Inventory Controller in the United Kingdom
Own stock accuracy end-to-end: cycle counts, variance investigation, clean reporting.
Turn mismatches into answers: reconcile WMS vs. physical stock and stop repeat errors.
Protect inventory integrity in fast-moving operations: counts, controls, and corrective actions.
Short candidate portrait
- 2+ years in stock control / inventory accuracy in a warehouse or DC.
- Excel confidence (pivots, lookups, basic dashboards) and clear reporting style.
- WMS discipline: you understand why “system stock” and “physical stock” drift — and how to fix it.
- Warehouse-ready: comfortable on the floor, safe around MHE, able to follow site rules.
- Calm under pressure: you can investigate fast, document cleanly, and escalate correctly.
- Accuracy first: you treat every discrepancy as a root-cause problem, not a quick adjustment.
- Data habits: Excel reporting is second nature; you can explain variances in plain English.
- Process thinking: you spot patterns (mis-picks, mis-slots, damages, timing gaps) and propose fixes.
- Floor presence: you can verify locations, check labels, and work with supervisors without friction.
- Compliance: you follow approval flows for write-offs/adjustments and support audits when needed.
You are the person who closes the gap between what the system says and what the warehouse actually has — and you can prove it with evidence.
Core responsibilities
- Plan and execute cycle counting (ABC, location-based, exception counts) and record results.
- Investigate stock variances: trace transactions, check locations, identify root cause.
- Maintain a controlled flow for stock adjustments (reason codes, approvals, audit trail).
- Build and share weekly accuracy reports (WMS exports + Excel pivots).
- Partner with warehouse leads to prevent repeat issues (slotting, labeling, damages, returns).
A “day on the floor” workflow
- Verify: check exceptions (negative stock, blocked locations, unreceipted receipts).
- Count: perform targeted counts using scanner lists and location checks.
- Explain: reconstruct the variance (picks, putaway, returns, damages, timing gaps).
- Correct: propose adjustment with reason/attachment and follow approval rules.
- Prevent: feed back issues to ops (training, relabel, slot fix, process change).
- Counting: cycle counts, spot checks, and audit support.
- Controls: reason codes, approvals, and clean documentation.
- Analysis: variance trends and corrective actions.
- Reporting: Excel-based dashboards and weekly summaries.
- Collaboration: align with inbound/outbound, returns, and warehouse supervisors.
Requirements (detailed)
- CV in English (mandatory).
- Experience: 2+ years in inventory control / stock accuracy / stock auditing in a warehouse, DC, 3PL, or manufacturing stores.
- WMS + scanning: comfortable with WMS transactions (receive/putaway/move/pick/ship/returns) and barcode scanning workflows.
- Excel competence: pivot tables, filtering, basic lookups; ability to present variance drivers and actions.
- Inventory concepts: ABC counting, FIFO/FEFO awareness, location discipline, and reason-code logic.
- Warehouse readiness: comfortable working on the shop floor; safe behaviour around MHE; PPE compliance.
- Communication: clear written notes, calm escalation, and alignment with supervisors/ops/QA.
- Compliance: ability to follow approval chains for write-offs, damages, and adjustments.
- Shift readiness: ability to work site patterns (days/late/nights) if required.
- Right to work: you must be eligible to work in the UK, or apply only to roles where sponsorship is explicitly possible.
Tools & systems you may use
- WMS: site-specific (examples: SAP/Oracle/Manhattan/Blue Yonder).
- Scanners: barcode workflows for locations, picks, and stock checks.
- Excel: pivots, reconciliations, exception lists, simple dashboards.
- Labels: location relabeling, SKU identification, batch/lot/serial controls (where applicable).
- Reporting cadence: daily exceptions + weekly accuracy pack.
If you list tools in your CV, also describe the decisions you made with them (not just “used Excel”).
Working conditions in the UK (practical)
- Paid holiday: statutory minimum is equivalent to 5.6 weeks per year for most workers.
- Working time: you generally cannot work more than 48 hours/week on average (usually averaged over 17 weeks), unless you opt out.
- Breaks: if you work more than 6 hours in a day, you are entitled to an uninterrupted 20-minute break (contract may define paid/unpaid).
- Payslips: employers must provide a payslip to employees/workers.
Warehouses typically require PPE compliance and safe behaviour around equipment, racking, and traffic routes. Some sites include time-sensitive peaks and strict accuracy targets.
A realistic “inventory story” (what employers care about)
A fast-moving site finds a repeated negative stock issue on top SKUs. A strong Inventory Controller traces it to returns being scanned to the wrong status, then trains the team and fixes the workflow. The result is fewer urgent re-counts and cleaner availability for picking.
