Senior Financial Analyst, Merchandising
About the role
About Us
The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.
Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Senior Financial Analyst, Merchandising to join our team. As a Senior Financial Analyst, you’ll provide key financial support through advanced reporting, SKU forecasting, and data-driven insights that inform assortment planning and overall business performance. You’ll lead the development of performance reports and variance analysis, translating complex data into clear, compelling narratives for senior leadership.
In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Finance, FP&A, Inventory, and Logistics to support strategic planning, scenario modeling, and promotional effectiveness. You’ll also drive process optimization by enhancing reporting workflows, improving data quality, and leveraging automation to scale insights. With a focus on influencing decisions and supporting evolving business needs, you’ll deliver timely, actionable analysis that aligns with both merchandising and broader strategic business goals.
About Your Day
- Lead the development and execution of SKU count forecasting and reporting processes, integrating historical trends, merchandising strategies, and inventory data to support assortment planning and optimize category performance.
- Compile, analyze, and interpret financial and operational data to support merchandising decisions.
- Prepare and present weekly, monthly, and annual performance reports with actionable insights.
- Conduct variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year results, identifying key drivers and trends.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into clear, compelling narratives, delivering insights through visual storytelling and executive-level presentations that inform strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with key departments—including Finance, Insights, FP&A, Inventory, and Logistics—to communicate actionable insights, assess business impact, and identify strategic opportunities.
- Support team planning, decision support and scenario modeling to inform long-term business strategies.
- Develop and maintain balanced assortment plans in partnership with the larger merchandising team, ensuring alignment with financial goals and product strategies.
- Conduct deep-dive analysis and provide strategic recommendations on promotional activities to maximize effectiveness.
- Influence key stakeholders by delivering insights and recommendations that support strategic product and investment decisions.
- Provide financial and operational expertise in merchandising to support cross-functional project teams, offering strategic guidance and insights that drive informed decision-making.
- Lead and facilitate project meetings, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and deliverables.
- Communicate project progress and financial implications to internal stakeholders.
- Proactively identify and resolve issues, ensuring quality standards and business objectives are met.
- Identify opportunities to enhance reporting and analytical processes, data quality, and analytical tools.
- Recommend and implement improvements to drive efficiency and insight generation.
- Leverage automation and advanced analytics to streamline reporting workflows and improve the scalability of operational insights.
- Respond to merchandising-related requests with timely and accurate analysis.
- Support leadership with custom reports, deep dives, and decision support tools.
- Maintain flexibility to address evolving business needs and priorities.
- Where required, provide input and support to any relevant Merchandising policies.
About You
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (MBA or advanced certification in data analytics or financial modeling is preferred).
- CPA designation or active enrollment in the CPA program.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in Finance, with at least 3 years in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A).
- Proven experience in using dashboards and reports using Microsoft Power BI.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling).
- Minimum 5 years’ experience working with ERP systems (e.g., D365, SAP, Oracle, Workday).
- 5+ years’ experience in a retail, manufacturing or consumer packaged goods environment/experience with merchandising or category finance is preferred.
- Certifications in analytics (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) or financial modeling is an asset.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to present complex data clearly and with a concise story.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders.
- High level of professional judgment and business acumen.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
About the Job
- Location: Toronto, ON near York Mills and Yonge Street
- Hours of Work: 36.25 a week
- Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
- Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA
Compensation
The target hiring range for this position is $75,000-85,000. This is a pay grade 6 role, with a salary range of $71,777.30 -$ 107,379.81. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.
We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.
About OCS Ontario Cannabis Store
The Ontario Cannabis Store is a Crown agency solely owned by the Province of Ontario and reporting to the Ministry of Finance.
The OCS provides safe, responsible access to legal recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We are Ontario’s sole wholesaler to more than 1,500 Authorized Cannabis Stores. The OCS also operates OCS.ca, the Province’s online cannabis retailer which delivers to consumers in every corner of Ontario.
We make sure our customers only receive legal, clearly labelled cannabis products by working closely with a diverse group of Licensed Producers authorized by Health Canada. Our online store prioritizes education and provides many opportunities for both new and experienced consumers to learn more about cannabis and responsible use.
Our customer-care centre is staffed by knowledgeable, helpful product specialists who provide the information our customers need to make the right choices. Social responsibility is something we take seriously and making every purchase a responsible one is a top priority.
We are looking for passionate, proven performers to join our diverse team and help us continue to grow our business as we define best-in-class standards for a new industry.
Senior Financial Analyst, Merchandising
About the role
About Us
The Ontario Cannabis Store provides safe, responsible access to recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We operate the sole legal online store for recreational cannabis in Ontario and are the provincial wholesaler of cannabis for private retail stores.
