Job Title: Inventory Controller & Purchasing Assistant
Department: Warehouse / Operations / Purchasing
Reports To: Operations Manager
Salary: £35K to £45K depending on experience
Hours: 9am to 60 Monday to Friday with 50 minute unpaid break
Job SummaryResponsible for maintaining accurate inventory records and supporting the purchasing process for imported goods and general business requirements. The role covers controlling stock movements, conducting stock checks, investigating discrepancies, raising and processing purchase orders, liaising with suppliers, tracking orders and coordinating inbound shipments. The post holder will help ensure appropriate stock availability, timely replenishment, accurate purchasing and import documentation, and effective communication between suppliers, freight forwarders, warehouse, logistics, sales and finance teams.
Inventory Control
Monitor and maintain accurate inventory records and stock balances.
Track stock movements, including receipts, transfers, returns and dispatches.
Carry out regular stock counts, cycle counts and inventory audits.
Reconcile inventory discrepancies, investigate stock variances and report findings.
Ensure inventory data is updated accurately in the warehouse management system (WMS) and other relevant business systems.
Maintain appropriate labelling, storage and organisation of inventory items in liaison with warehouse staff.
Identify slow-moving, obsolete, damaged or excess stock and report issues to management.
Support stock forecasting, replenishment planning and the maintenance of appropriate stock levels.
Prepare inventory, stock movement and discrepancy reports for management.
Purchasing
Raise, process and maintain purchase orders in accordance with company procedures and authorised requirements.
Review stock levels, sales or usage information and outstanding orders to help identify purchasing and replenishment requirements.
Request and compare supplier quotations, prices, lead times and availability for review and approval as required.
Liaise with suppliers regarding order acknowledgements, delivery dates, back orders, shortages, price changes and general queries.
Monitor outstanding purchase orders and follow up overdue or delayed deliveries, keeping relevant departments informed.
Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier details, order confirmations and related correspondence.
Check supplier order confirmations against purchase orders and report discrepancies in quantities, prices, specifications or delivery terms.
Assist with supplier performance monitoring, including delivery reliability, quality issues and responsiveness.
Support the resolution of supplier claims, shortages, damaged deliveries and invoice or delivery discrepancies, referring financial approvals to the appropriate manager.
Coordinate with sales, warehouse and finance teams to help ensure purchasing decisions reflect business requirements and stock availability.
Imports and Inbound Logistics
Coordinate inbound shipments with suppliers, shipping agents, freight forwarders and transport providers.
Track import deliveries and update purchasing and inventory systems with expected and actual arrival information.
Check relevant shipping documents, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading and customs paperwork, for completeness and consistency.
Liaise with customs, brokers and freight forwarders to support timely customs clearance and delivery of imported goods.
Resolve missing or inconsistent documents, delivery delays and other import issues, escalating to the appropriate manager as required
Maintain records relating to import orders, shipment status and delivery documentation.
Follow applicable company procedures and relevant import/export requirements within the scope of the role.
General Responsibilities
Communicate clearly and promptly with suppliers and internal departments to support the smooth flow of stock and purchasing information.
Maintain accurate, organised and up-to-date records and provide information or reports when required.
Comply with company policies, procedures, confidentiality requirements and health and safety rules.
Support continuous improvement initiatives across the company.
Undertake other duties commensurate with the level of the role, as reasonably requested by management, to meet the changing needs of the business.
Skills and Competencies
Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise multiple orders, deliveries and stock-control tasks.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail when handling stock records, purchase orders and shipping documentation.
Good numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to investigate discrepancies.
Effective communication and relationship-building skills when dealing with suppliers, freight forwarders and internal departments.
Confident use of Microsoft Excel and inventory, purchasing or warehouse management systems.
Ability to monitor deadlines, follow up outstanding actions and work effectively under pressure.
A practical, proactive approach to identifying stock or supply issues and escalating them appropriately.
Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders.
Education and Experience
Previous experience in inventory control, purchasing administration, warehouse operations, supply chain or import logistics is preferred.
Experience raising and tracking purchase orders and communicating with suppliers would be advantageous.
Knowledge of international shipping documentation and customs procedures is desirable.
Education or training in logistics, supply chain management, purchasing or business administration is an advantage.
Working Conditions
Office and warehouse environment.
May require visits to warehouse or stock areas and standing, lifting or handling stock items where appropriate and safe to do so.
Occasional overtime may be required to meet operational deadlines.
Role BoundariesThe post holder is responsible for accurate administration, monitoring and coordination of inventory and purchasing activity. Purchasing commitments, supplier selection, expenditure outside agreed limits and other matters requiring management authority must be approved in accordance with company procedures.
If you have all the relevant experience, please click apply or call the Corby office on (phone number removed)
