At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage inventory levels and ensure stock accuracy using SAP in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Respected consumer goods organisation with a strong brand portfolio and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Long-term development opportunities and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on inventory management and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Qualifications: Experience in inventory planning, strong SAP skills, and advanced Excel proficiency.
- Other info: Join a diverse team and grow your career in supply chain and operations.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 48000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced Inventory Planner with a strong SAP background, looking to deepen your impact within a fast-paced FMCG or retail environment? This is an opportunity to join a well-established consumer goods business, supporting inventory accuracy, availability, and reporting across a high-volume, multi-SKU operation.
A highly respected consumer goods organisation operating across the UK and international markets, this business is known for its strong brand portfolio, robust supply chain infrastructure, and commitment to continuous improvement. With a collaborative and commercially minded culture, the company offers long-term development opportunities within supply chain and operations.
Sitting within the Supply Chain function, the Inventory Planner will play a critical role in managing stock integrity and availability, with a particular focus on SAP-driven planning, reconciliation, and performance reporting. You’ll work closely with Operations, Demand Planning, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure inventory accuracy while balancing service level and working capital targets.
This role is well suited to someone coming from an FMCG or retail background, comfortable working with complex data, tight timelines, and high stock turnover.
Key Responsibilities- Manage inventory levels across multiple SKUs and locations using SAP, ensuring availability and service targets are consistently met.
- Own inventory reconciliation processes, including cycle counts, stock adjustments, variance investigation, and month-end close support.
- Produce and maintain inventory reports and dashboards, tracking KPIs such as stock cover, availability, slow-moving and obsolete stock.
- Work closely with Demand Planning to align forecasts, promotions, and replenishment plans.
- Support purchase order planning and stock movements in line with lead times, capacity, and operational constraints.
- Partner with Operations and Finance to resolve discrepancies and improve stock accuracy.
- Identify risks and opportunities within inventory performance, recommending corrective actions where required.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across SAP processes, data accuracy, and reporting standards.
- Proven experience in an Inventory Planner / Inventory Coordinator / Stock Analyst role within FMCG or retail.
- Strong SAP experience (MM, APO, or similar modules highly desirable).
- Solid experience with inventory reconciliation, reporting, and variance analysis.
- Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and reporting (pivot tables, lookups, etc.).
- Highly organised, detail-focused, and comfortable managing competing priorities.
- Confident communicator with the ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
Inventory Planner in Saint Albans employer: Advocate Group
Contact Detail:
Advocate Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Inventory Planner in Saint Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the FMCG and retail sectors. Let them know you're on the lookout for an Inventory Planner role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Get your SAP skills sharp! Brush up on your SAP knowledge, especially if you’re familiar with MM or APO modules. Consider taking a quick online course or tutorial to boost your confidence before interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how you can showcase your experience with inventory reconciliation and reporting. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your expertise.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Inventory Planner in Saint Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Inventory Planner role. Highlight your SAP experience and any relevant FMCG or retail background. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you’ve improved inventory accuracy or streamlined processes in previous roles. This helps us see your impact.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you're passionate about this role and how your experience aligns with our needs. Keep it concise but engaging – we want to feel your enthusiasm!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s quick and easy, plus you’ll be directly in our system, making it easier for us to review your application. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Advocate Group
✨Know Your SAP Inside Out
Since the role heavily relies on SAP, make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the system. Be prepared to discuss specific modules you've worked with, like MM or APO, and how you've used them to manage inventory effectively.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
With advanced Excel skills being a must, come ready to demonstrate your ability to analyse data. Think about examples where you've used pivot tables or lookups to solve inventory issues or improve reporting accuracy.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Scenarios
This role involves working closely with various teams. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with Operations, Finance, or Demand Planning in the past. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them to ensure inventory accuracy.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
The company values continuous improvement, so think of instances where you've identified risks or opportunities in inventory performance. Be ready to discuss the corrective actions you recommended and the impact they had on the business.