Working at the OCS is a unique opportunity to be part of an agile start-up in a ground-breaking new industry. We’re a diverse team passionate about delivering a great customer experience, working together with mutual respect and building value out of our differences. We’re an inclusive organization that understands that delivering great results comes out of ensuring every voice is heard.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Senior Financial Analyst, Merchandising to join our team. As a Senior Financial Analyst, you’ll provide key financial support through advanced reporting, SKU forecasting, and data-driven insights that inform assortment planning and overall business performance. You’ll lead the development of performance reports and variance analysis, translating complex data into clear, compelling narratives for senior leadership.
In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Finance, FP&A, Inventory, and Logistics to support strategic planning, scenario modeling, and promotional effectiveness. You’ll also drive process optimization by enhancing reporting workflows, improving data quality, and leveraging automation to scale insights. With a focus on influencing decisions and supporting evolving business needs, you’ll deliver timely, actionable analysis that aligns with both merchandising and broader strategic business goals.
About Your Day
- Lead the development and execution of SKU count forecasting and reporting processes, integrating historical trends, merchandising strategies, and inventory data to support assortment planning and optimize category performance.
- Compile, analyze, and interpret financial and operational data to support merchandising decisions.
- Prepare and present weekly, monthly, and annual performance reports with actionable insights.
- Conduct variance analysis against budget, forecast, and prior year results, identifying key drivers and trends.
- Translate complex financial and operational data into clear, compelling narratives, delivering insights through visual storytelling and executive-level presentations that inform strategic decision-making.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with key departments—including Finance, Insights, FP&A, Inventory, and Logistics—to communicate actionable insights, assess business impact, and identify strategic opportunities.
- Support team planning, decision support and scenario modeling to inform long-term business strategies.
- Develop and maintain balanced assortment plans in partnership with the larger merchandising team, ensuring alignment with financial goals and product strategies.
- Conduct deep-dive analysis and provide strategic recommendations on promotional activities to maximize effectiveness.
- Influence key stakeholders by delivering insights and recommendations that support strategic product and investment decisions.
- Provide financial and operational expertise in merchandising to support cross-functional project teams, offering strategic guidance and insights that drive informed decision-making.
- Lead and facilitate project meetings, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and deliverables.
- Communicate project progress and financial implications to internal stakeholders.
- Proactively identify and resolve issues, ensuring quality standards and business objectives are met.
- Identify opportunities to enhance reporting and analytical processes, data quality, and analytical tools.
- Recommend and implement improvements to drive efficiency and insight generation.
- Leverage automation and advanced analytics to streamline reporting workflows and improve the scalability of operational insights.
- Respond to merchandising-related requests with timely and accurate analysis.
- Support leadership with custom reports, deep dives, and decision support tools.
- Maintain flexibility to address evolving business needs and priorities.
- Where required, provide input and support to any relevant Merchandising policies.
About You
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (MBA or advanced certification in data analytics or financial modeling is preferred).
- CPA designation or active enrollment in the CPA program.
- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in Finance, with at least 3 years in Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A).
- Proven experience in using dashboards and reports using Microsoft Power BI.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling).
- Minimum 5 years’ experience working with ERP systems (e.g., D365, SAP, Oracle, Workday).
- 5+ years’ experience in a retail, manufacturing or consumer packaged goods environment/experience with merchandising or category finance is preferred.
- Certifications in analytics (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) or financial modeling is an asset.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to present complex data clearly and with a concise story.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and influence stakeholders.
- High level of professional judgment and business acumen.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
About the Job
- Location: Toronto, ON near York Mills and Yonge Street
- Hours of Work: 36.25 a week
- Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
- Required Travel: Rare, usually within the GTA
Compensation
The target hiring range for this position is $75,000-85,000. This is a pay grade 6 role, with a salary range of $71,777.30 -$ 107,379.81. Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as market conditions, internal equity, and candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role.
We are committed to providing an accessible, equitable and inclusive candidate and employee experience. We provide reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process and in employment. If you require an accommodation please let us know, we will work with you to meet your needs.
About OCS Ontario Cannabis Store
The Ontario Cannabis Store is a Crown agency solely owned by the Province of Ontario and reporting to the Ministry of Finance.
The OCS provides safe, responsible access to legal recreational cannabis for adults 19 and older. We are Ontario’s sole wholesaler to more than 1,500 Authorized Cannabis Stores. The OCS also operates OCS.ca, the Province’s online cannabis retailer which delivers to consumers in every corner of Ontario.
We make sure our customers only receive legal, clearly labelled cannabis products by working closely with a diverse group of Licensed Producers authorized by Health Canada. Our online store prioritizes education and provides many opportunities for both new and experienced consumers to learn more about cannabis and responsible use.
Our customer-care centre is staffed by knowledgeable, helpful product specialists who provide the information our customers need to make the right choices. Social responsibility is something we take seriously and making every purchase a responsible one is a top priority.
We are looking for passionate, proven performers to join our diverse team and help us continue to grow our business as we define best-in-class standards for a new industry.