Manager, Commercial Finance

Company Description Simple Mills is on a mission to transform the way food is made, creating nourishing products with astounding ingredients and amazing taste. Founded in 2012 by Katlin Smith, our brand has redefined center-aisle grocery by delivering better-for-you products made with unique, nutrient-dense ingredients. Today, we’re a category leader and the #1 natural brand in multiple segments, with distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide. Now, as part of Flowers Foods , we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth—expanding our reach, accelerating innovation, and amplifying brand awareness, all while preserving the integrity of what makes Simple Mills special. Our commitment to using simple, high-quality ingredients ensures that every bite is both delicious and nutritious. Whether it’s watermelon seed flour in our cookies or butternut squash in our crackers, we craft our products with innovative, wholesome ingredients that deliver extraordinary taste. Our work has been recognized by Fast Company as a Brand That Matters and a Most Innovative Company , and has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Women’s Health , and NPR’s How I Built This . In 2024, Inc. named us one of its Best Workplaces , reflecting our dedication to fostering an inspiring and inclusive environment where passionate individuals can make a difference. Join us as we shape the future of food. Learn more at www.simplemills.com . Role Description The Manager of Commercial Finance will play a key role in supporting profitable growth for Simple Mills by partnering closely with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to deliver high-quality financial insights and commercial analytics, including proactively pressure-testing assumptions and identifying opportunities to improve decision quality. This role will support revenue planning, trade and promotional analysis, pricing evaluation, and ongoing tracking of commercial performance across customers and channels. Reporting to the Senior Director, Commercial Finance , this role will help translate commercial strategy into financial analysis that informs planning, forecasting, and decision-making. The Manager will contribute to improving tools, processes, and financial rigor across the business while operating as a strong thought partner to cross-functional teams. This is a hands-on role that requires strong analytical capability, clear communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Commercial Finance Partnership & Forecasting Own commercial forecasting for assigned accounts and/or channels, including volume, net sales, trade spend, and key revenue drivers, in partnership with Sales and Marketing. Challenge assumptions and inputs in commercial analyses, identifying when the initial approach should shift based on data or changing business context. Support consolidation and review of customer- and channel-level forecasts, helping identify key risks and opportunities. Partner cross-functionally to translate commercial plans into financial forecasts and performance insights. Support the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Long-Range Planning (LRP), and reforecast cycles through development of assumptions, analyses, and scenario modeling. Reporting, Insights, & Performance Management Prepare Net Sales and commercial performance reporting, including KPIs, variance analysis, and clear commentary. Develop actionable insights on performance drivers, risks, and opportunities, with recommendations to support decision-making. Communicate findings clearly to cross-functional partners, tailoring analysis to the audience and business context. Execute ad-hoc financial and strategic analyses to support customer strategies, pricing initiatives, and other commercial priorities. Ensure analytical outputs are accurate and internally consistent through independent validation of assumptions and results. Net Revenue Management (NRM) Analyze trade and promotional performance, including pre-event scenario modeling and post-event analysis. Deliver analytics across pricing, promotion, mix, and trade investment to support net revenue optimization , and clearly articulate and validate the analytical logic linking inputs (price, mix, trade) to financial outcomes Support pricing analysis, including list price and price-pack architecture scenario modeling. Evaluate pricing, promotion, and trade scenarios holistically, making tradeoffs explicit (e.g., volume vs. profitability, short- vs. long-term impact) and clearly articulating the financial logic behind recommendations. Trade Management, Systems, & Financial Controls Manage day-to-day tracking of trade and commercial budgets, monitoring spend versus plan and explaining variances. Support maintenance and improvement of Commercial Finance tools, systems, and reporting processes, including Trade Promotion Management systems. Team Leadership & Development Manage and develop junior team members, fostering strong financial acumen and stewardship across the team. Act as a strong financial partner to Sales and Marketing teams, building trust through accuracy, insight, and responsiveness. Performs other projects as assigned Position Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, Analytics, or a related field required. 4–7 years of experience in Commercial Finance, FP&A, or analytics-focused finance roles. Experience in the Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) industry required, with preference for recent, hands-on commercial finance experience Experience supporting commercial teams through forecasting, trade or promotional analysis, and pricing work. Experience supporting AOP, reforecasting, and planning processes. Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling and scenario analysis, ability to build, audit, and explain models and assumptions independently. Experience with Business Intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI). Familiarity with syndicated data sources (e.g., Circana, Nielsen, SPINS). Working knowledge of Net Revenue Management (pricing, promotion, mix, trade investment). Experience with Trade Promotion Management systems a plus. Strong analytical skills with the ability to connect financial outcomes to business drivers and clearly articulate cause-and-effect relationships and tradeoffs Clear communicator who can translate analysis into actionable insights, insights and make underlying assumptions, tradeoffs, and decision logic visible to stakeholders Comfortable working in a dynamic, evolving environment with ambiguity, including the ability to challenge assumptions and adapt approach when needed A personal connection to the Simple Mills mission and a fervent desire to improve the food system to help people and the planet thrive. Working at Simple Mills At Simple Mills, we’re not just building a brand, we’re leading a movement that’s transforming how food is made and enjoyed. If you’re passionate about purpose-driven work and crave a role where you can have a meaningful impact, this is your chance to be part of something bigger. Why Join Us? Be a Change-Maker Play a key role in redefining the food industry, crafting products that nourish people and contribute to a healthier planet. Thrive in a Mission-Driven Community Work alongside a dynamic team of innovators and food lovers who are committed to positive change and bold ideas. A Workplace Where You Belong We foster an environment where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. Inclusion and belonging are at the heart of our culture, ensuring that everyone can thrive. A Culture of Integrity and Impact We don’t just talk about doing good, we live it. Our team is committed to ethical practices, responsible sourcing, and making decisions that drive real, positive change. Grow with People-First Leadership Our supportive leadership team is dedicated to mentorship, collaboration, and your long-term success. Continuous Learning & Development Whether through hands-on training, innovative learning platforms, or career growth opportunities, we invest in your professional development. At Simple Mills, you’ll have the chance to make an impact while working in a collaborative and inspiring environment. If you’re ready to shape the future of food, let’s talk. Benefits We recognize that our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a highly competitive total rewards package designed to support your financial well-being, health, and overall quality of life. Competitive Compensation: This role offers a salary range of $105,000 to $120,000 Annual Bonus Opportunity: Eligible for an annual bonus as part of our commitment to recognizing team contributions and company success. Holistic Benefits: A variety of health, financial, and wellness programs to help you feel your best and plan for the future. Time to Recharge: We believe your best work comes when you have space to rest, refocus, and show up fully—our time off approach is built with that in mind. Everyday Well-Being: From lifestyle perks to innovation shipments, we find meaningful ways to support you in living simply and feeling well. We’re committed to taking care of our people—so you can focus on making an impact. Work Model at Simple Mills Our work model is role-dependent and team focused. With remote, hybrid, or in-office positions, each role is classified by what best supports the needs of the team. This position will be hybrid: a balance of in-person and virtual work. Hybrid employees will work from our Chicago, IL office at least once per week. When working remotely, employees must work from a designated location in the United States (the new hire’s permanent residence, as documented in our HR System, Rippling) with sufficient internet access to support video conferencing. Safety protocols in accordance with CDC recommendations are followed. At Simple Mills, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present military service, physical or mental disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications. #LI-DNI Simple Mills is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Simple Mills will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].