Associate Director, FP&A

The posting, as STUDS wrote it

Studs is a category-defining ear piercing and earring brand named one of “the 10 most innovative companies in retail for 2023” by Fast Company. Studs connects ear piercing with aftercare and earring shopping to create an end-to-end Earscaping® experience. We offer a better retail and digital experience that prioritizes safety and expertise in a cool, fun and welcoming environment, along with a wide earring assortment—all at an accessible price point.

The Associate Director, FP&A owns financial planning and analysis at Studs, with a focus on improving studio profitability, supporting disciplined expansion, and managing cash. Reporting to the CFO, this person builds and runs the annual budget, rolling forecast, and long-term financial plan directly, translating financial and operational results into clear recommendations. This is an individual contributor role with no direct reports at the outset; as the finance team grows, the planning function may report into this role.

This role partners with Retail, Operations, Marketing, Merchandising, and Accounting to connect business decisions to revenue, EBITDA, cash flow, and investment returns. It helps leadership set studio-level performance goals, allocate capital, and identify risks and opportunities early enough to act.

This is a hands-on role for someone who has worked in four-wall retail finance, builds models directly, works through imperfect data, challenges assumptions constructively, and follows through with business partners to improve results.

Salary Range: $155,000 — $175,000 plus equity

Location: HQ (New York, NY) — Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning, Forecasting & Modeling

• Own the annual budget and rolling forecast process across departments, including timelines, assumptions, and reviews with business leaders.
• Own an integrated P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow forecast; partner with Accounting to assess liquidity, inventory and other working capital needs, and funding requirements.
• Connect studio and e-commerce revenue plans, operating expenses, and capital investments to company profitability and cash targets; identify gaps and recommend adjustments.
• Build scenarios that test growth, profitability, and cash assumptions, making trade-offs and downside risks clear before decisions are made.
• Improve planning tools and processes so forecasts are accurate and assumptions are consistent; use AI, automation, and lightweight software development to streamline recurring work, strengthen reporting, and free up the finance team for higher-value analysis, with appropriate data safeguards and validation.

Performance Analysis & Business Partnership

• Run regular reviews of company, channel, and studio performance against plan and prior periods, explaining the drivers of results and surfacing risks and opportunities.
• Partner with Retail to set and track studio-level targets for revenue, EBITDA dollars and margin, labor productivity, and utilization; analyze

[…]
and effectiveness.

• Based in New York, NY and able to work in the office three days per week.

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible Work Environment (3 days in office, 2 days work from home)
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (including a plan option with $0 in-network mental health visits)
• Access to Mental Health and Work/Life Resources including Online Therapy, Gender Affirmation Support Services, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Health and Commuter Tax-Advantaged Accounts
• Stock Options in connection with the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off, Paid Safe & Sick Leave, and Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Sabbatical After 4 Years of Service
• Exclusive Employee Discounts on Piercings and Jewelry (we’ve got your friends and family covered too!)
• Access to PerkSpot and additional benefits such as pet insurance, discounted tickets, personal finance coaching, healthy rewards, and more!

Studs is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), marital status, citizenship, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, or any other legally protected status. Studs considers qualified applicants with criminal histories. We comply with applicable state and local laws prohibiting discrimination in employment in every jurisdiction in which we operate. If you require an accommodation for the application process, please email HRBP@studs.com.

Massachusetts Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Click here for the Studs Privacy Notice for California Applicants.