Julie Bula

• Raised $2.5M+ in capital from Friends & Family, Angel Investors, VCs, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners; secured a $500K SBA Line of Credit to support operational runway and strategic initiatives.
• Built scalable HR and payroll infrastructure by evaluating and implementing a best-fit PEO, streamlining compliance, benefits, and payroll management for a growing team.
• Researched, negotiated, and implemented an international banking partner to support seamless global payments to third-party vendors and contractors.
• Secured co-working space in a designated Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) and monetized tax credits to inject non-dilutive capital into the business.
• Led vendor selection and execution of R&D tax credit calculations for multiple fiscal years; collaborated with PEO to apply credits directly to federal payroll tax obligations.
• Assessed and implemented B&O insurance coverage tailored to the company’s growth stage and risk profile.
• Acted as primary liaison with legal counsel to ensure compliance and proper documentation across corporate governance, financing, customer contracts, and strategic partnerships.
• Owned all budgeting, forecasting, and monthly financial reporting processes, delivering actionable insights to drive executive decision-making.
• Collaborated with co-founders and leadership on long-term strategic planning, aligning operational and financial execution with business goals.
• Maintained investor relationships through regular updates and performance reviews, supporting transparency, trust, and continued engagement.

Financial Planning & Analysis Operational Strategy & Execution Channel & Market Expansion Wholesale & Ecommerce Optimization Creative, Photo & Marketing Spend Analysis Leadership & Team Development

• Directed full budgeting process by channel, including payroll and headcount planning, with rolling forecasts to support agile business decision-making.
• Led monthly P&L reviews, developed executive-level business summaries, and delivered channel-specific financial reporting to guide performance and strategy.
• Completed and presented a 3-year Long Range Plan (LRP) by channel and total brand, aligning with corporate growth initiatives.
• Owned business plan preparation and review for new brand extensions and international market entries (.jp site, shop-in-shops, pop-ups, etc.).
• Produced real estate pro formas and evaluated move/expansion opportunities, supporting location strategy with store productivity reviews (size, type, geography).
• Conducted store bonus calculations across Corporate and Field teams, tying compensation to location-level performance and profitability.
• Drove financial packet creation and led monthly internal financial performance review meetings with the Executive Team.
• Developed and executed a comprehensive operations roadmap across logistics, transportation, fulfillment, returns, and cross-channel integrations (retail, e-comm, wholesale).
• Spearheaded direct delivery options, optimizing cost and service across fulfillment centers, store shipments, and split/in-and-out of market shipments.
• Led cross-functional coordination with IT and distribution center teams to roll out new systems, technologies, and operational improvements.
• Partnered with the wholesale operations team to optimize chargebacks, improve RA matching, and enhance returns reserve visibility and efficiency.
• Reviewed and optimized the transfer process across all channels, conducting cost/benefit analyses to drive process improvements.
• Assessed executive decisions with significant financial impact, applying scenario modeling and strategic insight to drive aligned actions.
• Created pro formas and ROI evaluations for domestic and international wholesale shop-in-shop locations, including partnerships with 3rd party launch partners.
• Reviewed international wholesale shop support expenses and duty drawback opportunities in collaboration with customs for Canada.
• Partnered on international tax and duty strategies for UK, China, Japan, Canada, and Australia, supporting all logistics for shipping, returns, offices, and staffing.
• Oversaw domestic and international shipment expense reviews, including analysis of free shipping promotions and their impact across markets.
• Led wholesale operations optimization, including automated invoicing/email via Blue Cherry, OP coordination, and pricing markups by country.
• Collaborated with wholesale sales, merchandising, and e-commerce teams to coordinate website enhancements and improve user experience.
• Managed preliminary planning and financial modeling for key wholesale initiatives including the .jp site and international partner expansions.
• Oversaw wholesale returns reserve process, ensuring more accurate forecasting and matching of RAs to support operational cash flow.
• Analyzed web photo shoot spend across product categories, optimizing for shot productivity, creative effectiveness, and reshoot minimization.
• Conducted detailed marketing and creative expense analysis to ensure ROI across ecommerce and retail content investments.
• Managed a team of senior financial analysts and operations staff, focusing on team development, succession planning, and cross-functional leadership.
• Provided ongoing mentorship and strategic direction to team leads and cross-functional collaborators across finance and operations.
• Coordinated and facilitated weekly internal store performance reviews and re-forecast meetings to drive retail agility and in-season responsiveness.

• Spearheaded the growth of Anthropologie’s Direct/Ecommerce business by owning business management, customer experience, and digital operations.
• Led cross-functional website development initiatives, including project management, content production, and tech team coordination, resulting in enhanced digital customer experience and improved operational efficiency.
• Developed and executed international ecommerce expansion strategy, including E4X implementation, website integration, budget planning, and international customer service strategy.
• Partnered with Web Development to optimize onsite functionality and customer-facing features such as live chat, enhanced product content, and sizing guides.

