Strategic Account Planner

Summary Of Position
The Strategic Account Planner encompass all the functions of sales forecasting associated with specific strategic accounts across our Industrial, Retail, and international businesses. This position is responsible for continuously improving the forecasting process and most importantly its accuracy, by facilitating the dialog with key counterparts in Sales, Customer Sales Operations, Product Marketing, Finance, Demand Planning, and Supply Planning. These critical activities will influence the shaping of the plan that drives the procurement, production/manufacturing processes of finished goods and raw materials in multiple different stocking setups, including but not limited to make to stock, make to order, etc. This position directly impacts customer service, vendor compliance chargebacks and the company cash flow. Responsible for decisions based on specific strategic accounts priorities to optimize supply and revenue opportunities and contribute to the long‑term strategic business needs of an industry leading Demand Management Team. This function is highly analytical in nature and requires a strategic ability to collaborate with a diverse group of people. The Strategic Account Planner is empowered to make decisions on behalf of those strategic accounts.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and maintain demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregations of a channel for 12+ month periods to support the S&OP/IBP process, based on historical trends, demand drivers and/or business stakeholder’s knowledge

Responsible for specific accounts identified by the company as strategic customers

In conjunction with the Sales Management team, the Strategic Account Planner will support the account portfolio activities such as product life cycle management, buying strategies, promotion planning and customer‑facing projects

Lead the strategic account plan review to gain sales leadership alignment; this plan will serve as a critical input for the creation of the consensus plan. They will also assist the sales team in the preparation of materials for customer meetings

Develop and maintain an account/unit forecast for the assigned strategic accounts at multiple levels of aggregation, leveraging assumptions from sales, global demand planning, product marketing, Finance and Supply Planning

Integrate (and develop great intimacy with) POS‑based analytics and inventory strategies in the planning process to deliver product availability, forecast accuracy, high service levels and channel health

Lead and execute the collaborative planning process; prepare agenda and materials and lead the monthly strategic account planning reviews; perform consistency checks against targets; communicate the plans, identified gaps and recommendations to key stakeholders; and assist the account team in the development of financial targets

Monitor the performance of the plan; monitor ongoing demand and inventory needs for strategic items; analyze POS data to identify opportunities and liabilities in customer inventory; root cause forecast deviations and drive corrective actions

Provide relevant input for the consensus, S&OP/IBP and customer meetings

Coordinate the planning and successful execution activities of promotions, new product launches & phase‑out

Work closely with Global Demand Planners to understand inventory risks and opportunities

Act as a change agent to drive process improvements

Support ad‑hoc reporting/analysis requests & customer‑facing projects

Ensure business process documentation remains in line with the latest business practices

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