If you combine proven analytical skills with a well-rounded understanding of financial statements, and you enjoy solving complex business problems then effectively communicating your insights to key stakeholders, the role of Strategic Planning Analyst II offers you some compelling opportunities. You will:

• Launch a career with a growing global industry leader. Our 2018 merger with Luxottica made us the world's largest player in the eyewear industry.
• Expand your knowledge and experience as you oversee a variety of projects with a scope from Operations to Finance. 
• Have the opportunity to influence and impact the organization and people's lives as you inform decision-making at the leadership level and serve as a subject-matter-expert to independent optometrists and other eye care professionals.
• Be empowered with visibility to the entire Vision Source organization, while getting a taste of bigger company financials through our parent company, Essilor.
• Join a talented, high-energy, high-motivation team. You'll have the autonomy to excel and strong support when you need it.
• Join an organization driven by a threefold mission: Improving lives by improving sight, Innovating for better vision, and Reaching the 2.7 billion underserved.

Vision Source, an Essilor company, is a family of over 3,300 locally owned optometric practices collaborating to provide quality professional eye care while maintaining the personal relationship between patients and their family eye doctor.

Improving Lives By Improving Sight. Essilor of America, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of eyeglass lenses in the United States, employs more than 10,000 people and operates the largest and most comprehensive optical laboratory network in the U.S. Essilor of America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Transitions®, and other brands, and our products are worn by one billion people daily. Essilor has been on Forbes' list of the World's 100 Most Innovative Companies every year since 2010, and we ranked #62 out of 700 corporations awarded the title "Diversity Leader 2020" by the Financial Times.

To meet the basic qualification for this role, you will have legal authorization to work in the United States for any employer. In addition, to be a good fit for the Strategic Planning Analyst II opportunity, you will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Data Analytics, Statistics, Economics or a related field  Quick question for you - click here
• 3-5 years of experience in similar roles, ideally including 2-3 years in finance. FP&A experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and summarize complex financial analyses, operational and KPI data into concise presentations and decision frameworks, on a regular basis
• Excellent professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with the business and independent eye care professionals
• Strong analytical skills, with extreme attention to detail, accuracy and accountability balanced with sound business judgment
• Excellent computer skills including:
  • Advanced MS Office Suite skills; Excel & PowerPoint power user
  • Experience with data analysis tools such as Tableau or MS Power BI and Essbase preferred
• Ability to work and thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment while managing competing priorities
• Strong work ethic and dedication to a company that supports growth potential for its employees
• A team player mindset

You should be based in the Houston area where our offices are located, however, we are following stringent COVID-19 precautions and you will work from home until further notice. The team works typical business hours, and there is some flexibility regarding start times.

The Team

You will be part of the Strategy and Finance department, working on the Strategic Planning and Analysis team. We place emphasis on providing value through the use of problem-solving methods and analytics to identify solutions and opportunities. The company’s mission statement “Enriching lives by enabling independent optometrists to reach their full potential” is also the team’s focus. We drive value through the means of business partner support activities, innovative and insightful analysis and financial integrity. 

Ours is a team of bright, kind and goal-oriented individuals. We're seeking a like-minded new member who thrives on building and improving processes to scale the business to the next level.  

The Role

Reporting to the Manager of Strategic Planning and Analysis, as Strategic Planning Analyst II, you will play a key, strategic role on the SP&A team, serving as a hands-on, individual contributor. You will play an integral role in aiding profitability, growth and productivity by utilizing mass data to identify and solve key business problems. You will be responsible for:

• The execution of Vision Source's strategic financial planning function with an emphasis on performance improvement, providing quality management information and furthering the development of systems, processes, and metrics. This will include:
  • Assisting with the annual strategic planning and budget process
  • Managing the business partnership with the optometrist leaders’ team and strategize investments on national markets
  • Monitoring expense trends against the set budget and recommend improvements
• Assisting with the company's data/financial analysis function with an emphasis on performance improvement and providing relevant and timely analysis. This will include:
  • Identifying franchisee trends to optimize resource allocation
  • Assisting with data collection and performing research and analysis for all departments to include: exceptions reporting, expense analysis, financial modeling, risk exposure simulation & modeling, regression analysis, time series analysis and forecasting, vendor spend forecasting. Quick question for you - click here
  • Performing economic and industry analyses to identify and recommend response strategies to trends impacting the business.
  • Becoming a SQL Services Analysis, PowerPivot, Tableau and BI power user  Quick question for you - click here
  • Supporting your manager with adhoc analysis requests
  • Identifying opportunities and create solutions for improving processes to create efficiencies so business partners and support thereof can be scaled to the next level
• The execution of the company's financial reporting function. You will effectively monitor and evaluate the company's overall performance with respect to finances, value creation and progress in meeting strategic objectives including:
  • Assisting with the preparation of the Company’s monthly financial reporting package for Senior Management; must be able to research and explain significant variances
  • Supporting the preparation of monthly/quarterly financial presentations to business partners (department head)

This description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Professional development
Success in this role could set you up to pursue advancement in Finance, Operations or along another path with Vision Source or Essilor. At Essilor, we support our employees' professional growth and development.

Great environment
You will join a team that includes dedicated, sharp and mutually supportive professionals. Our culture is entrepreneurial and fresh, backed by 170 years of success. 

Truly living our values
At Essilor, we believe everyone deserves to see life and all its detail with the best vision possible. That's why, in addition to designing, manufacturing and distributing quality vision care solutions worldwide, we invest in raising awareness of the importance of good vision, support eyecare professionals, invent new technologies and products, and support philanthropic initiatives. We also are committed to robust standards for environmental sustainability. These are just a couple of reasons we were one of the 52 companies named to Fortune magazine's 2019 Change the World list.

Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus opportunity, we offer an exceptional mix of first-rate benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans; a 401(k) plan with company match; tuition reimbursement; comprehensive training through Essilor University; lens and frame benefits for you and your family; an employee stock purchase plan with company match; and more.

Video: As part of the #DifferenceMakers campaign, Essilor chose four eyecare professionals and three Essilor employees to participate in a mission trip to Southeast Asia in March 2019.

Your analytical skills will be essential, but just as important will be your interpersonal abilities as you interact with the business and our customers. As a member of our team, you will share your skills -- we all participate in knowledge transfer -- and learn from teammates. While you'll need to be a strong team member, you must also be able to solve most problems independently, updating your supervisor as needed and appropriate. 

The pace here is fast and change happens frequently. Those who excel at here truly enjoy the dynamic environment and remain agile and able to pivot. In addition, in order to be an outstanding Strategic Planning Analyst II, you will:

• Demonstrate strong character, maintaining high standards including honesty, transparency and trustworthiness 
• Pay very close attention to detail and accuracy, while also grasping the bigger picture
• Translate data into information that is accessible and useful for users
• Bring strong energy, drive and goal orientation
• Combine analytical skills with creativity in solving problems
• Develop a solid understanding of our business to provide a context for your analyses
• Keep a constant eye out for ways to improve processes and efficiencies