• Transformed the Direct customer experience by implementing brand-aligned packaging, curated outbound inserts, and advanced contact center training.
• Supported CRM implementation by developing Direct loyalty strategy, including customer tiering and benefits, and managing call center integration.
• Created a premium customer service experience for Furniture customers through personalized post-order communications, care guides, experience surveys, and dedicated contact channels.
• Rolled out enhanced Contact Center operations for Retail Furniture, expanding service consistency across channels and districts.

• Managed Direct Inventory Planning team; partnered with Planning Director on strategic initiatives, team development, and executive presentations.
• Coordinated with DC and IT teams to improve shipping logistics by integrating accurate product weights, optimizing carrier selection, and enhancing returns processing.
• Worked closely with DC, Contact Center, and MIS to support the smooth operational transition from Pennsylvania to South Carolina.

• Led the annual budgeting process for both Direct and Retail channels; established a new framework for forecasting Journal and Non-Catalog Web (NCW) demand.
• Analyzed high-impact initiatives such as Newgistics returns, free shipping, and the footwear category to drive profitability and operational insights.
• Partnered with senior marketing and website leaders to calculate ROI for key site and marketing initiatives.

• Built and led the Product Information and Sample Coordinator team to streamline data flow from merchandising to QA and ensure accurate product representation online.
• Collaborated with Visual Merchandising and Distribution Center teams to ensure all Direct materials (e.g., collates, coupons, FTC cards) aligned with brand standards.
• Coordinated implementation of the SmartLabel return process, improving customer return experience and operational efficiency.

• Led financial statement setup, monthly reporting, and comprehensive financial analysis for Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Free People Direct businesses.
• Coordinated the development and consolidation of annual budgets for FY '04 and FY '05 across all brands and sales channels in collaboration with Brand Management.
• Reviewed divisional margin performance, including initial markup (IMU) analysis, on-hand IMU trends, and markdown performance versus plan.
• Conducted freight cost analysis by unit and held regular discussions with the Distribution Manager on freight mix and cost trends.
• Analyzed and tracked new store opening costs, controlled expenditures, and reviewed capital expenditure (CapEx) reports for variances; recommended actions to maintain forward-looking cost control.
• Reviewed and discussed operational contracts with the Controller and prepared ROI analyses for major CapEx and special projects.

• Reviewed and analyzed monthly comparable store inventory reports by store, class, and division to detect obsolescence issues and improve inventory accuracy.
• Acted as liaison with Inventory Planners to assess inventory appropriateness at the store level, evaluate monthly markdown plans, and address operational inventory challenges.
• Obtained and assessed markdown projections to align with margin and inventory targets.
• Partnered with Inventory Planners and Buyers to establish a 1% vendor allowance reserve for damages, enhancing cost recovery processes.
• Implemented a damage reduction strategy with inventory teams, achieving a 20-basis-point improvement.
• Worked with Buyers to control and minimize sample costs while maintaining merchandising effectiveness.
• Reviewed merchandising costs, with particular attention to sample spend and travel expenditures.

• Partnered with Marketing Managers to develop cost-efficient strategies to increase catalog and website orders and improve customer response rates.
• Analyzed order cancellation reasons and collaborated with Customer Service, Buyers, and Inventory Planners to address and reduce identified root causes.
• Analyzed monthly return rates as a percentage of gross sales; worked cross-functionally to reduce returns through actionable insights and operational changes.

• Collaborated with Anthropologie Direct’s Managing Director and Production team to reduce catalog production costs by $0.06 per book, resulting in $1.0M in annual savings.
• Collaborated with the Cash Manager and Call Center leadership to improve collections on bad checks and expedite processing of credit card chargebacks.
• Tracked store payroll categories and hours on a store-by-store basis; partnered with store directors to enhance payroll efficiency and control labor costs.

• Led audits of financial statement components, including cash, accounts receivable, prepaid and other assets, fixed assets, inventory, accounts payable, debt, and equity for both public and private clients in the manufacturing and health care sectors.
• Supervised and coached audit staff across multiple engagements, reviewing workpapers for accuracy and completeness, and ensuring compliance with GAAP, GAAS, and firm quality standards.
• Coordinated with client management to assess internal controls, identify risks, and recommend process improvements, resulting in more efficient operations, and stronger audit readiness.
• Managed planning and execution of audit engagements from inception through completion, including budgeting, scheduling, and communication with stakeholders.
• Prepared and reviewed audit documentation and financial statement disclosures, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality audit deliverables to clients and regulators.