Aaron Reasoner
Little Elm
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven corporate retail and business professional with over 18 years of experience specializing in financial analysis, forecasting, and strategic planning. Adept at leveraging quantitative and statistical analysis to drive business decisions, optimize inventory management, and enhance profitability. Passionate about utilizing AI-based tools and automation to improve efficiency, refine predictive analytics, and develop innovative solutions. Known for problem-solving, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. Proven track record of streamlining processes, developing high-impact reporting tools, and mentoring teams to exceed company goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Merchandise Planner
JCPenney
10.2022 - 03.2025
- Built and managed financial roadmaps connecting product assortment to corporate sales targets
- Owned omni-level category open-to-buy through the consistent analysis of sales trends, pricing, margins & GP, inventory, competition, and overall productivity against corporate targets and initiatives
- Created and streamlined reporting and processes to increase productivity and reduce ambiguity in a constantly changing environment
- Directly partnered with multiple buyers as category 'CFO' to provide insight around KPI performance to plan, financial impacts of promotions through scenario based modeling, and current, seasonal, or long-term sales opportunities for product, channel, customer, and location segments
- Cross-functionally partnered with merchandising, field team, finance, marketing, ecomm digital team, IT, supply chain, and legal to provide insight or resolve issues in path of reaching company goals
- Drove largest volume area within JCP, while consistently beating KPI targets and garnering multiple recognition callouts by top leadership, contributing to both of my businesses ranking in the top 10% for 2024 performance
- Transformed special event reporting for stores, while making it more dynamic and reducing the update time by 1 hour
Business Analysis Manager - Consumer Group
T-Mobile
09.2021 - 10.2022
- Provided continuous channel performance and profitability analysis through the understanding of key drivers behind sales, activations, customer experience, and promotions
- Led weekly Business Performance Review for regional SVP, Market Directors, and DM's through the presentation of performance analysis, insights, headwinds/tailwinds, and operational initiatives
- Partnered with Segment/Channel Management, Sales, Finance, Care, and Marketing to steer investments and drive value and margin performance
- Acted as primary liaison between designated regional field team and their sales performance by creating insightful KPI reporting, building custom performance trackers, communicating methodology behind various measures and target setting process, and fielded any other questions and concerns
- Designed a new executive level PBI dashboard breaking down 'Productivity per Hour' for stores
Financial Planning Manager
JCPenney
03.2020 - 09.2021
- Developed and executed financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and analysis to maximize ecomm P&L results through sales forecasting, expense management, and scenario based financial modeling
- Partnered with Retail Business Units, Merchants, Accounting, and Supply Chain to ensure alignment on sales, promotions, Revenue & Expense entries, and fulfillment expectations
- Developed capital financial models for investments to better understand potential financial impacts, customer retention benefit, NPV and IRR
- Taught and mentored Senior Financial Analysts on retail cadence, more efficient reporting methods, and operational procedures
- Streamlined business performance reporting for finance leadership via newly created dashboards and scenario-based profitability calculators
Merchandise Planner
JCPenney
02.2016 - 03.2020
- Built and managed financial roadmaps connecting product assortment to corporate sales targets
- Owned omni-level category open-to-buy through the consistent analysis of sales trends, pricing, margins & GP, inventory, competition, and overall productivity against corporate targets and initiatives
- Cross-functionally partnered with merchandising, field team, finance, marketing, ecomm digital team, IT, supply chain, and legal to provide insight or resolve issues in path of reaching company goals
- Trained and mentored Associate Merchandise Planners and Finance Trainee's on methodology behind allocation, planning, retail strategies, and technical skillsets
- Facilitated company rollout of new 'Profitability Tool' and 'Supplier Performance Summary'
Business Analyst
JCPenney
10.2012 - 02.2016
- Managed product assortment through distilling large data into actionable insight on category trends while utilizing variance analysis to determine forecast upside or risk factors in achieving financial and assortment targets
- Monitored sell-through, turn rates and over-all margin goals for product assortment
- Built daily forecasting tool for peak season to decrease out of stocks and help maximize productivity
Account Manager
Driveline Retail Merchandising
02.2012 - 10.2012
- Managed client projects from initial setup to full execution, while acting as liaison between client, retailer, and field team
- Built strong partnerships with clients through insightful recommendations, new strategies, and consistent engagement
Merchandise Business Analyst
The Walking Company
09.2008 - 02.2012
- Led product buying, planning and allocation for a $100M assortment
- Worked with vendors and executive leadership to coordinate buy plans, assortment strategies, and the financial impact of pricing and promotions
- Provided ongoing insight on industry trends, business objectives, and opportunities that help maintain a productive and relevant business
Replenishment Planner
Harbor Freight Tools
09.2006 - 09.2008
- Managed DC-to-store allocations for multi-unit national store base
- Provided sales forecasts for promotional mailers using variance analysis on price, trends, inventory levels and competition
Education
Bachelor's - Economics
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ05-2006
Skills
- Variance Analysis
- Financial Reporting
- Forecasting & Budgeting
- Dashboards
- Inventory Management
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Power BI
- Power Query
- SQL
- VBA
- Oracle BI
- Objective and Fact Driven
- Team Player
- Customer Focused
- Self-Starter
Timeline
Merchandise Planner
JCPenney
10.2022 - 03.2025
Business Analysis Manager - Consumer Group
T-Mobile
09.2021 - 10.2022
Financial Planning Manager
JCPenney
03.2020 - 09.2021
Merchandise Planner
JCPenney
02.2016 - 03.2020
Business Analyst
JCPenney
10.2012 - 02.2016
Account Manager
Driveline Retail Merchandising
02.2012 - 10.2012
Merchandise Business Analyst
The Walking Company
09.2008 - 02.2012
Replenishment Planner
Harbor Freight Tools
09.2006 - 09.2008
Bachelor's - Economics
University of Arizona
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