Senior Manager, Inventory & Controls

Job Summary

We are looking for a Senior Manager, Inventory and Controls to play a strategic leadership role in strengthening inventory controls and driving process optimization across the organization. Reporting directly to the Corporate Controller, this role acts as a vital bridge between Finance, Replenishment, and Operations, ensuring robust inventory practices and actionable insights.
The senior manager will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of inventory records through rigorous procedures and controls. This role will help optimize inventory performance, support strategic initiatives, and provide financial insights to support business decisions.
This is a high-impact opportunity to design and implement improved end-to-end inventory processes, develop a high-performing team, and collaborate with key stakeholders across the organization.

Key Accountabilities

Inventory Operations, Accounting and Reporting
•    Oversee the day-to-day inventory operations, ensuring responsibilities are effectively allocated, and lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes and improve team productivity;
•    Maintain the accuracy and completeness of the inventory records, including retail and cost pricing, markdowns, and merchandise flow;
•    Manage accounting provisions including, distribution costs, inventory in-transit, shrinkage, obsolescence;
•    Prepare monthly financial forecast and provide insight on margin, inventory levels and key costs drivers; 
•    Lead the accurate and timely financial close for inventory, including detailed analysis of monthly, quarterly and annual financial results (Margin, Shrinkage, Damages, Discards, rebates);
•    Deliver quarterly inventory reporting package with highlights on inventory KPIs performance, forecast and update on inventory initiatives for senior management;
•    Maintain and improve inventory dashboards (Power BI) including inventory aging, margin, turn by location;
•    Review vendor rebate agreements and validate rebate provisions and the timely deductions; 

Physical Inventory Management
•    Implement and maintain controls for physical inventory in stores and warehouses;
•    Lead the coordination, training and execution of the annual inventory count across 1,650+ stores nationwide;
•    Deliver accurate and complete financial performance measures to the field relating to inventory counts (productivity, count accuracy, etc.)
•    Prepare detailed shrinkage analysis and trends by store and item to identify improvement opportunities;
•    Coordinate with FP&A and project team on key shrink initiatives to evaluate impact on shrinkage and to support payback analysis; 
Audit & Compliance
•    Ensure inventory controls and processes are in compliance with 52-109 requirements;
•    Update and maintain inventory control process documentation in Workiva;
•    Coordinate and support the timely preparation of financial data and schedules for internal and external audits;
•    Continuously review and enhance inventory controls across the network;
Insurance & Risk Management
•    Prepare and manage claims related to inventory losses;
•    Submit inventory valuations for insurance renewals;
•    Coordinate loss assessments with internal teams;
Team Leadership
•    Lead and mentor a team of five analysts;
•    Review and approve team outputs, fostering professional growth and development;

Job Requirements

•    University degree in Accounting, Finance, CPA designation is an asset;
•    10+ years of relevant experience, including inventory management and team leadership;
•    Experience with large ERP system, SAP experience is a strong asset;
•    Exceptional organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment;
•    Strong aptitude for financial analysis and problem solving in a high-volume data environment;
•    Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate, influence and build strong relationships at all levels of the organization;
•    Knowledge of IFRS standards;
•    Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Power Point, Power BI is an asset;
•    Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French (Proficiency in English is required as the candidate will be working with teams across the rest of Canada.