Research Analyst, Consumer/Retail

Employment Type: Full-time
Work Setting: In-office or remote
Work Location: New York (in-office) or remote US
Work Hours: Office hours
Find out more here: https://www.citrini.com/

Position Overview

Citrini Research is looking for a consumer / retail analyst to help connect traditional fundamental analysis with a real-time understanding of consumer behavior, brands, and culture.

We are looking for someone early in their career who has a strong grounding in financial analysis and naturally pays attention to what people are buying, which brands are gaining relevance, and how changing consumer habits show up in company performance.

The job is to figure out what matters before it becomes obvious in reported numbers. That means tracking companies, products, pricing, promotions, consumer trends, and cultural shifts, then turning that work into clear investment research.

You should enjoy digging through an earnings release, but also notice when a brand suddenly seems to be everywhere, understand why a particular collaboration matters, or question whether an online trend will translate into actual sales.

A background in sell-side consumer or retail research is particularly helpful. This role is a good fit for someone who enjoys analytical rigor and wants more room to think independently, follow emerging trends, and develop differentiated investment ideas.

Responsibilities

• Conduct fundamental research across consumer and retail companies.

• Build and maintain financial models, analyze company performance, and assess valuation.

• Track consumer behavior and brand momentum across social media, search, product launches, influencers, resale markets, pricing, and promotions.

• Identify shifts in demand, customer preferences, and competitive positioning before they become clear in reported results.

• Read filings, earnings transcripts, investor decks, industry reports, and other company materials.

• Build relationships with management teams, industry experts, operators, and other key industry contacts.

• Write research notes, earnings analysis, and longer thematic reports for investors.

• Develop investment ideas and contribute to client discussions.

• Help separate lasting changes in consumer behavior from short-lived internet attention.

Requirements

• 1–3 years of experience in equity research or a similarly rigorous financial role, ideally covering consumer or retail companies.

• Strong understanding of financial statements, valuation, modeling, and company fundamentals.

• Naturally plugged into X, TikTok, social media, internet culture, and emerging consumer trends.

• Ability to distinguish between online noise and signals that could actually matter to a business.

• Strong writing skills and the ability to explain an investment thesis clearly and concisely.

• Strong analytical instincts and attention to detail.

• Comfortable moving between detailed financial work and less traditional forms of consumer research.

• Willingness to form an independent view, test it against evidence, and change your mind when the facts change.

• Comfortable working independently and figuring things out without a fixed playbook.

• High curiosity, high output, and low ego.

Helpful Backgrounds

• Sell-side equity research covering retail, apparel, footwear, beauty, restaurants, consumer products, or related sectors.

• Buy-side investing, industry research, or other financial roles involving consumer companies.

• Experience using alternative data to understand demand, brand relevance, pricing, or customer behavior.

• Familiarity with retail operations, merchandising, e-commerce, or consumer brands.

• Comfort with Excel and building useful datasets from messy sources.

• Existing research notes, investment memos, writing samples, or independent company analysis.

What We Are Not Looking For

• Someone who needs a perfectly defined assignment before starting.

• Someone who summarizes what others have already said.

• Someone who is purely academic and uninterested in business or markets.

• Someone who mistakes social media attention for commercial success.

• Someone who mistakes complexity for insight.

Growth Areas

• Help shape Citrini’s consumer and retail coverage.

• Develop expertise across brands, consumer behavior, retail channels, pricing, and competitive dynamics.

• Learn how to turn cultural observations and alternative data into investment conclusions.

• Build relationships with management teams, industry experts, operators, and investors.

• Develop and defend independent investment views.

• Publish work read by professional investors and allocators.