Steak n Shake's Director of Retail Finance - Analytics & Operations will lead financial strategy and performance of our rapidly growing Consumer Products Retail Division. Through analytical insight and strong business acumen, this role will enable informed decision-making and provide complete transparency into financial and operational performance, helping guide the Division's growth and profitability.
Department: Supply Chain
Reports to: SVP General Manager Retail Division
Direct reports: N/A
FLSA: Exempt
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
a. Lead development of retail pricing strategies across multiple channels (grocery, club, e-commerce, etc…)
b. Establish pricing frameworks that balance competitiveness, margin targets, and brand positioning
c. Partner with supply chain & sales to evaluate pricing scenarios, trade-offs, promotional, and launch strategies
d. Monitor and analyze price realization, trade spend effectiveness, and margin leakage
a. Build robust and accurate financial models to evaluate product launches, channel expansion, and customer-specific opportunities
b. Lead ROI analysis for new retail initiatives, SKU launches, packaging formats, & distribution strategies
c. Conduct cost-benefit analyses across supply chain decisions for network optimization
d. Develop scenario planning to assess risks to volume, cost inflation, & pricing elasticity in various channels
a. Serve as the retail financial partner to supply chain, marketing, and broader internal finance teams
b. Provide data-driven insights that inform decisions on assortment, promotions, and go-to-market strategies
a. Develop deep understanding of end-to-end cost structure (ingredients, manufacturing, logistics & warehousing, retail fees, etc…)
b. Identify opportunities to improve gross margin through cost optimization, pricing actions, or mix shifts
c. Collaborate with supply chain to evaluate cost-to-serve by customer and channel
d. Support negotiations by providing financial guardrails and profitability analysis
a. Build and track KPIs tied to retail profitability, margin, and financial performance of retail business unit
b. Develop dashboards and normal reporting cadence for leadership
c. Analyze variances vs launch plan to identify root causes and business recommendations to correct
d. Provide financial transparency into performance of emerging retail business unit
a. Support long-term financial planning for retail channel growth
b. Evaluate market entry strategies, customer prioritization, and investment allocations
c. Lead annual planning, budgeting, and forecasting process to set planning goals for business unit
d. Define roadmap for scaling retail within a historically focused foodservice brand
KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Position's key contacts and relationships.
Required Education and Experience:
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of roles, activities, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the position. This description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position. Steak n Shake reserves the right to revise the position or to require that other or different activities be performed when circumstances change with or without notice.
Steak ‘n Shake was founded in February, 1934 in Normal, Illinois. Gus Belt, Steak ‘n Shake’s founder, pioneered the concept of premium burgers and milk shakes.
For over 80 years, the company’s name has been symbolic of its heritage. The word “steak” stood for STEAKBURGER. The term “shake” stood for hand-dipped MILK SHAKES. Gus was determined to serve his customers the finest burgers and shakes in the business. To prove his point that his burgers were exceptionally prime, he would wheel in a barrel of steaks (including round, sirloin, and T-bones) and grind the meat into burgers right in front of the guests. Hence arose the origin of our famous slogan, “In Sight It Must Be Right.”
After 80 years, we are continuing Steak n Shake’s tradition of serving the country’s best, freshest, and tastiest burgers and shakes.