Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Inventory Controller

🎯 Role Definition

We are hiring a Warehouse Inventory Controller to own inventory accuracy, reporting and reconciliation across the distribution center. This role is responsible for establishing and maintaining inventory control processes—cycle counts, stock takes, reconciliations, returns, and SKU-level traceability—while partnering with operations, purchasing and finance to reduce shrinkage, optimize stock levels and ensure on-time fulfillment. The ideal candidate combines practical warehouse experience (WMS/ERP), strong analytical ability, and clear operational leadership to improve inventory KPIs and compliance.

SEO / LLM keywords: Warehouse Inventory Controller, inventory control, cycle count, WMS, ERP, inventory reconciliation, stock accuracy, shrinkage prevention, SKU management, warehouse operations.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate or Material Handler promoted with inventory responsibility
Inventory Analyst or Stock Control Specialist with warehouse exposure
Logistics Coordinator or Receiving Clerk who managed cycle counts

Advancement To:

Inventory Control Manager / Lead
Warehouse Manager or Distribution Center Manager
Supply Chain Manager or Inventory Planning Manager

Lateral Moves:

Procurement / Purchasing Analyst
Quality Control / Audit Specialist
Warehouse Systems (WMS) Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead, plan and execute daily and scheduled cycle-count programs across all SKUs and locations to maintain and continuously improve inventory accuracy targets (e.g., >98% inventory accuracy), documenting root causes and corrective actions.
Perform full physical inventories and coordinate year-end stock takes with cross-functional teams, external auditors and third-party logistics partners to ensure timely and accurate inventory valuation.
Investigate and reconcile inventory variances (shrinkage, mispicks, overages, deficits) using transaction history, WMS/ERP data and warehouse records; produce variance reports and follow-up action plans.
Maintain perpetual inventory integrity within the Warehouse Management System (WMS) and company ERP (SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, HighJump), ensuring all receipts, putaways, transfers and shipments are accurately recorded.
Establish and document inventory control policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and control checklists for receiving, putaway, picking, packing, shipping, returns and scrap to reduce errors and cycle time.
Supervise and train warehouse staff on inventory practices, barcode/RFID scanning, cycle-count techniques, lot/serial tracking, bin location management and WMS transaction discipline.
Create, maintain and present weekly/monthly inventory reports and KPI dashboards (inventory accuracy, shrinkage rate, days of inventory, stock turns, on-time shipments) using Excel, Power BI or Tableau to Operations and Finance stakeholders.
Coordinate with Purchasing and Demand Planning to identify slow-moving, obsolete or excess inventory and develop disposition strategies including returns to vendor, write-offs, markdowns or rework.
Manage inbound receiving controls: verify PO receipts, inspect quality and quantities, confirm inspection dispositions and ensure accurate labeling and putaway to correct bin locations.
Own lot and serial number traceability for regulated, serialized or batch-controlled products; support recalls, warranty claims and product traceability requests with timely reporting and root‑cause analysis.
Implement and monitor inventory control improvements (lean 5S, pick-path optimization, slotting, storage reconfiguration) to increase accuracy, throughput and storage utilization.
Lead shrinkage prevention and loss control initiatives including CCTV review coordination, process change recommendations and collaboration with Loss Prevention teams.
Approve and document stock transfers and inter-warehouse movements, ensuring transfer transactions reconcile between source and destination locations in the WMS/ERP.
Support receiving discrepancies and supplier claim processes by preparing evidence packages, discrepancy reports and liaising with suppliers and procurement for resolutions.
Develop cycle count frequency matrices using ABC/XYZ analysis and demand-driven strategies to ensure high-impact SKUs are counted more frequently.
Execute periodic reconciliation between physical inventory, WMS and general ledger; prepare journal entry recommendations and assist Finance with inventory valuation adjustments.
Oversee management of damaged, quarantined and non-conforming inventory: control quarantine locations, disposition workflows and documentation to comply with quality and regulatory requirements.
Ensure accurate bin and SKU labeling, barcode/RFID tagging, and maintain master data hygiene for SKUs, units of measure, and location hierarchies in the WMS.
Lead cross-functional projects to implement WMS upgrades, RF device rollouts, barcode standardization or new ERP integrations; define requirements, test inventory transactions and validate data migration.
Coach staff on best practices for picking accuracy, void prevention, and return processing; conduct root-cause analysis for recurring issues and implement training or process fixes.
Maintain compliance with company policies, OSHA and regulatory requirements for hazardous materials storage, handling and documentation where applicable.
Drive continuous improvement by analyzing inventory trends, seasonal patterns and product life cycles to recommend changes to safety stock, reorder points and replenishment strategies.
Provide crisis support for inventory disruptions (supplier delays, product recalls, system outages) by coordinating contingency counts, manual reconciliations and communications to stakeholders.
Verify and reconcile cycle count adjustments, manual inventory adjustments and system corrections to ensure proper audit trail and authorization according to internal controls.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc inventory data requests and exploratory analysis for cross-functional projects (finance audits, vendor performance reviews, new product introductions).
Collaborate with IT and WMS vendors to translate business requirements into system configuration changes, test cases and go‑live validation plans.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives and kaizen events focused on warehouse accuracy, throughput and cost reduction.
Contribute to the organization’s inventory strategy by recommending changes to counting cadence, storage systems and technology adoption (RFID, automation).
Assist in sprint planning and agile ceremonies when inventory control enhancements are delivered by internal IT or project teams.
Provide documentation and training materials for new inventory processes, system functionalities and user guides for warehouse teams.
Act as point-of-contact for external audits related to inventory, providing evidence, explanations and performing follow-up remediation actions.
Support seasonal and peak event planning with temporary count strategies, staffing plans and targeted controls to ensure service levels during volume surges.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Inventory management and control (cycle counting, physical inventory, reconciliation)
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) expertise — experience with SAP WM, Oracle NetSuite, Manhattan, HighJump or similar
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) transactional knowledge and inventory integration (SAP MM, Oracle)
Advanced Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, data analysis, macros)
Experience with barcode/RFID scanning systems, RF handhelds and scanning best practices
SKU master data management and bin/slotting optimization
Lot and serial number traceability, expiry date control and batch tracking
Inventory valuation and accounting support (FIFO / LIFO / weighted average concepts)
Reporting and dashboard tools (Power BI, Tableau or equivalent)
SQL or basic query skills for investigating transactional data (preferred)
Strong aptitude for Lean, 5S, Kaizen or continuous improvement methodologies
Familiarity with warehouse automation and AS/RS concepts (desirable)

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy orientation
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset
Clear communicator able to liaise with operations, procurement and finance
Leadership and team coaching skills; ability to train and influence frontline staff
Time management and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced distribution environment
Collaborative, stakeholder-focused approach and customer service orientation
Process discipline, documentation mindset and audit-readiness
Adaptability to change and experience supporting system implementations
Conflict resolution and vendor negotiation skills
Proactive ownership and accountability for inventory KPIs

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent required

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, Operations Management or Industrial Engineering

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Logistics & Distribution
Business Administration
Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of hands-on warehouse or distribution center experience with responsibility for inventory control.

Preferred:

5+ years in inventory control or warehouse operations with supervisory experience
Demonstrated experience with WMS and ERP integrations, full physical inventories and cycle-count program ownership
Experience supporting external audits and preparing inventory valuation reconciliations
Background implementing inventory improvement initiatives that reduced shrinkage or improved turns