Explore senior-level jobs in corporate finance and strategy with a focus on sales operations. The Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Strategy for Sales & Pipeline is a pivotal leadership role that sits at the critical intersection of finance, sales, and business intelligence. Professionals in this career path are responsible for driving revenue predictability, optimizing sales performance, and ensuring that the company's financial goals are directly supported by a robust and actionable sales strategy. This position is ideal for strategic thinkers who excel at translating complex data into commercial insights and executable plans. Typically, individuals in these jobs own the financial forecasting and modeling for the sales pipeline and revenue streams. Common responsibilities include developing and managing the annual operating plan (AOP) and long-range financial plans specifically for the sales organization. They conduct in-depth analysis of sales productivity, pipeline health, conversion rates, and customer acquisition costs to identify trends, risks, and opportunities. A key duty is to partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and Executive leadership to set realistic targets, allocate resources efficiently, and measure performance against key financial and operational metrics. They often build and maintain sophisticated dashboards and management reports that provide a clear view of sales forecasts versus actuals, enabling data-driven decision-making at the highest levels. To succeed in these demanding jobs, candidates generally require a strong blend of analytical prowess and business acumen. Typical requirements include an advanced degree in Finance, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field, coupled with significant experience in FP&A, sales finance, or management consulting. Essential skills include mastery of financial modeling, proficiency with ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and CRM (e.g., Salesforce) systems, and advanced Excel and data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau). Beyond technical skills, successful Senior Managers possess exceptional communication and influencing skills to partner with sales leaders, a deep understanding of sales cycles and compensation plans, and the strategic vision to align pipeline dynamics with overarching corporate financial objectives. This role is central to transforming sales activity into predictable, sustainable financial growth, making it one of the most impactful strategy jobs in a modern commercial organization.
