Pricing Analyst

SUMMARY

The Pricing/Merchandising Analyst supports multiple functions within Merchandising by providing actionable data-driven insights focused sales and gross profit objectives.  Communicate effectively with other functional areas of the company in regards to everyday pricing.  The efficient flow of information between the category teams, accounting, retail operations and retail systems is critical to the accurate delivery of pricing to our customers while maintaining the category sales and margin objectives. 

This is an on-site role in our downtown Schenectady office.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Train, coach and counsel all Category Team associates in all areas of pricing.  Educates department associates in the goals and objectives of pricing.  Participate in team meetings on a regular basis to promote sharing of information to gain new ideas and learn from others on the team.
• Assist Category Teams in achievement of gross profit goals in relation to the budgeted objectives.  This is accomplished through the completion of weekly pricing activities, including competitive pricing against targeted competition, product cost changes, analysis of trade funding and weekly review of MicroStrategy reports.

• Monitors/measures performance of key metrics and trends for assigned categories.
• Assists in category plan development utilizing price index targets vs competition, key performance metric trends, and by working cooperatively with other departments to ensure overall total company objectives are met.

• Understand and work with all of the systems that deliver pricing and data to the stores.  This presently includes DemandTec, MIC, Bonus Card, Retail Systems, Microstrategy, etc.  The working knowledge enables better decision-making when understanding the ultimate impact to the stores.
• Weekly review of all competitor price changes and cost changes and implement proper retail changes to stay within the categories objectives.   Maintain CPI in each category to reflect the category objectives.
• Completion of weekly audits of trade funds, costs and retails to ensure accuracy of pricing and maximizing profits.  This involves constant communication with the Category Teams to achieve the best costs in order to maximize profits and achieve the required accuracy of the pricing systems.
• Complete and implement all regulatory and specialized pricing.  This includes cigarettes, DSD soda, DSD milk, DSD bread, DSD beer/wine and specialty/gourmet products.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies dealing with cost, retail, billbacks, etc. to maintain accurate reporting of weekly margin expectations.  This will involve work with the category teams, accounting, PDC, outside vendors, etc. 

• Analyzes market price trends and third party data to ensure product prices are set competitively.  Ensure that all necessary electronic files of competitive data are properly recorded, stored, and backed up on a regular basis.
• Produce periodic reports from the monitoring and billing reports to be used by the Pricing Manager to track progress to their goals and for Sarbanes Oxley compliance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills and the ability to provide insights as part of the analytic process. Ability to integrate information from multiple data sources in order to identify opportunities and solve problems.
• Self-starter, detail oriented, highly organized, ability to multitask; ability to work in a fast paced, evolving role
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate and interact effectively and appropriately to a broad audience. Ability to explain technical information in a simple way that establishes rapport, persuades others and gains understanding.
• Exceptional computer skills (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, MicroStrategy, DemandTec, etc.)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing or other related field preferred. Knowledge gained through specialized training, experience in market research methodologies and additional job experience a plus.
• 3-5 years experience in statistics/marketing analytics or other related experience; knowledge of and experience using market data platforms