Financial Analyst FP&A – Lifestyle Brands

Overview

Catalyst Brands is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to support financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and business analysis for our Lifestyle Brands, including Aéropostale, Lucky Brand, and Nautica. This hybrid role is based in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, with three days onsite and two days remote each week.
The position partners with Finance, Accounting, and Brand business leaders to evaluate performance across retail, e-commerce, and wholesale channels. You will analyze business drivers, explain financial variances, and deliver actionable insights that shape strategic business decisions.
A well-qualified candidate blends proficient financial planning and analysis (FP&A) skills with a corporate accounting foundation, possessing an innate curiosity and ability of translating operational activities into clear financial narratives.

Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Analysis: Drive and support annual budgeting, monthly forecasting, and long-range planning across retail, e-commerce, wholesale, and corporate operations for Aéropostale, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

Financial Modeling: Develop and maintain financial models with clearly documented reasonable assumptions.

Variance & Performance Analysis: Analyze sales, gross margin, operating expenses (SG&A), and overall profitability against budget, forecast, and prior periods. Diagnose the underlying root causes of financial variances.

Accounting & General Ledger Integrity: Analyze GL accounts and transaction-level details to validate monthly financial results and investigate unexpected variances. Partner closely with Accounting during month-end close to assess accrual needs and resolve discrepancies.

Commercial Analysis: Analyze the impacts of pricing strategies, product volume, category mix, and product costs on overall sales and gross margin performance across different brand channels.

Presentations: Partner cross-functionally to prepare and present clear financial results, forecasts, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related quantitative field.
• 2 years of relevant experience in FP&A, corporate finance, or a combination of accounting and financial analysis.
• Advanced Excel capabilities (complex formulas, lookups, index/match, pivot tables, and driver-based modeling) with a demonstrated ability to self-audit work.
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills; ability to build cross-functional relationships.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of retail and/or wholesale business models, including their unique financial drivers.
• Prior finance or accounting experience within the apparel, footwear, retail, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors.
• Experience with enterprise systems and reporting tools, such as Oracle, OneStream, or MicroStrategy.

What You Get 

If eligible, we offer a competitive benefits package including medical/dental/vision, term life insurance, paid vacation/holidays*, and 401(k) with Company match. All associates are eligible for an associate discount on Catalyst Brands merchandise. For paid holidays, associates who are eligible for paid vacation (MTO) are also eligible for eight paid holidays during the calendar year. All store hourly associates scheduled to work on a designated holiday will receive additional compensation. *For paid vacation days, as well as eligibility requirements for other benefits, please visit www.catalystbrandsbenefits.com

About Catalyst 

Catalyst Brands reflects the bringing together the rich heritages of our brands with modern excitement and a new vision for success. Five iconic brands came together under a unified powerhouse portfolio to celebrate the essence of American style.  We will leverage our rich history, resources and best-in-class industry talent to further build the success of our brands. At Catalyst we are united in one shared purpose: We exist to ignite America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all.

Working at Catalyst means joining a dedicated team of associates who are encouraged to be uniquely themselves in a safe, caring and welcoming environment. It is a place where careers prosper, accomplishments are celebrated and diversity flourishes. It’s a place that’s meant for you. 

For more opportunities to join our team please visit our careers page.

Pay Range