At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic category team and drive innovative strategies for market success.
- Company: Join a leading FMCG company committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, generous leave, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in category management and strong commercial acumen required.
Category Controller - FMCG
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Category Controller to lead a high-performing category team, build and maintain strong supplier relationships, develop effective category strategies and drive competitive advantage within the marketplace.
This is a senior commercial role where you’ll provide leadership across the category function, ensuring the team delivers against financial, operational and strategic objectives.
Using your strong leadership and commercial skills, you’ll identify opportunities to continuously improve performance, maximise efficiency and deliver sustainable business growth.
- Category Controller Key Responsibilities
- Deliver an excellent customer proposition through customer-centric ranges, competitive pricing, value, quality assurance and effective use of customer insight and NPS data.
- Take ownership of category P&L performance, budgets and financial targets, developing and executing effective sales and commercial strategies.
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Category Managers and Category Assistants, creating a supportive, collaborative and high-performing team culture.
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, leveraging commercial opportunities to improve performance, profitability and competitiveness.
- Lead negotiations with suppliers to secure competitive costs, improved margins and favourable commercial agreements.
- Ensure operational excellence across the category function, including supply chain performance, stock management, wastage control, compliance and food safety.
- Work closely with Finance and other key stakeholders to ensure the business has accurate commercial insight to support decision-making and maximise margin and profitability.
- Analyse market, customer and category data to identify trends, opportunities and areas for improvement.
- Develop and implement category strategies that support wider business objectives and deliver sustainable growth.
- Influence senior stakeholders across a complex, multi-functional environment, balancing competing priorities and driving alignment across the business.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and deliver meaningful step-change across the Trading function.
- Category Controller The Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience leading a Trading or Category team, with significant functional accountability and the ability to influence senior stakeholders within a complex, multi-functional environment.
- Significant experience in a senior commercial, buying, category or trading role, ideally within food retail, wholesale or the FMCG sector.
- A strong commercial track record, with experience delivering against P&L, sales, margin and profitability targets.
- Proven ability to negotiate high-impact supplier deals, particularly around costing, margin and commercial terms.
- Strong analytical and data interpretation skills, with the ability to turn insight into commercially focused decisions.
- Demonstrable experience managing, coaching and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong understanding of category management, merchandising, profitability, pricing and supply chain principles.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
- A strategic thinker with the ability to develop and deliver category and trading strategies that create measurable business improvement.
- Experience of taking ownership for significant business change and delivering step-change within a Trading environment.
- Highly commercial, results-driven and able to operate effectively in a fast-paced and constantly evolving marketplace.
- Category Controller Benefits
Competitive salary up to £90k (DOE), Company pension, 22 days annual leave, plus the option to purchase additional days, Life Assurance.
- Private Medical Insurance and Onsite parking
- Equal Opportunities
We understand that no applicant will tick every box, so we encourage you to apply if you meet most of the above criteria and believe you could be a strong fit for the role.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcome applications from individuals with different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives.
We believe that diverse teams bring different ideas, experiences and approaches that help drive business success.
If this opportunity is of interest and you’d like to find out more, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you
Category Controller employer: Magnus Search
At Magnus Search, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and supportive work culture that fosters growth and ambition. As a Senior Recruitment Consultant in our Bristol office, you will enjoy competitive salaries, KPI-based incentives, and the opportunity to develop your own desk while working alongside a high-performing team dedicated to delivering top-notch recruitment solutions. Join us to be part of a fast-growing company where your contributions are valued and rewarded, and where you can truly make a difference in the industrial and driving sectors.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Controller
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
✨Get Certified
Consider pursuing relevant certifications like the CFA or ACCA while you’re job hunting. They not only beef up your CV but also connect you with professional bodies which can lead to networking opportunities and even job openings in banking and financial services.
✨Connect on Professional Platforms
Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
✨Apply Directly and Be Proactive
Don’t shy away from reaching out directly to firms like Magnus Search. Use their websites and apply through them, but also consider following up with a polite email to express your enthusiasm. Being proactive can make a huge difference in getting noticed in the competitive financial services sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Category Controller
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Magnus Search.
Include Relevant Financial Software Experience:If you've worked with financial modelling tools or software like Excel, SAP, or specific analytical tools during your studies or internships, bring that up! Highlighting your proficiency can really make your application pop and show you're ready to hit the ground running in a full-time role.
Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Magnus Search's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Magnus Search
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Magnus Search.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
Expect to tackle case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving skills in real-world banking scenarios. Familiarise yourself with the types of problems you might face—think risk assessments or investment evaluations—and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Your Passion for Finance
Since this is a full-time position, employers at Magnus Search will be keen to see your genuine interest in finance. Be prepared to discuss recent industry trends or news articles that excite you, showcasing your enthusiasm and engagement with the field.
✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Magnus Search employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
