Commercial Finance Planning Analyst

About the Company

Sazerac Company is an independent, American family-owned business with nearly 400 years of history and operations in the United States and worldwide. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double-digit growth annually. The company produces and markets award-winning bourbons and whiskeys, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye, as well as other popular spirits brands like Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. Sazerac’s Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and its Buffalo Trace Distillery is recognized as the “world’s most award-winning distillery.”

About the Role

The Commercial Finance Planning Analyst supports financial planning, commercial performance analysis, and strategic decision-making. This role develops financial analyses, prepares executive reporting, supports the annual operating plan (AOP), and partners with commercial leaders to improve business performance. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical skills with business acumen to translate financial data into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, coordination, and execution of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), including volume, revenue, and gross profit.
• Analyze business performance against budget, forecast, and prior year, identifying key drivers and recommending corrective actions.
• Build, maintain, and validate financial planning models, assumptions, hierarchies, and data inputs in the planning system (Oracle EPM).
• Produce detailed financial analyses to support commercial decision-making, including sales, margin, pricing, product, and performance.
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through data analysis and present actionable insights to business leaders.
• Perform variance analyses and root cause investigations to explain financial results.
• Support scenario modeling and sensitivity analyses for business planning and investment decisions.
• Build recurring financial reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for executive leadership and commercial teams, leveraging Excel and Power BI.
• Improve reporting processes through automation, standardization, and visualization tools.
• Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and integrity of financial data across reporting platforms.
• Continuously evaluate and improve financial planning, forecasting, and reporting processes.
• Assist with the implementation of new reporting tools, financial systems, and planning technologies.
• Promote best practices in financial analysis, data management, and performance measurement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in financial planning & analysis (FP&A), commercial finance, corporate finance, or related analytical roles.
• Experience supporting annual operating plans, forecasting, and management reporting.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modeling and data analysis.
• Proficiency with business intelligence tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• High attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance audiences.
• Strong financial modeling and quantitative analysis capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or professional certification (CPA, CMA, or CFA).
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar).
• Experience with planning and reporting tools such as Hyperion, OneStream, Anaplan, or Adaptive Planning.
• Experience working with cross-functional commercial or sales organizations.