Head of Stock Take

Job Summary

• The Head of Stock Take & Inventory Control is responsible for developing and driving the company's stock take and inventory accuracy strategies across all retail outlets, distribution centers, and warehouses. This leadership role ensures robust stock governance, effective shrinkage control, and strong cross-functional collaboration to uphold operational integrity and financial accuracy. The incumbent will lead nationwide stock take initiatives, set policy frameworks, enhance systems and processes, and champion a culture of accountability and continuous improvement in inventory management.

Job Responsibilities

1. Strategic Planning & Governance

• Develop and implement the group-wide stock take strategy and governance framework, aligning with business goals and audit requirements.
• Formulate annual and long-term stock take plans, ensuring effective coverage of all retail outlets, distribution centers, and warehouses.
• Define, document, and enforce policies, SOPs, and internal control mechanisms to ensure consistency and compliance across all business units.
• Partner with Operations, and Internal Audit to strengthen inventory accuracy standards and minimize business risk.
• Lead quarterly stock governance reviews, presenting results, insights, and strategic recommendations to senior management.

2. Stock Take Planning & Execution

• Oversee end-to-end execution of scheduled and ad-hoc stock takes, ensuring timeliness, accuracy, and operational readiness.
• Coordinate with Operations, Warehouse, and Finance teams to align on schedules, resources, and procedures.
• Ensure stock take teams (internal or outsourced) adhere to company policies, ethical standards, and accuracy benchmarks.
• Monitor execution performance across regions, identifying and addressing operational bottlenecks or compliance gaps.

3. Inventory Accuracy & Shrinkage Management

• Lead poststock take analysis to identify variance trends, systemic issues, and root causes of discrepancies.
• Formulate and drive shrinkage reduction strategies through collaboration with Operations, Loss Prevention, and Merchandising teams.
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity in ERP, POS, and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
• Champion continuous improvement programs that drive higher stock accuracy, stronger controls, and better operational discipline.

4. Process, System & Technology Enhancement

• Review and modernize existing stock take and inventory processes for scalability, automation, and efficiency.
• Work closely with IT and Finance to optimize system integration and data transparency between POS, ERP, and WMS platforms.
• Lead the adoption of digital tools (e.g., handheld scanners, AI-based counting analytics, real-time dashboards) to improve accuracy and speed.
• Evaluate and implement best practices and technology solutions to align with industry benchmarks.

5. Leadership & People Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing Stock Take team, setting clear goals, performance standards, and accountability frameworks.
• Mentor regional and outlet managers to build ownership and awareness of stock accuracy and shrinkage control.
• Build a culture of integrity, precision, and collaboration across all stock take activities.
• Manage manpower planning, resource allocation, and succession planning to support sustainable department growth.

6. Reporting, Insights & Management Communication

• Present comprehensive stock take performance reports and variance analysis to senior leadership and Audit Committee.
• Provide regular updates on inventory accuracy, shrinkage trends, compliance levels, and process improvement outcomes.
• Translate data insights into actionable strategies that improve profitability and operational efficiency.

Person Specifications Education & Qualification

• Candidate must possess at least a Diploma / Degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Accounting, Business Administration or related field.
• Relevant Experience & Years of Service - Minimum 10 years of experience in inventory control, audit, stock take management or retail operations within the retail or FMCG environment.
• Proven track record managing large-scale, multi-location stock take operations.

Technical Skills, Professional Knowledge & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Good planning and organizational ability.
• Proficient in MS Excel and inventory management systems (e.g., ERP or POS systems).
• High attention to detail with ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Effective leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Frequent travel to retail outlets and distribution centers nationwide.
• Occasional night or weekend work during major stock take periods.