Senior Manager, Store Payroll Budgeting and Planning

Senior Manager, Store Payroll Budgeting and Planning

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The Senior Manager of Store Payroll Budgeting and Planning will lead the end‑to‑end annual planning cycle for Store Payroll, which funds labor expenses in all Ross and dd's stores. This key leadership position carries P&L responsibility for one of the company’s largest operating expenses. Using engineered labor standards, workload drivers, and other key inputs, the Senior Manager ensures that the annual Budget and 5‑Year Plan reflect the labor required to operate all stores—accounting for new initiatives, operational adjustments, technology changes, and strategy shifts.

In addition to core planning activities, the Senior Manager conducts additional analysis on Store Payroll, produces executive‑facing materials, and presents the annual Budget and 5‑Year Plan to executive leadership. The role requires a process‑improvement mindset, leveraging new systems and data sources to drive efficiency and manage key partnerships across the organization.

• Lead the annual planning process for Store Payroll for all Ross and dd’s stores, centered around the Annual Budget and the 5‑Year Plan.
• Oversee and lead all key Store Payroll planning processes and files.
• Partner with the Method Improvements team on labor‑saving initiatives, ensuring they are budgeted properly.
• Complete all analysis and schedules for the recurring review of quarterly results (in preparation for the quarterly Board of Directors meeting).
• Prepare roll‑forwards and executive‑facing summary decks.
• Ensure all relevant minimum wage increases are built into the budget and that other wage‑driving factors (e.g., full‑time vs. part‑time mix, overtime) are accounted for properly.
• Identify and implement efficiency opportunities for budgeting, planning, and managing all Store Payroll expense.
• Assess current labor expense management and implement payroll process improvements, including file architecture, data sources, and key system usage.
• Proactively identify potential issues, challenges, or risks during the annual budgeting process and lead efforts to mitigate them.
• Lead additional Store Payroll analyses throughout the year, particularly those related to store labor strategy (e.g., cashier labor investments, branded credit card expansion strategy).
• Communicate the Store Payroll Budget and 5‑Year Plan to executive audiences, up to and including the CFO and COO.
• Summarize and explain key variances, particularly between different versions of the annual Store Payroll Budget.
• Draw and explain connections between changes in Store Operations and Store Labor Expense (e.g., employee productivity assumptions, store operating hours).
• Develop strong working relationships with key business partners in other departments and functions, leveraging these relationships to understand changes in key assumptions that impact Store Payroll spend levels.
• Oversee sales plans and customer traffic analyses, average selling price, minimum wage, freight, inventory levels, and unique or one‑off events.
• Develop and coach a high‑performing team, cultivating a mindset of process improvement and efficiency at all levels.

• Managing and Measuring Work
• Communication
• Business Acumen
• Drive for Results
• Planning and Organizing
• Building Effective Teams
• Developing Direct Reports
• Process Management

• Bachelor’s degree required with demonstrated superior college performance (preferred fields: business, finance, economics, mathematics, operations, accounting, or similar analytical field).
• CPA or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years post‑college experience with increasing levels of responsibility.
• Strong familiarity with core financial planning and analysis processes including budgeting, forecasting, and variance explanations.
• Outstanding analytical ability with a data‑driven approach to problem solving; strong quantitative skills and ability to connect disparate data points.
• Demonstrated success with team development—managing individual contributors and developing team members for growth.
• Cle…