gender discrimination.* #LI-VB1