Business Analyst, Material Cost Optimization

Advance Stores Company • Raleigh, NC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Business Analyst on the Material Cost Optimization (MCO) team creates informed views of cost and margin opportunities for the Merchandising team by synthesizing facts/data and leads cost improvement initiatives to improve the performance of the organization’s direct spend categories. This role requires working with data from a variety of sources and tools including SQL and commodity reports to evaluate opportunities for improvement with a logical, practical, and quantitative approach. This role also identifies and quantifies the impacts of vendors’ cost inputs such as commodities, currency, labor, and global geopolitical factors. This role will often inform the decision making of cross-functional partners, support negotiations with external partners, and provide the opportunity to build strong relationships and trust within the Merchandising organization.

Requirements

• Strong problem solving and analytical skills: ability to identify, quantify, and assess opportunities critically, analytically, and pragmatically
• Ability to create valid recommendations from analysis, considering input from stakeholders
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to tailor messages to the given audience, present information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to zoom in and out, applying the appropriate level of focus, output depending on stakeholder requirements and competing priorities
• Strategic orientation, inquisitive, comfortable with ambiguity, and self-motivated to identify trends and improvement opportunities aligned with business objectives and strategic plans
• Intermediate to advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; ability to learn new programs and tools
• SQL or other data query language experience a plus
• Proven negotiation skills preferred
• Familiarity with ERP systems and procurement platforms preferred
• Experience with BI tools for visualization and reporting
• Knowledge of cost modeling techniques
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant discipline (ex. Business, Finance, Data & Analytics with Business Major); and 4-7 years’ experience in Finance, Strategic Sourcing, Pricing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or similar domain; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Support the Category Management function as the organization’s expert on cost of merchandise and total contribution (margin) improvement strategies for the assigned product categories.
• Relentlessly focus on delivering optimal product cost from an analytical and negotiation lens, staying abreast of developments impacting automotive aftermarket vendors and competitors
• Research, collect, scrutinize, synthesize, and update information from various internal and external data sources to inform models and analyses
• Develop and communicate compelling analytics and strategies to inform effective negotiations
• Demonstrate consistent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Sourcing Events (RFx): Strategy, Project Management, Presentation Materials, and Analysis
• Vendor Cost Change Request Analysis and Response Development
• Ad-hoc analysis or initiatives supporting total economic contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level