Catherines is a multi-channel retail division of Charming Shoppes, Inc., and has a growth opportunity for a Director of Finance for the Catherines Stores.  The successful candidate will be a proactive leader in support of field sales leadership through partnership on store/market performance improvement opportunities, process improvements, reporting and analytical support, etc.

• Proactive support of field sales leadership through partnership on store/market performance improvement opportunities, process improvements, reporting and analytical support, etc.
• Ownership of store sales planning process, establishing appropriate store financial plans based on history, trend, and strategic goals;   administer new store/closing store plan process.
• Financial leadership of field payroll strategy, planning, and budgeting;  drive execution through the year to the budgeted sell cost.  Particular emphasis currently on generating step-change improvement in selling payroll productivity.
• Manage the analysis of store budget variances, establish criteria by volume group, research reconciling items, recommend changes in store processes.
• Represent stores finance on company-level initiatives, providing actionable insight and analytical support as necessary.
• Drive continuous improvement in store 4-wall contribution through leadership on process improvements and expense savings initiatives
• Manage the forecast for store expenses - forecast accuracy, risk mitigation...
• Provide analytical support for new capital projects in the stores.
• Ownership for fully monitoring and partially executing the financial close process for stores.
• Leadership of store finance team
• Conduct responsibilities with urgency and a high level of accountability.

• 7 years (minimum) experience in Finance, Accounting and/ or Planning & Allocation.  
• Proven ability to direct teams and manage both up and across cross-functionally on prioritizing, developing, executing, and measuring the impact of initiatives.  
• PC proficiency, including financial modeling and analysis, and strong, proven analytical skills.  
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to speak effectively and persuasively to all levels of associates.  
• At least basic accounting background with hands-on experience in capital, fixed assets & depreciation, and basic P&L accounting.  
• Track record of continuous process improvement.
• Strategic thinking capacity.  
• Clear ability to team and lead across diverse groups of associates.  
• Proven ability to impact the bottom line.  
• BS preferably in Accounting, Finance, or Economics  
• MBA, CPA a plus