Inventory Controller - Retail Finance

We are looking for a detail-oriented and commercially minded Retail Finance Analyst - Inventory & Stock Control to join our Finance team. This role is ideal for a finance professional with strong inventory accounting knowledge who enjoys working closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Buying, Warehouse, and Store Operations teams. You will be responsible for ensuring inventory accuracy across the business, monitoring stock movements, investigating discrepancies, supporting stock counts, and providing meaningful analysis and reporting to drive financial accuracy and operational excellence. The role focuses on inventory control, stock reconciliation, inventory accounting, physical stock verification, and financial reporting related to merchandise inventory. Responsibilities include oversight of stock transfers, stock counts, discrepancy investigations, inventory reconciliations, audit support, and inventory controls. Inventory Accounting & Controls: - Monitor and control inventory movements across warehouses, stores, and distribution channels. - Ensure inventory balances are accurately reflected within 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 & Analysis: - Investigate inventory discrepancies and identify root causes. - Reconcile physical stock counts against system records. - Analyze inventory variances, shrinkage, damages, and stock losses. - Ensure inventory transactions are accurately recorded and supported by documentation. Physical Stock Counts: - Coordinate and support cycle counts and annual stock-taking activities. - Review stock count results and partner with operational teams to resolve discrepancies. - Monitor compliance with inventory policies and procedures. - Provide recommendations to improve inventory accuracy and control. Reporting & Business Support: - Prepare inventory, stock aging, shrinkage, and variance reports for management. - Develop dashboards and reports using Excel and Power BI. - Translate inventory data into actionable insights for finance and commercial teams. - Support decision-making through accurate inventory reporting and analysis. Audit & Compliance: - Support internal and external audits related to inventory. - Maintain strong inventory documentation and audit trails. - Ensure compliance with financial controls, policies, and accounting standards. - Monitor inventory-related risks and implement corrective actions when required. Education: - Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce (B.Com), Business Administration, or a related discipline. - Professional qualifications such as CMA, CPA, CIMA, or equivalent are advantageous. Experience: - 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 working within a fast-paced, multi-site retail environment. Technical Skills: - Strong understanding of Inventory Accounting, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), Stock Reconciliations, Inventory Valuation, Landed Cost Calculation, Inventory Controls, Gross Margin Analysis. - Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, INDEX/MATCH, and financial analysis. - Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, JDE, or similar. - Power BI experience is highly desirable.