Financial Strategy Director

Company Description

Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive people-based marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in performance media, customer experience, customer relationship management, loyalty, and enterprise marketing technology drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With 4,400+ employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with additional offices in the US, Europe, and Asia. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network.

Job Description

Merkle Promotions and Loyalty Solutions  is an end-to-end loyalty solution provider that enables CMOs of major brands to increase their customer engagement and lifetime value. Our innovative SaaS based loyalty platform enables clients execute omni-channel loyalty programs while incentivizing customer identification, creating a single view of all customer interactions across channels, and executing personalized customer retention campaigns. Our full suite of strategic consulting service spans program design, member experience, financial modeling, technology implementation, program optimization and loyalty analytics. Our clients include leading global brands - including Sony, L’Oréal, Coca-Cola, Canon, Starbucks, and Abercrombie & Fitch. Among our accolades in the industry, we were named a strong performer, in The Forrester Wave: Customer Loyalty Solutions, Q3 2017.

As a part of our loyalty strategy team, you will work closely with members of the team across all aspects of loyalty consulting engagements. There will be a focus on business case development and financial modeling. You should have an analytic mindset, with great attention to detail and the ability to handle several projects at once. You will also need to have strong communication skills, as there will be key touchpoints with stakeholders and clients.

You will be joining a dynamic and growing team - we are unique in that we have the prowess of a consulting firm with the flair of a marketing agency.  We are passionate about delivering great work that is actionable and valuable to clients and each member plays a truly significant role in supporting our ongoing growth and expansion. 

Responsibilities

• Play a critical role in the development and optimization of loyalty and retention programs for leading global brands across a range of industries, including retail, CPG, financial services, entertainment, and technology
• Provide leadership in defining and shaping the financial component of our market leading loyalty strategy practice
• Build, optimize and update/maintain Excel based financial models to help clients understand the economic impact of a loyalty program and maximize contribution
• Process and analyze customer data, such as transactional and promotional data, and extract insights in support of new loyalty program strategies and financial modeling
• Bring a quantitative, data drive mindset to range of analyses, assessments and measurement frameworks that shape the identification of program opportunity
• Support methodology and process development - driving opportunity for workflow optimization, fueling growth via practice development, and enabling efficiency at scale
• Storyline our analysis: Data is only as useful as the story that delivers it. We’re counting on you to define and narrate a story that engages both day-to-day partners and senior stakeholders
• Deliver a strong client-facing presence in leading workshops and presenting deliverables: forging relationships that make you trusted advisor for your clients
• Establish yourself as thought-leader and collaborative go-to resource across your internal partners (which include 30 + loyalty and retention strategists)  

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in management consulting with data/finance experience or relevant client-side experience in loyalty program P&L management and modeling
• Strategic thinker able to derive insight and provide actionable recommendations for client-facing presentations and client deliverables
• Exceptional data analysis and analytical problem-solving skills, mastery of Excel are vital to the role
• Talented and effective communicator, with experience presenting complex data in a clear, concise format and well-developed skills to create compelling financial presentations
• Diligent and disciplined in managing client workflow; accountable in perform