Sr Manager, Trade Finance

Accountabilities: Guide Sales teams through all stages of the trade management process, providing expertise and recommendations on promotional planning, execution, and optimization. Coordinate and maintain Blacksmith Trade Promotion Management (TPM) and Trade Promotion Optimization (TPO) systems for assigned customers. Advise Sales teams on TPO scenario planning, evaluating promotional opportunities based on expected volume, margin, and return on investment. Support the TPM process by improving forecast accuracy, recommending promotional scenarios, reviewing post-event performance, and advising on promotion structures that enable accurate reporting and deduction resolution. Conduct monthly trade reviews with Account Managers for assigned customers. Establish and reinforce best practices for trade management, including naming conventions, delivery versus performance dates, performance type definitions, and consistent system usage. Partner with Accounting to research and resolve trade deductions, targeting closure within 90 days of receipt. Release and close fully actualized promotions in the TPM system for assigned customers. Contribute to the annual revenue and trade bottom-up planning process, identifying revenue and budget gaps against the Annual Operating Plan (AOP). Develop and maintain reporting for the Sales team, including trade management performance indicators and operational metrics. Support the development and reporting of KPIs such as retail price point execution, budget underspend and overspend, contract attachments, forecast accuracy, and promotion creation lead time (PLT). Communicate incremental volume plans to Demand Planning and explain their assumptions and details during Demand Reviews. Coordinate, track, and ensure timely submission of committed promotions for approval by Sales teams, while approving promotions for assigned customers. Lead the Trade Management team in collecting and reporting post-event analysis through Power BI, presenting findings during Sales reviews. Manage, coach, and develop two direct reports, setting clear objectives, providing regular feedback, supporting professional growth, and maintaining accountability and performance. Act as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex trade management issues. Partner with Sales and the Trade Management team to maintain system accuracy, including new customer setups, order information (OI) validation in the ERP system, and consumption actuals uploads. Ensure direct and indirect customer tables remain accurate and up to date. Work with Sales to maintain complete and current volume plans in response to new product introductions and discontinuations. Develop and communicate recommendations for standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the organization grows. Recommend future TPM enhancements and test new system functionality to support ongoing process improvement. Requirements Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or a related field. At least 6 years of experience in CPG trade promotion management or a related role. At least 2 years of people leadership experience, including coaching, developing, and managing team performance. Prior experience working within and maintaining a Trade Promotion Management (TPM) system. Experience with Blacksmith is valuable; familiarity with Power BI, SPINS, IRI, Circana, Nielsen, and customer portals is a plus. Strong understanding of trade promotion planning, promotional forecasting, accruals, deductions, post-event analysis, and trade investment optimization. Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly advanced Excel capabilities. Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present findings and influence Sales and cross-functional stakeholders. Strong organization, accountability, and time management, with the ability to manage recurring monthly deadlines and competing priorities. Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision in a remote environment. A collaborative and team-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to shared goals and recognizing the contributions of others. A proactive mindset focused on ownership, continuous improvement, raising standards, and having constructive, transparent conversations. A passion for ethical and nutritious food and purpose-driven brands. Sales experience is beneficial; experience as a Sales Analyst or in a comparable role will also be considered. Ability and willingness to travel approximately 10–20% for team meetings, company training, onboarding trips, and business events. Benefits Base salary: $130,000–$150,000 annually. Compensation offers take into account skills, relevant experience, education, training, market conditions, and business needs. Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage. Retirement: 401(k) plan with a 3% company contribution starting on day one. Paid parental leave. Remote work: Remote working environment within the United States. Food perks: Complimentary products and discounts for friends and family. Company merchandise: Team merchandise and branded items. Professional development: Opportunities to build skills and grow alongside an experienced, collaborative team. Purpose-driven culture: Opportunity to contribute to a business focused on ethical food production, responsible practices, and positive stakeholder impact. Travel: 10–20% travel for team collaboration, training, onboarding, and company events.