Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis

Capital, Development & Strategic Investments

Position Summary

Panera is seeking a highly analytical and business-minded finance professional to serve as the primary financial partner supporting the system-wide real estate portfolio, development strategy and governance processes.

This role sits at the intersection of Finance, Development, Real Estate, Construction, Operations, and Executive Leadership. The successful candidate will own the financial planning, forecasting, investment analysis, and performance reporting associated with Panera's capital expenditures and restaurant development activities, including new café openings, relocations, remodels, closures, lease renewals, and other development initiatives.

The position offers a unique opportunity to influence how Panera allocates capital, evaluates growth opportunities, and drives long-term value. This individual will be responsible for translating complex operational and investment scenarios into actionable financial insights that help leadership prioritize initiatives and deploy capital effectively.

Success in this role requires data curiosity, sound business judgment, and the ability to partner effectively with and influence leaders across the organization.

What You'll Do

Capital Planning & Investment Analysis

• Serve as the finance lead for Panera's capital investment portfolio, supporting annual planning, forecasting, and long-range strategic plans.
• Develop and maintain capital expenditure forecasts across multiple investment categories, including development, remodels, technology, operations, and other enterprise initiatives.
• Evaluate potential investments through detailed financial modeling, including ROI, NPV, payback, and scenario analyses.
• Provide recommendations that improve capital allocation decisions and maximize returns across competing investment opportunities.
• Track actual capital spending and investment performance against forecasts and approved business cases.

Development Finance

• Partner closely with Development, Real Estate, Construction, and Operations teams to evaluate, support, and track costs for:
  • New café openings
  • Relocations
  • Remodels and transformations
  • Café closures
  • Lease renewals and extensions
• Develop financial analyses supporting development strategy.
• Assess risks, opportunities, and sensitivities associated with development investments and communicate implications to leadership.

Development Committee & Executive Reporting

• Own financial support for Development Committee governance processes.
• Prepare investment recommendations and supporting analyses for new café approvals, relocations, closures, lease renewals, and other strategic decisions.
• Deliver clear, concise, and decision-oriented presentations to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Create recurring reporting that tracks development performance, capital deployment, investment returns, and key strategic metrics.
• Translate complex financial findings into actionable recommendations for both finance and non-finance audiences.

Forecasting, Planning & Strategic Decision Support

• Lead monthly, quarterly, annual, and multi-year forecasting processes related to capital spending and development activities.
• Partner across functions to identify emerging risks and opportunities and incorporate into strategic plans.
• Support enterprise planning initiatives through ad hoc modeling, scenario analysis, and business case development.
• Help identify opportunities to improve planning processes, enhance forecast accuracy, and strengthen decision support capabilities.

Process Improvement & Technology

• Leverage modern planning, reporting, and analytical tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and insight generation.
• Utilize emerging artificial intelligence solutions and Power BI to streamline reporting processes and improve visibility into performance drivers.
• Continuously enhance financial models, forecasting methodologies, and reporting frameworks to better support evolving business needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Grit and ability to “roll up your sleeves”
• 2-7+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, strategic finance, development finance, investment banking, or related analytical roles.
• Demonstrated experience building financial models and evaluating investment decisions.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, cash flow analysis, NPV, IRR, ROI, payback, and capital allocation principles.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present recommendations to senior leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail paired with the ability to think strategically.

Preferred

• Experience supporting restaurant, retail, hospitality, consumer, franchise, or real estate-driven businesses.
• Experience evaluating development, real estate, or capital investment opportunities.
• Familiarity with Power BI, Anaplan, or similar planning and reporting platforms.
• Experience partnering directly with executive leadership teams and cross-functional business leaders.

Competitive salary $119,634-$143,561 annually.

The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.