- Signal: repeat variance pattern on the same family of SKUs.
- Action: verify transactions + floor checks + process correction.
- Outcome: accuracy improves and customer orders ship without “last-minute substitutions”.
During a weekly count, a discrepancy shows up in one aisle only. Instead of adjusting quickly, the Inventory Controller checks slot labels and putaway routes and finds two locations swapped after a relabel. Fixing the root cause prevents weeks of silent errors.
- Signal: aisle-level anomaly, not a warehouse-wide drift.
- Action: label verification + location mapping + controlled correction.
- Outcome: fewer mis-picks and less rework for supervisors.
A site is preparing for an audit. The Inventory Controller runs exception lists, clears blocked locations, and documents adjustments with reason codes and approvals. The audit passes with minimal findings because evidence is organised and traceable.
- Signal: blocked/negative/aged exceptions before audit.
- Action: reconciliation + documentation + controlled approvals.
- Outcome: audit readiness and reduced compliance risk.
What to include in your CV (to get shortlisted)
- Scope: warehouse type (e-commerce/3PL/FMCG/manufacturing), SKU count, shift pattern.
- Counting method: ABC cycle counts, exception counts, audit support, frequency.
- Outcomes: accuracy % improvement, variance reduction, fewer repeat issues.
- Tools: name the WMS (if allowed) and what reports/exports you built.
- Examples: one or two short variance investigations with your corrective action.
Interview topics you should be ready for
- How you investigate a variance (transaction trail + floor verification).
- When you adjust stock vs. when you escalate (controls and approvals).
- How you prevent repeat issues (training, relabeling, slotting, process change).
- How you communicate with operations (clear, calm, evidence-based).
- Your Excel routine (pivots, exception lists, weekly packs).
Related roles in Logistics & Warehousing
- Warehouse Operative (Entry, Low sponsorship)
- Order Picker (Entry, Low sponsorship)
- Forklift Operator (Counterbalance) (Entry/Mid, Low sponsorship)
- Reach Truck Operator (Entry/Mid, Low sponsorship)
- Logistics Coordinator (Mid, Medium sponsorship)
- Transport Planner (Mid, Medium sponsorship)
- HGV Driver (Class 1 / C+E) (Mid, Medium sponsorship)
- Delivery Driver (Van) (Entry/Mid, Low sponsorship)
FAQ
What does an Inventory Controller do in a UK warehouse?
The role protects stock accuracy: cycle counts, variance investigation, controlled adjustments (with approvals), and reporting using WMS/scanners and Excel. You work with operations to prevent repeat discrepancies.
What gross salary is typical for Inventory Controller roles in the UK?
Many roles cluster around £25,000–£35,000 gross per year, depending on region, shift, and warehouse complexity. Some locations and specialist environments can pay higher.
Is a forklift licence required?
Usually not. This is primarily an accuracy and reporting role, but you must be comfortable working on the warehouse floor and following site safety rules. A licence can be a plus on some sites.
Do UK employers sponsor visas for this role?
It depends on the employer and their licence/role requirements. Many logistics roles have limited sponsorship availability, so right-to-work eligibility can be decisive.
What is “cycle counting” and how is it used?
Cycle counting is a planned programme of small, repeated counts (often ABC-based) that keeps accuracy high without shutting down the warehouse for a full stocktake.
What Excel level is expected?
Most employers expect you to turn WMS exports into clear variance summaries: filters, pivots, basic lookups, and structured commentary on causes and actions.
What causes stock variances most often?
Common drivers include mis-slots, labeling drift, returns misclassification, damages not processed correctly, timing gaps between transactions, and pick/putaway errors.
Can non-UK candidates apply?
Yes, but you must have the right to work in the UK, or apply only where sponsorship is explicitly possible (depends on employer and role).
How do employers measure success in inventory control?
Accuracy %, on-time completion of count plans, controlled adjustments with audit trails, fewer repeat discrepancies, and operational improvements that prevent errors.
Is the job office-based or warehouse-based?
Both. You analyse data and produce reports, but you also verify on the warehouse floor to confirm locations, labels, and physical stock.
What should I highlight if I’m moving from Stock Control Clerk to Inventory Controller?
Show ownership: investigation steps, reporting cadence, improvements you delivered, and how you worked with supervisors to prevent repeat issues.
Is sponsorship common for this role?
Sponsorship depends on the employer and role requirements. In many logistics settings it is limited, so eligibility to work in the UK can be important.