Finance Manager - Merchandising

Company: Leslie's Pool Supplies
Location: Phoenix
Posted on: April 4, 2026

Job Description:

DIVE IN TO A NEW CAREER WITH LESLIE'S: Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. We serve the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. We operate an integrated ecosystem of 900 retail locations, backyard service and repair, a robust digital platform, and manufacturing and distribution divisions across 35 states—enabling consumers to engage with Leslie’s whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. With over 60 years of providing best-in-class products and solutions to our customers, there is nothing that we value more than the development and growth of our team. We strive to create a positive and fun atmosphere where our Team Members feel valued and are enthusiastic about the contributions they make to the success of Leslie's. This position is not open to agency submissions. This position is based at our corporate office in Phoenix, AZ, and follows a hybrid work schedule. Remote work is not available for this role. Candidates must reside within commuting distance, as relocation assistance is not provided. Additionally, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer-sponsored visa support. Job Overview: The Finance Manager supporting Merchandising is a highly strategic and influential individual contributor responsible for driving the financial performance of the merchandising division. This role reports to the Vice President, FP&A, and serves as a key partner to leadership across Merchandising, Supply Chain, Inventory, and Marketing to support financial outcomes for critical strategic initiatives. This role requires a hands-on and entrepreneurial mindset, along with strong analytical expertise to grow profitability, control inventory, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure financial execution across all channels of business. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of retail dynamics, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. Responsibilities: Lead the development of comprehensive annual budgets and long-range financial plans for the merchandising department. Develop and maintain robust financial models to forecast sales, gross margins, inventory levels, and operating expenses across product categories. Provide in-depth financial analysis of merchandising performance against budget, forecast, and prior periods. Identify variances, trends, risks, and opportunities, and present actionable insights and recommendations to leadership. Utilize financial analysis to guide inventory investment decisions, ensuring alignment with profitability targets. Partner cross-functionally to minimize overstocks and stockouts while optimizing inventory turns. Collaborate with merchandising, buying, and marketing teams to develop and evaluate pricing strategies, promotional calendars, and markdown schedules. Support sales and clearance strategies aligned with financial goals. Build strong relationships and collaborate with stakeholders across merchandising, buying, marketing, operations, and finance to ensure aligned financial and operational strategies. Support and contribute to transformational projects in a dynamic environment. Identify business risks and opportunities, and provide proactive financial insights to improve operational efficiency and profitability. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field required Master’s degree (e.g., MBA) or professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CFA) preferred 5 years of progressive experience in finance, FP&A, or merchandising finance, with a strong focus on retail analytics Strong expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and complex data analysis with advanced Excel skills Solid understanding of retail financial metrics (e.g., GMROI, inventory turns, open-to-buy, Dead Net Profit) Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear insights Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities Experience with systems such as D365, Adaptive, Snowflake, Anaplan, Hyperion, MFP, Power BI, Blue Yonder Leslie's provides a robust benefits package, including: Comprehensive medical, pharmacy, dental, & vision plan options. Health savings account (with enrollment in the high deductible health plan option). Health & dependent care flexible spending accounts. Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance. Voluntary supplemental life insurance. Company-paid short-term disability and voluntary long-term disability insurance. Pre-tax and Roth 401(k) with company match. Paid vacation, sick, and bereavement leave. Paid holidays, including a floating personal day. Employee assistance and wellness programs. Earned Wage access is available, allowing early access to a portion of your earned wages before payday. Product discounts at Leslie’s Retail stores. Leslie’s recognizes a critical component to our continued success is our people. Leslie’s is proud to have a culture of inclusion that seeks to celebrate and embrace the different backgrounds and perspectives that help drive our success and support team members in developing and growing with us. We aim to create a workplace where all team members feel welcomed and valued and inspire each other every day.

Keywords: Leslie's Pool Supplies, Peoria , Finance Manager - Merchandising, Retail - All , Phoenix, Arizona