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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Inventory Clerk

💰 $28,000 - $48,000

LogisticsWarehouseInventory Control

🎯 Role Definition

An Inventory Clerk is responsible for maintaining accurate stock records, executing cycle counts and physical inventories, receiving and inspecting incoming goods, coordinating internal transfers, and ensuring inventory accuracy across ERP/WMS systems. This role supports warehouse operations, purchasing, accounting, and customer fulfillment by delivering timely, reliable stock data and resolving discrepancies to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate or Material Handler
  • Shipping & Receiving Clerk
  • Stockroom Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Inventory Supervisor / Lead
  • Inventory Analyst or Inventory Control Specialist
  • Warehouse Supervisor or Operations Coordinator
  • Supply Chain Coordinator or Purchasing Analyst

Lateral Moves:

  • Purchasing Clerk / Buyer Assistant
  • Quality Control Inspector
  • Logistics Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform daily cycle counts and scheduled physical inventories to maintain and improve inventory accuracy, documenting count results and investigating discrepancies to determine root causes and corrective actions.
  • Receive, inspect, and verify incoming shipments against purchase orders and packing slips, logging damages, shortages, and exceptions in the WMS/ERP and notifying procurement and suppliers when issues arise.
  • Accurately process receipts, putaways, transfers, and returns in the warehouse management system (WMS) or ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) to maintain real-time inventory visibility for operations and finance.
  • Execute inbound and outbound paperwork, including packing lists, bills of lading, and shipping manifests, ensuring proper documentation for traceability and invoicing.
  • Reconcile physical inventory counts with system quantities, prepare variance reports, and work cross-functionally with purchasing and accounting to resolve discrepancies and adjust stock records as approved.
  • Pick, pack, and stage orders following pick lists and packing instructions, ensuring order accuracy, correct labeling, and compliance with customer and carrier requirements.
  • Label, tag, and barcode inventory accurately using handheld scanners or RFID devices, maintaining consistent SKU, lot, and serial number tracking for traceability.
  • Maintain organized and clean warehouse and stockroom areas, ensuring inventory is stored to maximize space, protect stock integrity, and support FIFO/LIFO rotation policies.
  • Monitor inventory levels and generate reorder alerts or low-stock reports; collaborate with purchasing to support replenishment decisions that prevent stockouts and overstock situations.
  • Prepare and submit daily, weekly, and monthly inventory and stock movement reports, including inventory accuracy metrics (cycle count variance, shrinkage rates) for continuous improvement.
  • Investigate and document inventory adjustments, write-offs, transfers, and returns, ensuring adjustments are authorized, auditable, and supported by appropriate documentation.
  • Coordinate returns processing and disposition (RMA), quarantine, inspection, and restock or disposal according to company policies and regulatory requirements.
  • Support shipping operations by staging outgoing shipments, verifying carrier pickup schedules, and coordinating with freight carriers (UPS, FedEx, LTL) to ensure on-time delivery.
  • Use Microsoft Excel and inventory reporting tools to analyze trends, perform reconciliations (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables), and identify opportunities to improve inventory turns and reduce carrying costs.
  • Enforce inventory control procedures and security measures to prevent theft, misplacement, and loss; participate in loss prevention initiatives and audits.
  • Assist in cross-functional process improvement projects (5S, Kaizen) to streamline receiving, storage, picking, and counting workflows and increase productivity.
  • Maintain lot control, expiration date management, and batch traceability for serialized or perishable inventory; ensure compliance with product-specific storage and handling requirements.
  • Train and mentor new warehouse and inventory staff on counting procedures, system entries, safety protocols, and inventory best practices to ensure consistency and accuracy.
  • Collaborate with customer service and sales teams to investigate order discrepancies, resolve stock allocation issues, and provide timely stock availability information.
  • Support month-end and year-end inventory close activities, including cycle count reconciliation, audit support, and documentation for external and internal auditors.
  • Operate warehouse equipment safely (e.g., pallet jacks, reach trucks, forklifts if certified) to move inventory during receiving, putaway, and shipping processes.
  • Maintain accurate bin and location mapping in the WMS and propose location optimization to improve picking efficiency and reduce travel time.

Secondary Functions

  • Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to refine inventory control policies, cycle count frequency, and reconciliation processes.
  • Assist procurement and demand planning teams by providing historical usage data and insights to improve forecasting accuracy and reduce excess inventory.
  • Support ad-hoc inventory analyses and special projects such as new product launches, seasonal inventory surges, and SKU rationalization efforts.
  • Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training materials for inventory control and warehouse operations.
  • Help ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations within the warehouse and during handling of hazardous or regulated materials.
  • Perform administrative tasks such as filing shipping documentation, maintaining supplier communication logs, and updating inventory master data.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Inventory management and control best practices (cycle counting, physical inventories, reconciliation).
  • Proficiency with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Manhattan, or Blue Yonder.
  • Experienced with barcode scanners, RFID systems, and handheld mobile computers for inventory transactions.
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and basic data analysis.
  • Knowledge of shipping & receiving processes and documentation (packing lists, BOLs, RMAs).
  • Familiarity with FIFO/LIFO inventory valuation and lot/serial number traceability.
  • Ability to operate warehouse equipment safely (pallet jack, forklift—certification preferred).
  • Experience creating and interpreting inventory reports, KPIs, and metrics (inventory accuracy, cycle count variance, turns).
  • Basic familiarity with shipping carriers and freight processes (UPS, FedEx, LTL) and coordination of carrier pickups.
  • Data entry accuracy and attention to detail for maintaining master data and transaction records.
  • Basic SQL or report-writing experience (preferred) for extracting inventory data from databases.
  • Knowledge of warehouse layout optimization and bin location management.
  • Understanding of returns management, quarantine procedures, and disposition workflows.
  • Ability to follow and help develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) and audit-ready documentation.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail with a commitment to maintaining high inventory accuracy.
  • Excellent communication skills to collaborate with procurement, operations, and customer service teams.
  • Problem-solving mindset to research discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
  • Organizational skills and time management to prioritize counts, receipts, and shipment tasks under tight deadlines.
  • Teamwork and coaching ability to train colleagues and work effectively in a fast-paced warehouse environment.
  • Reliability and punctuality, with a strong work ethic and ownership of assigned inventory responsibilities.
  • Adaptability to changing priorities and seasonality in demand and receiving patterns.
  • Analytical thinking and numeracy to interpret data and support continuous improvement.
  • Customer-focused orientation to support internal and external stakeholders with accurate inventory information.
  • Conflict resolution and negotiation skills when coordinating with suppliers or internal teams on discrepancies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent (required).

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or certificate in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field (preferred).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Supply Chain Management
  • Logistics and Transportation
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management
  • Inventory Control/Materials Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1 to 3 years of inventory, warehouse, or materials handling experience; may vary by employer and industry.

Preferred:

  • 2+ years of experience in inventory control, cycle counting, or warehouse operations.
  • Prior experience with ERP/WMS implementations or inventory reconciliation projects.
  • Forklift certification or experience operating warehouse equipment (preferred depending on facility).
  • Experience in regulated industries (pharmaceuticals, food/beverage, electronics) for roles requiring lot/expiry management.
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