Strategy & Planning Manager

UpClear • New York, NY

2d • $150,000 - $200,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

UpClear is a SaaS revenue management software company serving more than 80 consumer goods brands in over 20 countries, with headquarters in New York City and offices in London, Paris, and Singapore. The Strategy & Planning Manager is a corporate role reporting to the CEO and supporting the company’s next phase of growth. The role turns the company’s ambitions into operating plans, forecasts, business cases, sales performance insights, and decision-ready analysis for the CEO and leadership team. On-site collaboration is required, and the candidate must be able to commute to UpClear’s West 22nd Street office in New York. UpClear cannot provide employment authorization sponsorship at this time.

The manager leads business planning and forecasting, develops strategic analyses and investment recommendations, and coordinates high-priority cross-functional initiatives. They also prepare executive and board materials, run the business review cadence, and help senior leaders make informed decisions by synthesizing complex information and surfacing trade-offs.

Requirements

• At least 6 years of experience, with a background in strategy consulting (MBB or tier-2 firm) or investment banking.
• Advanced Excel financial modeling skills, including operating models, forecasts, scenario and sensitivity analysis, and unit economics.
• Hands-on experience with budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems and turn them into clear recommendations for senior leadership.
• Strong PowerPoint storytelling skills and ability to build executive- and board-level materials.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or economics.
• An owner mindset and ability to take a problem off the CEO’s desk and see it through.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a B2B SaaS or high-growth company after consulting or banking, such as in FP&A, strategy, or business operations.
• Familiarity with SaaS metrics such as ARR, NRR, CAC, and LTV, and with go-to-market analytics.
• Exposure to the CPG industry, especially trade promotion, revenue growth management, or trade finance.
• Experience with sales compensation or pricing analysis.
• Working knowledge of SQL or BI tools such as Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Lead the annual operating plan and budgeting process, coordinating inputs from Product, Solutions, Sales, and Tech.
• Own monthly and quarterly forecasts of revenue, ARR, and key operating metrics, and run reforecasts as the business evolves.
• Analyze variances against plan, explain drivers, and recommend corrective actions.
• Build and maintain the three-year strategic model across functions, verticals (Compass, TPM, Bridge), and growth levers such as tier two, new products, and geography.
• Build business cases and investment recommendations for new products, markets, and initiatives, beginning with the Deductions rollout and growth in France and Europe.
• Conduct market, competitive, and pricing analyses to inform strategic decisions.
• Support corporate development priorities, including strategic transactions, partnerships, investments, and other opportunities that accelerate growth.
• Lead high-priority strategic and cross-functional initiatives for the CEO from definition through execution.
• Drive alignment across senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, identify dependencies, resolve blockers, and ensure critical decisions and actions move forward.
• Challenge assumptions constructively, identify gaps, and recommend actions while maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Develop strategic analysis and materials for leadership meetings, quarterly business reviews, and the board.
• Set the planning calendar and run the business review cadence with department heads.
• Respond to ad hoc analysis requests from the executive team.

Benefits

• Choice of medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Retirement plan with company match (401(k), IRA).
• Generous paid time off that grows with seniority, including vacation, sick time, and public holidays.
• Paid maternity leave.
• Paid parental bonding leave.
• One-month paid sabbatical after five continuous years of work at UpClear.
• Hybrid work model.
• Competitive salary of $150,000–$200,000.
• Weekly happy hours, office culture, global cross-team collaboration, and direct access to executive leadership for guidance.

What This Job Offers

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