Job Description
The Stock Integrity & Inventory Control Specialist ensures the accuracy, reliability, and governance of all stock-related data across WHSmith North America. This role manages the full cycle of inventory control, including count coordination, variance analysis, reconciliation, and insight publication. Acting as a bridge between Finance, Operations, and Profit Protection, the Specialist provides visibility into performance trends, identifies root causes of discrepancies, and drives compliance through proactive communication and data-led insights. The role safeguards inventory accuracy, enhances financial assurance, and strengthens operational integrity across all formats.
Key Responsibilities
Inventory Control & Governance
- Oversee and manage physical inventory execution and reconciliation processes, ensuring accuracy between POS, ERP, and financial systems.
- Maintain an end-to-end governance framework for stock integrity, shrink control, and variance reporting.
- Coordinate and execute physical inventory programs across all stores, tracking completion rates, timing, and compliance.
- Analyze and improve inventory variance trends by identifying process breakdowns and recommending corrective actions.
- Develop and maintain dashboards and variance reports highlighting trends, root causes, and key performance indicators.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Finance, Field Operations, and Profit Protection to validate inventory transactions, ensuring accuracy and alignment.
- Provide actionable insights to leadership through inventory audits, reconciliations, and exception reporting.
- Support audits and compliance reviews through organized documentation and financial transparency.
- Contribute to system or process improvement initiatives that enhance accuracy, timeliness, and reporting reliability.
Operational Execution
- Manage vendor relationships supporting physical inventory execution and variance reporting.
- Partner with Operations to implement stock control practices that reduce discrepancies and loss.
- Support corrective and preventative actions for variance root causes across store, warehouse, and corporate systems.
- Maintain an accurate and centralized repository for audit, compliance, and external reporting.
Key Metrics
- Stock Accuracy (%): Variance between physical and system counts within defined tolerance.
- Inventory Compliance Rate (%): Timely completion of cycle and annual counts.
- Shrink Root-Cause Resolution (Days): Speed and accuracy of issue reconciliation.
- Data Integrity Rate (%): Accuracy of recorded versus reported results.
- Audit Completion (%): Timely resolution of financial or system-related discrepancies.
Job Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, or related field (MBA preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in inventory control, finance, or operational analysis within a retail, distribution, or multi-format organization.
- Strong proficiency with Excel, Power BI, or equivalent data visualization tools.
- Familiarity with ERP systems and financial reporting structures.
- Experience conducting financial reconciliations and variance investigations.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with attention to detail and process discipline.
Skills & Competencies
- Advanced analytical and reconciliation expertise.
- Physical inventory management and variance analysis.
- ERP and POS system proficiency.
- Cross-functional collaboration with Finance and Operations.
- Data visualization and reporting accuracy.
- Audit readiness and documentation management.
Leadership Attributes
- Analytical thinker with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
- Process-driven mindset with accountability for results.
- Strong collaborator who influences across functions through data clarity.
- Demonstrates urgency, curiosity, and continuous improvement.
- Upholds WHSmith’s values of transparency, integrity, and operational excellence.
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