Retail Inventory Controller

Role Overview

Retail Inventory Controller at Emarat (Emirates General Petroleum).

Role Purpose

Implement systems and improvement processes to maintain inventory levels, highlight non-compliance of procedures to management, detect fraud and losses, and recommend corrective measures to minimize cost, maximize working capital, and increase company profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Auditing & Compliance

• Audit standard operating systems at Corporation-managed locations across convenience stores, fuel, auto-care, bakery, and franchise operations.
• Investigate reasons for discrepancies and recommend improvements to merchandising and inventory control procedures on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure adherence to procedures relating to operations at stations in relation to receiving, recording, and stock/inventory control.
• Highlight issues to management and recommend corrective measures.
• Provide justification to management regarding stock losses and stock-related issues.

Stock Control & Cycle Counts

• Lead the retail stock control team and plan periodic and year-end stock take programs in coordination with retail management and Internal/External Audit.
• Maintain constant stock control of service stations and ensure stock takes are carried out in 8-week cycles for each location.
• Manage the activities of stock take and carry out physical stock checks including all aspects of stations—convenience stores, auto-care, fuel, bakery—counter-checking according to agreed procedures.
• Conduct spot checks on cash, fuel, and stock from time to time.
• Conduct stock take for EGPC (Emarat-operated) related stations on behalf of Manager, Dealer Sales Operations.
• Conduct stock take, randomly, on behalf of Fasttrack.

Reconciliation & Reporting

• Reconcile all adjustments up to the date of the count and ensure all invoices, credits, and related documents for the period under review are entered onto the system.
• Prepare reports on findings of stock control, with all details of non-compliance of procedures to Line Manager.
• Distribute reports to concerned supervisors allowing 7 days to review and make comments and recommendations as necessary.
• Review and finalize reports in coordination with marketing executives and submit recommendations and actions as appropriate to respective managers.
• Submit final monthly results to Line Manager for review and approval.
• Prepare, in conjunction with the annual stock-taking exercise, the comparison report year versus year.

Oversight & Verification

• Ensure marketing executives are randomly checking cash and fuel stocks at least every six weeks.
• Follow up on marketing executives' report submittals as required.
• Ensure that each service station achieves acceptable stock results by analyzing, investigating, and recommending corrective measures.
• Follow up to ensure recommendations are implemented.

Stakeholder Liaison & Improvement

• Liaise with operations and support functions to set up, amend procedures, controls, and implement new technologies.
• Provide feedback to convenience store team on issues of holding overstock, out of stock, non-moving items, and delisted items to enhance better stock control and profitability.
• Ensure that convenience store merchandising plans are standardized and implemented at each site in accordance with standards established by the convenience store team.

Training & Development

• Ensure ongoing development of stock take staff, identifying strengths and building upon them and providing training to improve weaknesses.
• Train marketing executives and retail staff regarding inventory control procedures as appropriate.
• Provide assistance to resolve stock loss problems as required.

General Duties

• Perform additional duties and assignments as directed by Manager.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Commerce.
• 5 years' experience in Accounting, Inventory Control, or Retail.
• Valid driving license.

Skills & Competencies

• Relevant IT skills in inventory management.
• Training delivery capability.