At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage inventory levels and ensure stock accuracy using SAP in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join a respected consumer goods organisation with a strong brand portfolio.
- Benefits: Long-term development opportunities and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on inventory management and improve supply chain processes.
- Qualifications: Experience in inventory planning and strong SAP skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for continuous improvement and career growth.
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.
The Company
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.
The Role
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.
What We’re Looking For
- 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.
Interested? Click “Apply” or email your CV to kieran.tudsbury@advocate-group.co.uk
The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.
Inventory Planner in St Albans employer: Advocate Group
Contact Detail:
Advocate Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Inventory Planner in St 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 or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your SAP skills. Since this role heavily relies on SAP-driven planning, make sure you can confidently discuss your experience with it. Practice common interview questions related to inventory management and data analysis.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've used data to improve inventory accuracy or resolve discrepancies in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
✨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 take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Inventory Planner in St 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 love a good story!
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 able to keep track of your application status. Let’s get started on this journey together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Advocate Group
✨Know Your SAP Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your SAP knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific modules you've worked with, like MM or APO, and how you've used them in your previous roles. This will show that you're not just familiar with the system but can leverage it effectively in an Inventory Planner position.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since this role involves a lot of data analysis, be prepared to talk about your experience with Excel and any reporting tools you've used. Bring examples of how you've created dashboards or reports that track KPIs. This will demonstrate your ability to manage complex data and make informed decisions.
✨Highlight Your Collaborative Spirit
The job requires working closely with various teams, so think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with others. Whether it's resolving discrepancies with Finance or aligning forecasts with Demand Planning, showing that you can work cross-functionally will set you apart.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific inventory challenges, like stock discrepancies or slow-moving items. Prepare some scenarios from your past experience where you identified risks and implemented corrective actions. This will illustrate your problem-solving skills and proactive approach.