Inventory Accountant

Chemring Countermeasures; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Chemring Countermeasures in the United Kingdom is seeking an Inventory Accountant to join the Finance team and ensure accurate accounting, valuation, and control of inventory across the business.

You will own inventory records, perform reconciliations, manage WIP and stock movements, lead stock takes with auditors, and partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve stock control and reporting. The role also involves month-end close, forecasting, and driving improvements to processes.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing/inventory accounting or finance.
• Strong understanding of stock valuation, BOMs, WIP and movements.
• Confident communicator with non-finance stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and presentation.
• Experience with ERP systems (Business Central preferred).
• Professional accounting qualification or experience-based eligibility.
• Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of inventory accounting and ensure records remain accurate and auditable.
• Maintain valuation of raw materials, work in progress (WIP), and finished goods.
• Perform inventory reconciliations and investigate discrepancies.
• Monitor and account for WIP movements, job closures, scrap, rework, and adjustments.
• Lead and coordinate stock take activities, including liaison with external auditors.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to drive inventory accuracy.
• Analyse inventory trends, stock movements, slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities relating to inventory.
• Produce inventory reporting and analysis to support business decisions.
• Assist with inventory forecasting and planning.
• Support internal and external audits relating to inventory and manufacturing processes.
• Identify and implement improvements to inventory controls, processes, reporting.

Skills

Inventory accounting

Stock valuation

WIP management

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder communication

ERP systems

Education

ACCA/CIMA/ACA part-qualified or equivalent

Tools

Power BI

Business Central

Job description

Chemring Countermeasures is a world-leading and innovative company, designing and developing countermeasure solutions for armed forces across the globe. As part of the Chemring Group, we combine the agility of a specialist manufacturer with the strength and stability of an international organisation.

We are looking for an Inventory Accountant to join our Finance team and play a key role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and visibility of inventory across the business.

Overview of the role

To ensure the accurate accounting, valuation, and control of inventory across the business. The role will focus on inventory management, stock reconciliations, work in progress (WIP), inventory valuation, and partnering with operational teams to improve inventory accuracy, reporting, and financial control.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of inventory accounting and ensure inventory records remain accurate and auditable.
• Maintain accurate valuation of raw materials, work in progress (WIP), and finished goods.
• Perform inventory reconciliations and investigate stock discrepancies, identifying root causes and corrective actions.
• Monitor and account for WIP movements, job closures, scrap, rework, and inventory adjustments.
• Lead and coordinate stock take activities, including liaison with external auditors.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain teams to drive inventory accuracy and improve stock control processes.
• Analyse inventory trends, stock movements, slow-moving and obsolete inventory, providing insight and recommendations.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities relating to inventory and stock accounting.
• Produce inventory reporting and analysis to support business decision-making.
• Assist with inventory forecasting and planning activities.
• Support internal and external audits relating to inventory and manufacturing processes.
• Identify and implement improvements to inventory controls, processes, and reporting.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and/or Experience

• Experience within a manufacturing, inventory accounting, or finance environment.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting principles, stock valuation, Bills of Materials (BOMs), Work in Progress (WIP), and manufacturing stock movements.
• Confident communicator with the ability to build effective relationships with operational and non-finance stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel skills, with the ability to analyse, interpret, and present complex data.
• Experience working with ERP systems (Business Central experience would be advantageous).
• Part-qualified or qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA), or qualified by experience.
• Experience with Power BI or other reporting and visualisation tools would be beneficial.

This role will be worked over a 4.5 day week; Monday to Thursday 08:00 – 16:45 and Friday 08:00 – 12:30.

Please note: We do not engage with recruitment agencies. We kindly ask that you refrain from sending speculative inquiries or CVs. Should we wish to collaborate with agencies, we will initiate contact accordingly.