Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

Stephen Wells

Cumberland Center,ME

Summary

Accomplished Senior Merchandise Planner and Finance Manager with a proven track record at L.L.Bean, Inc., and Cole Haan, enhancing product category growth and financial forecasting accuracy. Excelled in demand forecasting and relationship building, driving innovative solutions and collaborative success across multiple teams. Skilled in Microsoft Excel, adept at transforming data into strategic action to exceed performance targets.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Merchandise Planner

L.L.Bean, Inc.
06.2012 - Current
  • Responsible for providing high-level product category growth guidance during initial pre-season planning stage for progressively larger categories.
  • Develop and communicate product category pre-season demand and assortment count targets to Merchandising and Inventory Management partners.
  • Continue to analyze and discuss pre-season demand targets with teams and facilitate monthly open-to-buy meetings with Merchandising and Inventory Management cross-functional partners to adjust demand and inventory plans.
  • Responsible for developing, communicating, and managing category IPM (initial pricing margin) and assortment count targets.
  • In addition to core role tasks, participate in multiple committees including the Supply Chain Bean’s Best AST to help recognize those employees who best represent the L.L.Bean core values, Onboarding Committee to develop training materials for new hires, Be An Outsider Group to organize monthly presentations and quarterly outdoor events, and L.L.Bean 4th of July 10K Race Committee volunteer.

Lead Demand Planning Analyst

L.LBean, Inc.
09.2009 - 06.2012
  • Created pre-season product level demand plans with Corporate Merchants to help develop category level budgets.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to adjust in-season demand plans to accommodate trends and inventory availability.
  • Operated as the Merchandising representative on the Corporate Promotions committee and responsible for creating item lists for each promotion driven by analytics on incremental demand and margin impact. Also managed third party brand MAP (minimum advertised price) policies.
  • Served as the Merchandising representative on L.L.Bean's 100th Anniversary committee,
  • During this time also led employees and interns.

Lead Finance Analyst

L.L.Bean, Inc.
03.2006 - 09.2009
  • Responsible for the annual Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) process, including target development, communication with all functional areas, and development of presentation deck for Senior Leaders and the Office of the President.
  • Worked directly with senior finance management, including CFO, VP, and Director of Finance on numerous ad hoc analyses and presented findings to leadership. Specific projects include impacts on the business and shareholders of dividend policy changes, impact of incentive guideline changes on employees, balance of sales shifts on company performance, etc.
  • Responsible for developing five-year financial projections and other analyses for presentation to the CFO and an external company for valuation of company stock, in addition to post-valuation analyses.
  • Aid in the monthly forecast and annual budget process. Primarily responsible for rolling up results to gauge impact on incentive and dividend plans.


Finance Manager - International Planning/Analysis

Cole Haan
02.2002 - 03.2006
  • Leveraged the Financial Planning and Forecasting Director and Vice President in the Budgeting and Forecasting processes by developing more dynamic tools and processes.
  • Coordinated the budget process with the Executive Team including development and presentation of annual Budget to the CEO.
  • Acted as Cole Haan liaison to Nike’s Subsidiary Group responsible for preparing scheduled and ad hoc reports for Nike.
  • Assisted in the creation of Cole Haan’s annual multiyear Strategic Plan by developing business rules, assumptions, and models that defined the targets presented to the CEO and Nike.
  • Developed Hyperion Pillar as the primary tool used for the Forecast and Budget process, as well as ad hoc report creation, and implemented this tool across all Cole Haan divisions, including Japan.
  • Performed ROI analyses on all Corporate-level projects to ensure positive cash flows and exceeded all the company’s hurdle rates.
  • Partnered with the International Finance Team, primarily Japan, to ensure consistency in corporate metrics reporting and financial analysis by developing and implementing timelines and procedures across Cole Haan’s International divisions, including a Japan Open-to-Buy process.
  • Automated all monthly financial reporting processes to quickly and easily populate monthly financial reports for use in Executive meetings and International videoconferences.

Finance Specialist

Accenture
03.1997 - 11.2001
  • Designed and developed a model that tracked various metrics of the company’s global strategy for communication to the Global Managing Partner and senior executives, and conducted global training and supervised testing by user community.
  • Responsible for developing and presenting financial analyses, including a financial scorecard that measured Accenture’s success in achieving various metrics at regional Communications clients.
  • Facilitated the collaboration of multiple teams to collect and organize crucial data for global partner meetings. Created the PowerPoint presentations used by senior partners at these meetings.
  • Supervised a team of analysts by establishing work priorities in weekly task meetings, coordinating training, and performing periodic performance reviews. Responsible for ensuring the completion of all team tasks.

Account Executive Stockbroker

DMG Securities
05.1996 - 10.1996
  • Obtained Series 7 General Securities NYSE/NASD Registered Representative and Series 63 Uniform Securities Agent State Law Registration.
  • Originated and maintained client accounts using a variety of investment products.
  • Assessed client’s financial status and investment capabilities through phone and face-to-face meetings.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - International Studies (Minors: German & English)

Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA

Skills

  • Microsoft Excel proficiency
  • Demand forecasting
  • Seasonal Planning
  • Open-to-buy Management
  • Critical Thinking
  • Innovation and Creativity

Additional Information

Registered Maine Guide, 2012 - Present

  • Qualified by the state of Maine to legally and safely lead paying clients in recreational outdoor activities.


Board of Directors

  • Cancer Community Center, South Portland, ME 2004 – 2010
  • Portland Trails, Portland, ME 2010 – 2016


Virginia Army National Guard, Infantry Sergeant 1992 - 1998

  • Honorably Discharged with U.S. Army Achievement Medal and Virginia National Guard Accommodation Medal for leadership demonstration and skill performance.
  • Attended and completed the U.S. Army’s Primary Leadership Development Course. Learned to manage a team, review performance, and address personnel development issues.
  • Supervised an Infantry team, conducted training of soldiers, and qualified as a Combat Lifesaver.


Timeline

Senior Merchandise Planner

L.L.Bean, Inc.
06.2012 - Current

Lead Demand Planning Analyst

L.LBean, Inc.
09.2009 - 06.2012

Lead Finance Analyst

L.L.Bean, Inc.
03.2006 - 09.2009

Finance Manager - International Planning/Analysis

Cole Haan
02.2002 - 03.2006

Finance Specialist

Accenture
03.1997 - 11.2001

Account Executive Stockbroker

DMG Securities
05.1996 - 10.1996

Bachelor of Arts - International Studies (Minors: German & English)

Virginia Tech

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