Inventory Controller - Retail Finance - 1year Contract

Role overview

Inventory accounting and controls

• Monitor inventory movements across warehouses, stores, and distribution channels and ensure accurate balances in financial and inventory systems.
• Review and reconcile inventory accounts, stock adjustments, and inventory-related financial postings.
• Support month-end and year-end inventory close activities.

Stock reconciliation and counts

• Investigate discrepancies and root causes; reconcile physical counts with system records and analyze variances, shrinkage, damages, and losses.
• Coordinate cycle counts and annual stock-taking, review results, and partner with operational teams to resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor policy compliance and recommend improvements to inventory accuracy and control.

Reporting, audit, and compliance

• Prepare inventory, stock aging, shrinkage, and variance reports; develop dashboards and reports using Excel and Power BI.
• Translate inventory data into actionable insights for finance and commercial teams.
• Support internal and external audits, maintain documentation and audit trails, and ensure compliance with financial controls, policies, and accounting standards.
• Monitor inventory-related risks and implement corrective actions when required.

Education and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Requires 3–5 years of experience in Inventory Accounting, Retail Finance, Cost Accounting, Inventory Control, or Financial Analysis.
• Retail, fashion, lifestyle, FMCG, consumer goods, warehousing, or supply-chain experience is highly preferred.
• Experience in a fast-paced, multi-site retail environment.

Technical qualifications

• Strong knowledge of inventory accounting, COGS, stock reconciliations, inventory valuation, landed cost calculation, inventory controls, and gross margin analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, INDEX/MATCH, and financial analysis.
• Experience with SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, JDE, or a similar ERP system.
• Power BI experience is highly desirable.
• Practical understanding of inventory valuation methods, physical stock counts, landed costs, journal entries, and financial controls.

Competencies and credentials

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and financial accuracy.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities; strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A CMA, CPA, CIMA, or equivalent professional qualification is advantageous.

Why join

• Join a multi-brand retail organization and work with commercial, buying, supply-chain, and finance teams.
• Gain exposure to inventory, retail operations, commercial finance, and business performance, with opportunities to contribute to process improvements.